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The Moon Loses Its Memory
Well the reviews are starting to come in for the moon loses its memory. This page will contain snippets from them all and bits of them all and links to the full reviews.
"Acoustic Gems from the Cork singer-songwriter. Each song superglues to the memory " **** Mojo Magazine
"This is one album you should not ignore" - Folkwords
"O Caoimh has achieved something here that most songwriters aspire to" - Instrumentali
"will accompany me on my travels in the future, given it's uplifitng and strong pop-folk vibe" - Remy's Music & Film Guide
"An effortlessly charming album" - Songwriter Magazine
"a tour de force" - Americana UK
“a refreshingly broad album.. an amalgamation of art and music.. the result is intriguingly beautiful..I’m definitely a fan.”- Inserttitle.ie
"Leeside singer/songwriter Cormac O Caoimh explores darker subject matter on his third album and flirts with indie pop, folk and jazz among other genres" - The Daily Star
"Cormac's songs are like little sculptures... considered, shaped and honed into things of beauty that find their way to your soul."
- Fiachna Ó Braonáin (Hothouse Flowers)
"if there’s any justice in this mad musical world, those who have not heard of this man will be in the minority very soon" - Golden Plec
"it really got its claws into me...I can’t stop playing it" - Musician.ie
"this album is a tour de force" - AmericanaUK
"Cormac O Caoimh's Cork-accented folk shines..with his gentle lilt showing the strength of these songs" - The Ticket/Irish Times
"a versatile masterpiece" - Celebrity Cafe
"rooted in the ethos of Elvis Costello and Paddy McAloon" - The Sunday Times
"this a brew that's stronger than you think, you take in its smooth taste and captivating aromas, before discovering there is more strength/caffeine beneath the surface than you were expecting and it's a bit edgier than you were lead to believe." - Fatea Magazine
"This weaving, concept album is simply amazing" - GiggingNI.com
"it exudes quality lyrics and exceptional musicality"- Ralph's Life
"wonderful collection of songs by this excellent independent singer/songwriter" - Geoffrey Bennett/Musicians Together
"“Cormac O’ Caoimh’s songwriting is akin to that of the ‘80s school of wordsmiths such as Lloyd Cole, Paddy McAloon and even Elvis Costello....a songwriter to be reckoned with" - Hot Press
"placing himself at an interesting arms-length remove from the (singer-songwriter) genre..an impressive album of folk-pop songs" - we are noise
"a real tour de force...a warm folksy masterpiece..an excellent piece of work..9/10 stars" - whisperinandhollerin
"excellent songs, fine guitar work and tasteful arrangements" - Martin Bridgeman KCLR
"Subtle, thoughtful lyrics, and that smooth, honeyed delivery, make his material a joy to the listening ear" - Roy Thompson, Ballymore Acoustic Gigs
"Beautiful new album. Highly Recommended" - The 4 Of Us
"Cormac's songs are simultaneously exciting and innovative, as well as warm and accessible" - The Bard Sessions
"What is conceived here is a mark of triumph" - U&I Magazine
" his warm, intimate vocals and intricate yet free-flowing guitar playing are the real joys here, ensuring O’Caoimh’s star still shines bright" - Leonard's Lair
"an artist hitting his creative stride and one of the finest I’ve heard this year" - Niallofcork
"His warm and delicate guitar combines to make an enthralling and striking third solo album" - Fatea Magazine
"an album, continuously and consistently presenting songs of equal finery in an admirable honesty." - Quiffed Owl
1. Mojo Magazine - February Issue 2015 - ****
2. Instrumentali
This is a long and amazingly thoughful review...you can read it all in the link below...but here is some of it.
"O Caoimh has achieved something here that most songwriters aspire to without necessarily recognizing it as a goal. He has made songs on The Moon Loses Its Memory that are much more than the sum of their parts. And he’s not above adding aphorism to the mix as heard in the refrain “The trouble with love, if you look it won’t find you” on the beautifully dizzy Place a Letter On My Front Porch.
Where does that come from? It’s the leading question on the lips of most interviewers and it’s surely the most tedious. We could ask Ian Broudie, Ian McCulloch, Paddy McAloon, Roddy Frame, Elvis Costello, Ben Watt or even David Gavurin. But we would find them mute, acerbic or monosyllabic on the subject, for deep down the answer most always be the same one. It comes from a productive dialogue between the head and the heart. And who on earth knows what goes on there?
