I can be very cynical when it comes to singer-songwriters. I often feel that the Irish music scene is saturated with them. They’re everywhere. This can be proved with a simple stroll up Grafton Street, where you’re destined to pass at least a handful of men and women, blaring out songs about long lost loves, their feelings and whatnot.

Because of this I find it very hard to care about the new acts on the scene. I tend to glaze over them, assuming that it has all been done before. However, for The Thomas Donoghue Band, I have made an exception. I’m not saying the dreadlock-laden Kilkenny man has changed my opinion of singer-songwriters entirely. But he has made a valiant effort.

‘In The Meantime’ is the debut EP of Donoghue and his band of merry men. At only three tracks it’s short by anyone’s standards. However, these three songs give a solid indication of what this band is about, and just what makes them tick.

Donoghue has an experimental, and original approach to songwriting. Just when you think a song is taking a certain shape, following a predesigned path, he throws you a curve ball, sending you on a rollercoaster of musical expression. This can be seen from the get go with opening track Solace. When it starts, with its slow, moody guitar riff and soft, nearly whispered vocals, you could be forgiven for thinking it’s just the standard, singer-songwriter 101, then something unexpected happens. The chorus kicks in and everything your cynical mind assumed goes out that presumptuous window. Laid back string picking becomes frantic strumming, pounding drums create a driving, upbeat tempo. It’s transformed from a soft, quiet song into a blaring anthem, with Donoghue giving it everything, showing the full strength of his voice.

Of course, there is a downside to this type of songwriting. The experimental and erratic nature of the song formation makes it harder for the listener to connect with what they’re hearing. This is the downfall of title track In The Meantime. The track is full of great musical moments, like haunting, echoed harmonies, and intricate guitar work; but it fails to gel together as one piece of music. It comes across as if Donoghue is trying to shove a square peg into a round hole, forcing contradicting ideas together and calling it a song.

The Sea conforms to a more standard song structure, with its verses and choruses blending together in a predictable fashion. Again Donoghue is belting it out, combining heartfelt lyrics with strong melodies. While the track may be more straight forward than the others, its uplifting chorus and well constructed arrangement helps it stand on its own two feet. However, at just over six minutes, even a song with this much like-ability can be hard to stick with to the bitter end.

The Thomas Donoghue Band has a tough battle ahead of them. They’ve entered into a market that is already awash with countless artists, struggling to get attention from an exhausted and fed up audience. However their willingness to think outside the box might be the factor that turns things in their favour.