Skully - Without A Voice

Irish Musician and Producer Skully Releases His First Solo Album!!!


Article for The Echo by Mark McAvoy.


SKULLY STEPS OUT OF METISSE SHADOW AND GOES DIGITAL ON HIS NEW ALBUM.

Stepping out of the shadow of his popular and extremely successful duo Metisse, acclaimed Irish musician and producer Skully is blazing a trail to chart success with the release of his eagerly awaited solo album.

The culmination of two years' work, WITHOUT A VOICE (2007) has just been released worldwide and sees the Irish man explore new musical and technological territory.

The Cork-based producer, together with his management, has decided to break new ground with the distribution of his debut album.

Skully reveals : 'This is my first totally digital release. We felt that there was still a demand for CD's but the people that are still looking for them as a group is getting smaller and smaller and smaller, So we decided, lets be brave and just give it a digital release. So this is our first one."

Given the huge success that Metisse have enjoyed in various online Myspace Charts, Its not surprising that Skully would see the obvious merits of a digital online release. The talented Irish music veteran points out : " I'm number two to Metisse at number one. Metisse have been number one for seven months and I have been number two for nearly four months. Metisse are so far ahead that i'll never catch up with them." But it is striking the gap between America and Europe when it comes to using digital music as the famed producer discovered.

He recalls: "America seems to have decided that CD's are a thing of the past. We are using a digital system where we can provide radio stations in America with broadcast quality MP3s, "What we found was that we sent the same player out to radio stations in Ireland and their response was to ask us to send out hard copies. We did the same thing with America but when we sent them out to America we asked them if they required hard copies and none of them did."

WITHOUT A VOICE features 12 instrumental tracks. Asked how he would describe the album, the former REAL MAYONNAIZE front man responds ; " I won't describe it! the wonderful thing about MYSPACE is fans can come back and tell me. The feeling I'm getting back from everybody is that they love the emotion in it. There is a lot of emotion in the songs. There are two very personal piano tracks on the album. "With an instrumental album it is very difficult to vary it, but I'm very happy with the mix of tracks. It jumps from being very electronic to very acoustic to a kind of a strong jazz feel to it and yet it hasn't strayed too far from the Metisse sound."

Released on BLINDFAITH DIGITAL, WITHOUT A VOICE is now available on iTunes.

Fans can hear tracks from the album by visiting Skully's Myspace : www.myspace.com/skullymusic

WITHOUT A VOICE Tracklist:

1. Nomah's Land (for 3 pianos)

2. Arduity Sails By

3. Important Staff Announcement

4. Crime Of Honesty

5. Self Fulfilling Prophecy

6. Trouble

7. The Arcadia Ballroom

8. The Seaport Fudge Factory

9. Gare De Montrabe

10. Release The Balloons

11. It rained That Morning

12. My Waltz With Matilda

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Review of IRISH Makeover!

What you say? Who? Well, there is a reason for this, trust me. My Space friend Skully has just released a very nice CD of Irish classics done up with a very modern twist. He is a master at the keyboards which is where most of the music is generated. His gift with the electronics makes this a very fun album to listen to. He is based in Cork, Ireland, and as it would happen, so is Mairead's younger brother Karl. In fact, Karl has two tracks on this CD. I received my copy, autographed by Skully, as a prize after winning a writing contest of his with a poem. So, here is the run down of the 11 tracks. You can visit the IRISH Makeover site on My Space and order a copy for yourself. You'll want to!

1) Molly Malone- Sung by Myles O'Reilly with instrumentation by Skully. This somewhat somber traditional piece is made very lively. It has a bit of a Mediterranean feel to it. It is the best arrangement I've heard.

2) The Lark- A wonderful instrumental by Skully. It is a gentle piece, and you can visualize a lark flying over the lush Irish countryside and over ancient ruins. It is as free as the bird itself. Lovely indeed.

3) The Lakes Of Pontchartrain- Sung by Mick Flannery with instrumentation by Skully. The voice almost reminds me of Leon Redbone from back in the 70's. It is a slow piece and sort of a lament.

4) Mardyke- Karl Nebitt on Bazouki with Skully in electronic percussion. This again has a bit of a Mediterranean feel to it, and almost nautical. It has a nice beat and is a very catchy tune. Quite the toe tapper. I can easily hear some great possibilities for Mairead fiddle parts in this air. It is obvious that Karl is as gifted as his sister at bringing a tune alive.

5) She Moved Through The Fair- Sung by Myles O'Reilly with instrumentation by Skully. This is a different setting and key than what we know from Meav. It is a soft piece with a nice keyboard break. There even are parts that sound like crickets/birds chirping.

6) Blackbird- Sung by Kate Murphy with Skully doing instrumentation. She has a very distinct Irish accent while singing this. It is a gentle piece that is very reminiscent of 1960's folk songs.

7) King Of The Fairies- Karl is back this time on the low whistle along with some lively instrumentation by Skully. It is a familiar tune that you can hear on LoTD/Feet Of Flames. However, this arrangement has a sort of urban funk about it. Another toe tapper. Is there an instrument that Karl doesn't play well?

8)Scarborough Fair- Sung by Annette Buckley with instrumentation by Skully. Very upbeat arrangement with lively electronic energy to it. This has a great beat and very happy feel about it. Not at all the usual. I like it.

9) Red Is The Rose- An instrumental version by Skully of one of the most well known tunes from Ireland. This is a funky urban rose that is full of life. Fun air that will stick with you.

10) All Around My Hat- Sung by Kate Murphy. I've never heard this song before. It is a very happy song that you could dance to. It almost has a Latin feel at times. A very catchy toe tapper. My favorite of the vocals on this CD.

11) Shirin- An instrumental by Skully. It is very lyrical and almost like a modern waltz. I could see myself waltzing with my love in various parts of the Irish countryside. Lovely.