Most, if not all of these names have been mentioned in the same breath as Cormac O Caoimh and that is only right for his songs share the same intelligence, scope and articulation. If anything, he seems to me to stand as an equal alongside this starry company; shoulder-to-shoulder and perhaps even standing a little taller for his risk-taking. I say this because I suspect it would have been very easy for him to keep everyone sweet with A New Season For Love Vol. 2.
Instead, he offers gentle self-reproach in Silver As Mercury, carefree breeziness in Place A Letter on My Front Porch, a search for solace in Lay Low For A While and a genuinely affectionate smile in Similes and Metaphors. These images are created through painting in song, and each one on The Moon Loses Its Memory carries the provenance of the artist’s unique signature. That’s why these tunes are so gratifying and this album is such a complete package."
http://instrumentali.com/2014/05/08/cormac-o-caoimh-sails-among-the-stars-with-the-moon-loses-its-memory/
3. Folkwords
"When you hear an album sometimes something magical reveals itself, even so there remains a fear the follow up album might not scale the heights once gained. That initial charisma may shine brightly once and then never again. Having spent a day or so in the company of ‘The Moon Loses Its Memory’ from Cormac O Caoimh, I’m more than pleased to tell you that his music has moved forward, grown in stature, expanded its scope and the result is a fine piece of work. This is one album you should not ignore.
The music still retains its personal touch, and even with its slight edge of introspection it remains readily accessible, musically inspired and lyrically complete. These songs capture your attention and refuse to release it - from the rhythmic and vocal connections in ‘Maze of Your Heart’ and ‘Yellow Crumbs’ through the potent title track ‘The Moon Loses Its Memory’ to the wistful imaginings of ‘Man of Sand’ a subtle enchantment pervades the album. No background music this, you’re always drawn deep into its appeal, from its sparkling melodies to its poetic lyrics – listen to the multi-layered ‘Morning’, the faintly ominous ‘Basement’ or the delicious ‘Silver As Mercury’ and all becomes clear.
‘The Moon Loses Its Memory’ from Cormac O Caoimh (vocals, Godin guitars) builds its allure around 14 self-penned tracks and features Cormac O’Connor (bass, drums, keyboard, Telecaster) Colum Pettit (violin) and Aoife Regan (vocals). The CD digipak comes with a sumptuous 16-page booklet featuring a full set of lyrics plus 14 photographs by William Crowley, each matched to a song."
The link is here:
http://www.folkwords.com/latestreviews_90746.html
4. InsertTitle.ie
"Singer-songwriter and classical guitarist, Cormac O Caoimh’s The Moon Loses Its Memory is a refreshingly broad third album in which he collaborated with photographer, William Crowley. The album is an amalgamation of art and music, each song having been paired with a corresponding photograph in the booklet. The result is intriguingly beautiful as each image complements its respective song and vice versa.
The album is quite diverse and doesn’t seem to be pinned to one particular genre as it dabbles in everything from Spanish guitar to slower vocal harmonies and rhythmic lyrics. Each song has an equal footing on the album, Maze of your Heart kicking it off well with smooth vocals, repetitive lyrics and a mesmerising rhythm. The lyrics are reminiscent of poetry and the beat and choice of each word is clearly carefully weighted. With a lively upbeat guitar, perky bass and quick piano, the overall effect is very charming.
Overall, the album had this kind of effect, effortlessly relaxed but to great effect. It made for easy listening while easily holding one’s attention. I’m definitely a fan."
You can read it all here:
http://inserttitle.ie/review-cormac-o-caoimh-moon-loses-memory/
5. Fatea Magazine
"In the booklet that accompanies Cormac O Caiimh's third solo album, "The Moon Loses Its Memory", each set of song lyrics features the art photography of William Crowley, a number of examples of which can be seen on the sleeve. It provides a good reference for Cormac himself as many of the songs pull in a picture on the human condition.
