‘Rhythms of Dawn’ is an accomplished and polished debut album from North Dublin group Cry Monster Cry. There is folk, classic country, tribal & old style Americana in the best of this album, woven seamlessly together with attractive vocal harmonies by brother’s Richie & Jamie Martin. They know what they are doing on this strong album with very few weaknesses.

Their initial EP was a promising introduction to the group and a fresh and evocative addition to a song writing genre that can too often feel unoriginal. The band have not rested on their laurels, they took a break from touring to write this album and it’s only by playing to an audience that one learns your strengths and weaknesses and no doubt being on the road gave them an edge in discerning the direction for this album. The only repeated song from that EP is the strongest one On Tangled Shores and the album clearly demonstrates the maturity of this group in both there compositional style and in the discipline of a clean uncluttered sound.

Darkest Hour Longest day is an enticing opening; one can imagine a road trip through beautiful landscapes, laughing, catching the surf; endless, carefree days with friends…with this album as the perfect soundtrack for hazy lazy summer days. On occasion Richie Martin exposes his upper vocal range and particularly in Old at Heart it tugs at all the right heart strings. The bare guitar strings accompanying the contemplative When the Morning Comes feels like your favourite cosy jumper that soothes and warms after a long day. Gelert’s Grave and The Distance, while promising tracks, lack the clarity of vision that accompanies the rest of the album.

The album’s strength lies in it’s simplicity of execution and exploration of musical styles, we may have heard it before but it doesn’t sound tired or staid. Thoughtful selection by the producer and band means that each track has it’s own story and it’s own place in the overall structure, leaving one feeling that the album is over far sooner than one would like.