reviews
What the Reviewers say
about 'Sound' (Dawn Kenny)
Tony Clayton-Lea, The
Irish Times
"Dawn Kenny's second album ensures that
it isn't all acoustic guitars out there, strumming away relentlessly.
Tracks such as 'Ten Good Reasons', 'Torn', Seven
Days and 'The End of the World', prove that Kenny can cut the proverbial
mustard as a songwriter".
Dave Blackledge at www.singersongwriter.ws
“This album is terrific
from start to finish... EXCELLENT”
Colm O'Hare, Hot Press
"Her debut album, released a few years ago revealed this talented
Co Clare native to be a gifted songwriter and a single-minded
live performer. Her new album, 'Sound' builds on the
promise, with an even stronger collection of songs.
Highlights include mid-tempo numbers such as the opener, 'January', 'End
of the World' and 'Seven Days', all of which weave their magic on the listener
over repeated airings. Strings add even more texture to the gorgeously
soaring 'Somebody Knows', while her version of 'Ruby Tuesday' showcases
her wide vocal range which reaches the lofty heights.
This is a good record"
THE EDITOR IRISH BANDS LIVE UK
With a voice as smooth as silk that cuts the air with grace and
presence,
Dawn Kenny has given us an album of great songs with meaning and passion.
Life’s a bitch and this album lets you know with no punches pulled, love hate
and an uncertainty in what life has to offer, yet it’s passionate and full of
love for one’s fellow man.
Dawn has a great insight in to the meaning of life, its ups and downs its
sorrows and how it can make you bitter and twisted yet she somehow breaths life
into the words of her songs.
”Ten Good Reasons” a story of cheating on one’s love and finding a reason to
stay when theres nothing left to stay for. It’s a great piece of song writing
from such a young artists.
” Somebody Knows”, your sitting is the
dark because you’ve got yourself in to a mess and your waiting for the moment
someone finds out, then they do and
your heart pounds but is it to late to say your sorry. Well you’ll have to buy
the album to find out.
Between them Dawn and co writer Michael O’Toole have produced an exceptional
masterpiece of the real meaning of life though the eyes of a young man or woman
of our times.
The musical content on this album is exceptional to say the least.
With its 12 magnificent tracks this album is like an exquisite bottle of wine,
you savour the flavour right down to the last drop.
They and this album are a credit to the music industry.
Review by Robert Cullen, Sligo Weekender
An unassuming black and white cover picture
did not foretell the jewels
contained in this particular jewel case.
Clare singer Dawn Kenny has two superb talents to call upon, her mastery of
piano and a voice as smooth as double cream.
"Sound" is her second album and in between this and her debut release
she
has been in demand with performers all over Ireland, contributing vocals and
piano to everyone from trad groups to rock bands.
Classically trained, Dawn's voice is nevertheless a natural phenomenon, one
unspoiled by the conformity of training.
From the opening track "January", you are either hooked or you're not.
Most
will be hooked, and not just by the voice.
All of the songs were written by Dawn, with the exception of a cover of the
Rolling Stone's "Ruby Tuesday". The songs are all strong, with
original
inspiration and unusual signatures.
The quiet opener is followed by the lively "Ten Good Reasons", which
was
released as a single earlier this month. A tale of the final straw in a
relationship it possesses a chorus of real integrity, including the lines
"You gave me ten good reasons to leave/Now give me one good reason to
stay."
Most of the songs are downtrodden in mood, but rarely has misery sounded as
good as it does in "Cruel World": "It's a cruel world that makes
me try to
learn so much/when fools still tell me what to do."
An obvious inspiration in her music is Carole King and on innovative numbers
like "Seven Days" and "The End of The World" the genius of
the American
songwriter comes through.
"Seven Days" in particular is two minutes of easy listening
perfection with
enough distinction to stand out on what is a high quality album.
Brian O’Connell, Irish Examiner
“Judging by her most
recent offerings, and successful support slots, Kenny looks set for a bright
future.”
Dawn Kenny – Through the Loop
Colm O'Hare, HOTPRESS.
Limerick-born singer/songwriter/pianist Dawn Kenny
certainly has an interesting pedigree. In the recent past she's worked with
ex-Fatima Mansions mainman Cathal Coughlan, performing on his acclaimed Black
River Falls album. She has also played keyboards with left-field practitioners
Nine Wassies From Bainne and served as vocalist/pianist with Dublin outfit
Neverest.
With a soft, velveteen voice and a style remeniscent of 1970's West Coast
singers like Karla Bonoff and Valerie Carter, Kenny's solo debut consists
mainly of plaintive ballads such as 'Playing on my mind', 'Out of Sight' and 'I
don't wanna see you cry'. Well crafted songs, they also underline Kenny's
penchant for unexpected melodic twists and turns. A light rhythm section is
added to 'Sun doesn't shine' and 'I think I'll stay at home tonight', the
latter a poignant and genuinely heartfelt elegy to a lost love.
This is a fine debut, which should make waves for a promising new talent.
Dawn Kenny – Through the
Loop
IRISH MUSIC PRESS
This singer songwriter
has an ingenue presence to her music, her voice is soft and you can almost
picture her being waif like. Gentle songs sung with a gentle voice; it may be
soft however, but it has crystal clarity to it. Her new album 'Through the
Loop', shows talent, especially in 'Out of sight', a song mocking society and
it's pleasures.