Even when dealing with the darker side of the psyche, Cormac O Caoimh comes across as quite a warm song writer, now admittedly that's partly down to the tone of his voice, but also that there is a mellowness in the instrumentation, there's a noticeable absence of sharp edges. That doesn't mean that his songs can't be disturbing, far from it, "Burning Coal", for example has a relentlessness to it. It's a song that keeps on coming at you, but it's more like an avalanche than a straight drop and that in its self brings a revelation as there is no certainty of a sudden stop at the bottom, you never know, it's something you might survive, though not without feeling battered and bruised.
That is something that sets "The Moon Loses Its Memory" apart from its predecessors, warm and comforting seemed to be universal themes within the reviews, well this is an album that might not feel quite so comforting O Caoimh has definitely added an extra dimension to his songwriting, one that seems to have learnt that comfort can be hand out of darker places, like a writer that discovered that a ghost story can have more impact than a horror story, particularly if the ghost story comes out of misunderstandings that happened for the most honest of reasons.
To use another analogy, this a brew that's stronger than you think, you take in its smooth taste and captivating aromas, before discovering there is more strength/caffeine beneath the surface than you were expecting and it's a bit edgier than you were lead to believe. "The Moon Loses Its Memory" is an album that makes you think more than its predecessors and that's never a bad thing"
You can read it all here:
http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/2014/CormacOCaoimh.html
6. Remy's Music & Film Guide
"Great new album on the way this summer from Cork singer-songwriter, Cormac O'Caoimh, one of the more diverse albums I've heard
O'Caoimh's dexterity on his Godin acoustic guitars certainly exhibit his classical background and often beautifully drift into high-tempo Spanish guitar reminiscent of Andalucian maestro Pepe Romero, in particular on the track 'Burning Coal' which will appear toward the end of the new album.
One of the most appealing things I found about O'Caoimh's music was the broad styles that somehow manage to fit together. At times the songs, such as the catchy 'Yellow Crumbs', sound like a mix of Belle & Sebastian and Bert Jansch, yet on other tracks such as 'Basement' (above) it sounds like the product of Genesis duo Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel collaborating on a duet. At other times you can picture O'Caoimh in a smoky jazz club, add into that his soulful and warm vocals and you end up with plenty to keep you interested."
You can read it all here:
http://thebestofmusicandfilm.blogspot.ie/2014/04/cormac-ocaoimh-moon-loses-its-memory.html
7. Musician.ie
I’ve been a fan of Cormac’s ever since I heard The Citadels “Letting Go. Holding On” album, many years ago. I still listen to it on a regular basis, and I also listen to his follow-on solo albums. I was thrilled to see that Cormac has added extra instrumentation to a number of tracks, as it can sometimes be difficult to hold the listener’s attention over an entire album with just acoustic guitar and vocals. This is not, however, a return to the airy pop of The Citadels. It is a more introspective affair, with Cormac’s intimate delivery acting as the perfect vehicle for some of the most personal lyrics he’s ever written. The songs contain enough symbolism and metaphors to keep the exact meanings oblique, but there are a lot of painfully direct lyrics also, which spell out the message for the greatest impact. As he says in the closing track, Similes and Metaphors”
Similes and metaphors pale when compared to your skin.There’s pain, regret, doubt aplenty hear, but also hope, love.An important part of the Cormac O’Caoimh experience is the guitar sound which has been gradually evolving over the last couple of albums, and comes partly from Cormac’s distinctive jazz-influenced finger picking, but partly from his Godin guitar. Cormac is a brand ambassador for Godin, and I was left in no doubt of his appreciation for his instrument when I complimented him on a nice looking guitar, having seen a picture on twitter. He was effusive in his praise of his Godin, and his guitar really has a distinctive tone.The marcato strings, understated drums and ethereal backing vocals (courtesy of Aoife Regan) of Yellow Crumbs make for an uplifting and refreshing track. The appeal of Cormac’s songwriting is his ability to pick up on an insignificant detail of an important event and then spin an epic tale from that one morsel.The title track is a quirky start-stop affair which is very different and demands attention.Thirst and Water is poignant.Solid approaches bossa nova territory, with Colum Petit’s vituouso violin adding emotion to an already charged song. This album is a slow burner. I needed to let it wash over me a couple of times, digesting the lyrics, finding little details in the mix, before it really got its claws into me. Now I can’t stop playing it. This is his best solo work to date.
