Niall McGuigan - Spiritual Anarchy Album Review

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Niall McGuigan is a singer songwriter and music therapist from Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan. He is a very interesting character given his studies of music and healing within shamanic and neo-shamanic traditions. Niall has played in many bands across numerous genres including metal, reggae, folk, grunge, trad and funk. On his debut album he even threw in some Mongolian throat singing. He has played top festivals such as Glastonbury, Electric Picnic, Earth Garden and The Bubble Festival.
Niall released his debut album "Awareness" in 2017 and then followed that up with a live album called "Live At St. Anne's Church, Dublin". He now returns with his new album "Spiritual Anarchy" which was recorded Drumill Lane Recording Studio in South Armagh.

"Simple Message" opens the album in fantastic style. It's a beautiful folk rock song with wonderful mandolin sounds. Niall's grunge background shines through as this track is very Eddie Vedder/Alice In Chains influenced.
Next up is "Don't Let The Music Die" which is a reminder to be who you are and to not let others diminish you or halt your self expression. Nice sentiment and nicely executed.
The title track "Spiritual Anarchy" is a wonderful display of fusing different genres together. It's hard to pin down what genre it fits into, it's got elements of folk, 90's indie, grunge, bluegrass and some didgeridoo for good measure. Excellent song.
"It Hurts But It Heals" again combines bluegrass with folk to create a track that is both joyous and melancholy. The backing vocals add another dimension to the depth of the song.
"Butterfly" is a celebration of transformation. It's toe tapping, head nodding and thigh slapping down home music.
"I See" is a changing point in the album as it has a much slower tempo and more relaxed feel about it. 
The slower pace continues with the dark and moody "Talisman". The song suggests that you don't need material objects for happiness as long as you can look inside yourself and be happy with who you are. Again Niall is hitting on very important and insightful messages.
"Saorise" which translates to Freedom in Irish is a convivial number which touches on humility, honesty and gratitude in the search for true freedom. this is probably the most stripped back song on the album which allows Niall's gravelly voice shine through.
The penultimate track "Whom Are You" grabs your attention from the very first second with it's blistering mandolin and rhythmic chanting of whom are you? whom are you?. The songs builds to a crescendo and then takes it down a notch before building up once more coming to a finish.
"Mother Father" is a cover of a rainbow gathering song and its scintillating. You will be hard pressed to find a more beautiful piece of music as this. The sentiment is that we are all connected and one. This track could definitely bring people together. It's hauntingly bewitching.

Keep up with Niall at:
Facebook
Official Website
Spotify
Instagram
Soundcloud
Twitter


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