Irish Eyes are Smiling (Part Three)

There are a hundred ways I could have gone with this episode of this series focusing on Irish music. I had intended to talk about DAMIEN RICE (who was once in a band with the members of Bell x1 called JUNIPER) but as I researched around for interesting tidbits I came across a site that featured the heartbreaking work of MARK DIGNAM. First off a huge shout out to the blog 2U I BESTOW, which is about the best source of Irish singer songwriters I have ever seen. I pale in comparison to his knowledge, so I implore you, stop by his site and check it out.

Now, on to Mark Dignam. In many ways, Dignam is representative of the wave of Irish folk singers that includes Rice, GLEN HANSARD and PADDY CASEY who keep it simple using only their voice and an acoustic guitar. The power comes in the poetry. Young men with pain, joy, love and loss to express through their music. These are songs that will break your heart and can lift you up to places that make you sing loud in your car as you trudge off to work. You can hear the exhaustion in his voice as he sings in "Glide", "I realise how small my perspective has been....". His music doesn't vary much but it has such passion that you overlook the sometimes repetitious nature. It gets better with every listen...

(mp3) Mark Dignam -- Glide (courtesy of 2U I Bestow)

Mark Dignam Myspace page