You can read it all here
http://musician.ie/cormac-ocaoimh-moon-loses-memory-album/
8. Celebrity Cafe
Cormac O Caoimh is an Irish singer-songwriter. His newest release is The Moon Loses Its Memory.
While attention spans are waning and singles are becoming more valuable than albums, this is something so masterful that it simply cannot be broken apart into it’s smaller components, but must be appreciated in its entirety.
O Caoimh is not whiny, simplistic or overly wordy. He uses the perfect string of words and rhythm to create a beautiful and inspiring album. Each song takes on its own tone, own voice, all coming together under the arch of reflections, love and life.
A personal favorite is the fourth track, “Thirst and Water." The song washes over you in waves, and the lyrics have a beautiful melancholic aspect.
The album is a vivid analysis of change and longing. O Caoimh’s sound is unique and passionate. The album boasts an Irish influence of sound, as well as pop aspects and the naturalistic sounds of the classic singer-songwriter.
The album is a versatile masterpiece, perfect for falling asleep to, and great for anything from traveling to meditation.
9. GiggingNI.com
This weaving, concept album is simply amazing. My initial thoughts as I played the first track ‘Maze of your Heart’ were that it was incredibly mellow and chilled. In about two thirds of the way into the song, a female vocalist chimes in providing backing vocals, adding an entire new dimension to the song and creates a slight melancholic tone.
This melancholic tone is continued throughout the album as we appear to be following a continuous story as opposed to each song being individual. However, there is also an uplifting and chilled atmosphere created by the singer. The entire album is just kept simple with the acoustic guitar being the most prominent instrument that we hear. In “Thirst and Water” Cormac’s solo guitar pieces really give the song the feeling that we are not just listening to his songs, we are experiencing his story, practically standing by his side watching the story unfold.
I found that the lyrics became much more important than the music itself in some places as they were nearly like poetry. He sings about real life, real experience and real human struggles in which we can all relate to. Nearly every song title is cleverly named as a contrast to one another, for example the final track is called “Similes and Metaphors”. The first lyrical part of the song is entirely made up of none other than a series of similes and metaphors whilst slowly fading out with no sense of closure. I think that Cormac attempted to create an album that is not just something to listen to in the car; but a piece of art. We follow his story throughout and we are left asking questions as the music beautifully fades into a silence.
10. Ralph's Life
The album as a whole is a very atmospheric affair, beautifully held together by Cormac O'Caoimh's silky vocal and consummate, distinctive guitar strumming. Throughout, it exudes quality lyrics and exceptional musicality, augmented by Colum Pettit's intoxicating violin and Aoife Regan's stunning backing vocals. Ably assisted by Cormac O'Connor on drums, bass and keyboards.
You can read it all here:
http://fruitbatwalton.blogspot.ie/2014/05/cormac-ocaoimh.html
11. Fiachna Ó Braonáin (Hothouse Flowers)
"Cormac's songs are like little sculptures... considered, shaped and honed into things of beauty that find their way to your soul."
12. Pat Coldrick (Virtuoso Classical Guitarist)
"Here's a guy going places and very much under the radar here at home going about his business quietly.I met Cormac a couple of years ago when he joined me on a concert in The Sirius Arts Centre and immediatley i was struck with his unique and original voice and the quality of his original material. Cormac has a loyal following around Cork and is now beginning to get the recognition his music deserves on a wider platform. One to watch folks! this guy has the credentials! Go Cormac"
13. Geoffrey Bennett/Musicians Together
Just before leaving on holiday, I received a cd entitled, ‘The Moon Loses its Memory’ by Cormac O Caoimh.I have just now had the opportunity to listen to this wonderful collection of songs by this excellent independent singer/songwriter from Cork.The album consists of 14 tracks, each one with its individual musical charm. I am one who finds it hard to truly appreciate listening at length without visual stimuli but I have had the opportunity to watch a few excellent videos by this artist so I can visualise how this music would transpose to stage.