The Limerick lady has performed as a vocalist and piano player with ex-Fatima
Mansions frontman Cathal Coughlan throughout Ireland and also in New York.
However, Dawn really does deserve to step into the limelight on her own and
this album should really get her great attention, which her talent justifies.
Stephen
Robinson, HOTPRESS.
“...the lyrically perfect ‘Out Of Sight’ illustrates why
she’s held in such high regard by many.”
DAWN KENNY AND URSULA
BURNS, IN CONCERT
THE JOHN HEWITT,
CATHEDRAL ARTS FESTIVAL
EVENT.
It was the opening night of the Cathedral Arts Festival. We knew
something would be happening. We stumbled into the John Hewitt Bar having seen
he billboard advertising Dawn Kenny and Ursula Burns. It is not often that a
journey such as this turns out to be so rewarding.
Dawn Kenny started the night off accompanied on guitar and
harmonies by Michael O’Toole. Her voice was startlingly lyrical. From near
Limerick, “a village at a crossroads with two pubs, a shop and a community
centre” here songs were universal in content. Songs of love, loss, longing and
hope. Her lyrics contained worldliness without being cynical. “Dear Jane” and
“Blue without you” were particular highlights, but throughout her sets Dawn
took us on a very special journey carried on the brilliance of her voice.
Ursula Burns sat at the same piano as Dawn but the sounds that
came out were very different. Urban, edgy sometimes quirky her work reflected her
city upbringing and a grittier realism. Accompanied by two first class
musicians in Scott (cello) and Lewis (sax/clarinet) — surnames not supplied -
there was a broodiness and expanse to Ursula’s songs. “Small Square Parks”
which remind her of Belfast with their beer cans and vomit are set against the
beautiful Italian gardens through which she and her fiancé walk before their
wedding. Could the contrast be any more stark?
Ursula’s ensemble pieces were interspersed with solo songs
played on the harp. Again, the playing was supreme, modern interpretations on
an ancient instrument. For me, “Edith” was the highlight of the show, a moody
piece in which Scott and Lewis feature heavily.
While both women are carrying on an age-old female vocalist
tradition, they are very different. The influences are there to hear
(Armatrading, Vega, Ian, Mitchell and Amos) but these women are remarkably
fresh in their content and delivery
The venue was not perfect with lots of chat and bar-room noise
but for the most part the audience (mostly men!) was enthralled and captivated
by two highly talented women.
Dawn Kenny: Through The Loop
Run Records
The inevitable comparison is with Carole King. Singer-pianist Dawn Kenny,
formerly with Neverest and Cathal Coughlan, releases a piano-led (natch),
largely mid-tempo set that captures the feel of much of King’s 1970’s AOR
output, yet Kenny has one uniquely defining quality: her voice, which pierces
the listener in ways King’s nasal-gurgle never quite could.
Opener ‘Julie’ is a neat scene-setter, complete with defining piano sound
and AOR leanings, ‘Out Of Sight’ is slower, and features some fragile backing
vocals, while ‘I Don’t Wanna See You Cry’, which includes some subtle horns,
is marred by some production folly. Highlights include the bossa-nova flavoured
’Give Yourself Away’, the catchy ‘Mountain Top’, which appears to be about
the effects of fame, and the looser ‘Long Way down’.
Admittedly, the slower material doesn’t always work, and ‘I Think I’ll stay
At Home Tonight’ is a touch too melodramatic, yet all in all, this is an
assured debut.
Dawn Kenny: Playing on my mind
By
Clare Conran
Dawn Kenny is a young artist who has an impressive list of
collaborators on her CV. They include most recently, supporting Bob Geldof on
his tour of Ireland. In the past she has also supported Kieran Goss and Aslan.
But the time has now come for her to step into her own patch of limelight.
The single Playing on my mind is enchanting. The
combination of Miss Kenny's sugary vocals and aching melodies is something to
be experienced. I'm sitting here trying to come up with a comparison for her
music to make it easier for people to decide if they would like to spend their
money on Miss Kenny.
Dawn Kenny is a combination of so many things that she is has
the pressure of being almost original. Unfortunately the best I can do is to
suggest that you go see her live. That way you'll know if you like her or not
and you'll be able to say that you went to a gig of hers before she made it
big.
She'll be appearing in Whelans in Dublin on 20th Febuary, The
Lobby in Cork on 21st Febuary. She'll be headlining at these gigs, a state of
affairs that I think she will be getting used to.
Playing on my mind is the second single
from Dawn Kenny's debut album Through the Loop. Both are in
record shops now.
Tony Clayton-Lea, The
Irish Times
“...this song [long way down]- like most of
her material blends intelligence and emotion. Good tune too.”
DAWN KENNY-THROUGH THE LOOP - John O'Regan
Rock N Reel
Dawn
Kenny has made quite an impact on the Irish scene opening for Bob Geldoff and
Heather Nova. The Limerick-born singer/songwriter's debut album 'Through The
Loop' signals the end of a long apprenticeship. A highly articulate lyricist
and a clear distinctive vocalist her words
are delivered with precision and force.
Mirroring influences from writers as diverse as Joni Mitchell
and Tori Amos, her style is confessional without over indulgence and devoid of
unnecessary histrionics. 'Julie' a captivating ballad in the Sandy Denny vein
and 'Mountain Top' show her lyrical side while 'Only Then' and 'Playing on My
Mind' offer serious radio candy. 'Through The Loop' signals the arrival of a
vital new Irish singer/songwriter -miss her at your peril.
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