Of the tracks which begin with a breathless rendition of ‘Maze of Your Heart’, I have some favourites. The strong string accompaniment in ‘Yellow Crumbs’ with the bringing in of percussion ‘…a drum beats strong…’ and ‘… the bellow of a cello….’ highlight the quality of instrumental accompaniment and featuring Cormac O’Connor on drums (who also provides bass, telecaster and keyboards)
Reading the sleeve notes, one reason I love cds rather than downloads, I see Cormac O’ Connor has been responsible for the arranging, mixing and engineering of this well produced album. In addition, with photography by William Crowley the accompanying booklet includes song lyrics, something I am ever grateful for as a hearing impaired listener. That said, the warmth and clarity of Cormac’s vocals made listening to the poetry easy.
14. Hot Press 12/06/2014
“Cormac O’ Caoimh’s songwriting is akin to that of the ‘80s school of wordsmiths such as Lloyd Cole, Paddy McAloon and even Elvis Costello. Opener ‘Maze Of Your Heart’ veers towards Paul Simon as does ‘Solid’. In contrast, ‘Yellow Crumbs’ has an almost Prefab Sprout flavour with its melodic twists and wistful backing vocals. He certainly packs a lot of musical ideas into these 14 tracks...The title-track, with its off-kilter time-signatures and jerky melody, recalls Cork outfit Microdisney at their left-field finest. The gently swaying jazz-pop of the charming ‘Place A Letter On My Front Porch...lovely slow-burner ‘Lay Low For Awhile’ and gorgeously melodic ‘Thirst & Water’...a songwriter to be reckoned with”
15. The Daily Star
"Leeside singer/songwriter Cormac O Caoimh explores darker subject matter on his third album and flirts with indie pop, folk and jazz among other genres"
16. The Ticket / The Irish Times
"Cormac O Caoimh's Cork-accented folk shines on his latest record The Moon Loses its Memory, with his gentle lilt showing that there’s strength to these songs. There’s a welcome hint of Prefab Sprout here."
167. We Are Noise
The Cork singer-songwriter’s 3rd solo album adds some very pleasing pop tones to his well-bedded folk sound. Previous album A new season for love stuck to a highly effective stripped back guitar/double bass/piano format. This time, however, a production heft is added by Cormac O’Connor which suggests an interesting new direction for O Caoimh’s yearning songs.
So for example, the title track has shades of Paddy McAloon or Martin Stephenson in its giddy, charming major seventh melody and brilliant wrongfooting tempo. The welcome air of Prefab Sprout also crops up on the sparse and beguiling ‘You stole December’ and in the ethereal backing vocals of Aoife O’Regan on ‘Morning’. The songwriting too echoes McAloon’s preoccupation with the knotty travails of love and romance.Cork ex-pat Colum Pettit contributes some beautiful soaring fiddle on ‘Solid’, against a very tasty electronic backbeat of pads and twinkles. Pettit also adds lovely French jazz-style bends and slides on ‘Place a letter on my front porch’, another deceptively simple musing on the “trouble with love”.
And the album ends majestically with ‘Similes and metaphors’, a beautifully breezy arrangement of pizzicato guitar showcasing a series of handsome vocal harmonies and counterpoints.
No song here runs over 3.20. Brevity is something quite unusual but most welcome in the world of singer-songwriters. Although with this album O Caoimh seems to be placing himself at an interesting arms-length remove from that genre. These songs are quick to the point and don’t hang around to admire themselves. And although the songwriting is quite indirect – lyrical even – and there’s plenty of soul-searching, the songs never feel overwrought. At times, you might say the lyrics border on sentimental – personally, I’m a fan of writers who push the boundaries in that respect. And most importantly the arrangements give the songs the settings they need.
This is an impressive album of folk-pop songs – it makes me look forward to O Caoimh’s next work already.
You can read the full review here:
http://wearenoise.com/album-review-cormac-o-caoimh-the-moon-loses-its-memory/
18. IMRO
Cormac O Caoimh has just released his new album and his third solo outing “The Moon Loses its Memory” . But this cd is a different collection of songs. Some (Basement, Silver as mercury and Burning Coal) are exploring darker subject matter to previous releases. Others (Maze of your hear, Man of Sand and Yellow Crumbs) fit closer to the indie pop collection of his first cd (Start a Spark) and others continue in a similar style to the songs of A New Season for Love (but given a different treatment).
And yet..they all fit together either sonically or thematically. The finished product was also a very unique collaboration between the audio and the visual, between pictures and words, between stories and dreams…between the songwriter (Cormac O Caoimh) and between the photographer (William Crowley). William Crowley chose 14 of his wonderful photographs that personally related to each song.
You can read the full article here:
http://www.imro.ie/member-news/cormac-o-caoimh-releases-moon-loses-memory-album/
19. The Sunday Times
"It's 11 years since the Citadels released Letting Go, Holding On, a record steeped in pop ambition. The promising Cork band are now defunct, but their singer-songwriter has carver out a solo career. The Moon Loses Its Memory is Cormac O Caoimh's third album.. rooted in the ethos of Elvis Costello and Paddy McAloon...highlights include the up-tempo Place a Letter on My Front Porch, and the indie-folk tones of Similes & Metaphors. Colum Pettit on violin provides some fizz on Solid, while Aoife Regan's backing vocals add substance on Yellow Crumbs"
20. Whisperin and hollerin (9 out of 10 stars)
'The Moon Loses its Memory' is the third solo release from Cormac O'Caoimh, the singer songwriter and classical guitarist from Cork.
As a result, what you get here is a collection of fourteen beautiful songs that veer between folk and indie pop. The CD is packaged as a digipak, with a lyric booklet which both feature some wonderful images courtesy of the photographer William Crowley, whose pictures tend to fit the songs perfectly. For example to the track 'Maze Of Your Heart' the pictures feature a spider's web caught in the sunlight.
The opening track, the above mentioned 'Maze Of Your Heart' is a guitar driven folky composition that slowly works its way into your psyche.The track 'Man Of Sand' is a real tour de force, featuring guitar and violin with a stark arrangement, it is a track that compels you to listen. 'Thirst & Water' is another high point on the album, a warm folksy masterpiece with guitar and vocals standing out in the mix, and featuring Aoife Regan on backing and harmonising vocals. This is a song that will remain with the listener long after it has ended.
Overall, this is an excellent piece of work, in which some of the minimal arrangements work far better for their sparseness. This would be an excellent addition to anyone's CD collection.
You can read the full review here:
http://www.whisperinandhollerin.co.uk/reviews/review.asp?id=11074
21. Martin Bridgeman KCLR
"While it’s a darker companion to his previous work, the production crackles with its own energy; it also features excellent songs, fine guitar work and tasteful arrangements. It has a quiet insistence and rewards over and over again with repeated listens."
You can read it all here and hear the Studio 2 Session where MArtin and I chat and play two live songs (Maze of your heart & The moon loses its memory):
http://kclr96fm.com/the-eclectic-light/studio-2-session-cormac-o-caoimh/
22. Roy Thompson - Ballymore Acoustic Gigs
" A smooth, jazz/indie pop infused vocal and guitar style, is my best stab at descriptive terms for Cormac O'Caoimh's sound. Subtle, thoughtful lyrics, and that smooth, honeyed delivery, make his material a joy to the listening ear. Quite simply, it draws you in, and holds you there; where you are only too willing to give your full attention."
You can read it all here:
http://ballymoreacousticgigs.blogspot.ie/2014/07/cormac-ocaoimh-live-in-mick-murphys.html
23. The 4 Of Us
"Congratulations to the very talented Cormac O'Caoimh on the great reviews for his beautiful new album The Moon Loses It's Memory. Anyone who has seen Cormac as special guest at our recent Cork shows in Cyprus Avenue and The Triskel may like to know that the album is now available to buy. Highly recommended."
24. The Bard Sessions
"Cormac O'Caoimh is a wonderful songwriter from Cork. He visited the island at the start of July and we had an excellent night of music. Cormac's songs are simultaneously exciting and innovative, as well as warm and accessible. Hope he visits again soon!"
25. U&I Magazine
"THe warmth is cleanly brought through and in the attentive feel of the vocals the sensibility comes in high...What is conceived here is a mark of triumph"
You can read it all here:
http://issuu.com/uandimusicmagazine/docs/july_issue_2014/26?e=4294730/8513280
26. The Galway Independent
"Things of Beauty"
What do 'a honeyed whiskey drink', 'a fine Cognac on a cold winter’s eve', 'a warm woolly jumper in muted earthy colours', 'a rich mahogany: warm and beautiful' and 'a watercolour painting' all have in common?
They are all terms that reviewers have used to describe Cormac Ó Caoimh’s album 'A New Season for Love'. Cormac Ó Caoimh is a singer-songwriter and classical guitarist from Cork. His intimate vocals and exquisite guitar playing is attracting the attention of musicians and music-lovers alike.
Perhaps the Hothouse Flowers' Fiachna Ó Braonáin came closest to describing his sound, when he said "Cormac's songs are like little sculptures... considered, shaped and honed into things of beauty that find their way to your soul".
http://www.galwayindependent.com/20140702/setlist/things-of-beauty-S40300.html
27. The Cork News
"O Caoimh making memories"
"a unique collaboration between the audio and the visual, pictures and words."
http://thecorknews.ie/articles/ocaoimh-making-memories-15256
28. Leonard's Lair
It took five years to make but Cormac O’Caoimh’s second album was certainly worth the wait. Whereas previous releases from The Citadels and his solo debut promised much, 2012’s ‘A New Season For Love’ showed consistent indie-folk class; earning well-warranted comparisons with Ben Watt and Kings Of Convenience..O’Caoimh has taken only a fraction of the time to bring out ‘The Moon Loses Its Memory’ and it continues the rich vein of form.
On the delightful ‘Yellow Crumbs’ and the closing ‘Similes And Metaphors’, for example, it’s like hearing Prefab Sprout’s Paddy McAloon and Wendy Smith team up again. Meanwhile, the title track and its moody feel recalls the rainy day atmospherics of the previous album and ‘Basement’ finds fun with an experimental, staccato arrangement.
The variety continues towards the middle of the record. The acoustic simplicity of ‘You Stole December’ contrasting sharply with the full-bodied production of ‘Man Of Sand’ but each are fine songs in their own right. It is light melancholia which is O’Caoimh real strength, though, exemplified in the rolling melody of ‘Morning’ .. As we near the end of the record, there’s another dramatic twist as darkness unfolds in the words of ‘Silver As Mercury’ where a pretty melody contradicts the self-critical lyrics and on the next track, ‘Burning Coal’, even the instruments begin to turn into a particularly bleak form of folk music.
So it’s an album which switches from lightness to darkness and all points in between. Throughout the album, O’Caoimh is given sterling support by Regan, Colum Pettit’s violin and multi-instrumentalist Cormac O’Connor. However, his warm, intimate vocals and intricate yet free-flowing guitar playing are the real joys here, ensuring O’Caoimh’s star still shines bright.
You can see it all here:
http://leonardslair.wordpress.com/2014/07/30/review-cormac-ocaoimh-the-moon-loses-its-memory/
29. Independent Music Review
The Moon Loses Its Memory is the latest album from CormacO’Caoimh containing fourteen songs.The upbeat guitar riff of Maze of Your Heart starts this album. It’s a lyrically fast moving piece that may have you opening the CD booklet to read along with the song. Cormac O’Caoimh’s deep baritone voice is very appealing and at one point a later track, Silver as Mercury, had me thinking I was listening to Paul Simon. His singing is complimented nicely by the rich female vocal of Aoife Regan. The cello and piano backing in Yellow Crumbs provides the introduction and backing for the first section of this song. The title track, The Moon Loses Its Memory, has a certain avant garde feel to it with the frequent ralls and complex guitar riffs. Thirst and Water has a sweet melody in the verse and a haunting chorus with a nice violin part played by Colum Pettit. The violin also features in Lay Low for a While, a song with a simple message for anyone leading a busy life. The message in Solid and the bouncy feel of Place a Letter on my Front Porch make these songs very accessible Man of Sand has a waltz guitar riff over a four/four beat. It works well and the song moves along nicely. The message reminds us how we can get in our own way by following dreams that are beyond our reach. The final track, Similes and Metaphors, is an upbeat happy tune. The guitar riff allows for a very nice vocal overlay.
You can read it all here:
30. Golden Plec
So you haven’t heard of Cormac O’Caoimh? You’re not alone, but if there’s any justice in this mad musical world, those who have not heard of this man will be in the minority very soon. ‘The Moon Loses Its Memory’ is the third full length release from the Corkonian singer-songwriter and it is a hugely impressive endeavour. Don’t be fooled by the cold blues of the album cover – this is an album of immense warmth. There is real craft and guile in the song-writing on display here. Yet, while the songs all feel expertly measured, they flow completely naturally. It’s quite the skill to match these two facets of song craft and it is a testament to the maturity of O’Caoimh’s style.
On top of this there is excellent musicianship to savour, both from O’Caoimh himself, and from his troupe of musicians. In particular Colum Pettit adds beautiful flourishes of violin which are sprinkled throughout the album, but are particularly memorable on Solid.
Underlining everything, however, are O’Caoimh’s tender vocals and lyrics which, again, feel completely natural and unselfconscious. Sounding like an old friend, we are compelled to listen to what this man has to say. This is particularly evident on You Stole December and Silver As Mercury, where the vocals are brought to the fore.
Opening track, Maze Of Your Heart, immediately sucks you in with its simple riff, chamber pop sensibilities and O’Caoimh’s slightly frantic vocals. Yellow Crumbs sounds like Lambchop on a good day and the title track is sparse indie-pop reminiscent of Field Music. Somehow, despite O’Caoimh’s genre-hopping, the whole thing just flows beautifully.
It is worth noting also that the longest track on this album is three minutes and twenty-one seconds. Most of the fifteen tracks come in under the three-minute mark. For an album with the sheer volume of ideas vying for position that this one contains, this in itself is a remarkable achievement.
You can read it all here:
http://www.goldenplec.com/cormac-ocaoimh-moon-loses-memory-review/
31. NiallofCork
Has the singer-songwriter market reached saturation point? Can you longer stomach David Gray or Damian Rice warbling about lost love and regret. If you’re feeling this jaundiced then you could do an awful lot worse than check out the new LP from Cormac O Caoimh.It’s a wonderfully lush album that in no way strays toward the more tired aspects of the genre.
The pacing of the album is for my money, perfect. It zips along with a verve and confidence without overstaying its welcome.... an artist hitting his creative stride and one of the finest I’ve heard this year.
You can read it all here:
http://niallofcork.wordpress.com/2014/09/19/cormac-o-caoimhe-the-moon-loses-its-memory/
32. Fatea Magazine
His warm and delicate guitar combines to make an enthralling and striking third solo album. His words speak a little louder to match the photography of William Crowley whose images accompany each track in the album's booklet. Each track twists through your mind pulling at your emotions as you listen, taking you this way and that through the various narrative layers. Each, sometimes abstract, photograph encompasses the track with a subtle tint of awe and the unknown.
There is a tone to Cormac's voice that has the ability to make you feel like you know him, as though you are listening to a familiar friend describe a place or event. His vocals convey a feeling of ease as if you are being read a story whilst sat in a comfy rocking chair, however there is a deeper transition through songs such as 'Burning Coal' & 'Lay low for a while', which despite the ever warming and inviting vocals have an eerie and murkier exciting quality, offering subtle warning hints to the audience, delving deeper into human cognition.
The title track could almost be a piece by Pink Floyd's lost man Sid Barrett just before he finally lost his way. It is typical of the way the album appears to be playing with one's mind- feeding on memory, thought and emotion- highlighted by the dreamlike starkness of the photographs paired with which the tracks are paired.
This album has an edge of starkness, less apparent on his earlier albums, which magnifies and reveals itself through the album, and is particularly apparent on 'Basement' where the monster of the song is the personification of darker inner thoughts...
For fans of Nick Drake this perhaps is a modern addition to the collection.
You can read it all here:
http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/2014/CormacOCaoimh2.html
33. American UK
Compared by others to Paddy McAloon, Lloyd Cole and Elvis Costello, O Caoimh is one of those songwriters who’s lyrics demand to be listened to and analysed with intense scrutiny to see if they unearth any other meanings deeper than the ones that sit on their surface. But as with any lyrics, the listener can always interpret them in whatever way they wish. That’s their beauty. But, in the case here, O Caoimh’s lyrics simply stand out. It’s as if the melodies and music is simply something that is being used to encapsulate the lyrics in an effort to get them in front of his audience. I’m sure that’s not the case and as I have no idea what process he follows when creating a song, I’m merely surmising. But whatever way he goes about it, it definitely works.
.Reminiscent at times of Martin Stephenson, especially on closer ‘Similies & Metaphors’ (ah the irony), the title track and ‘Thirst And Water’. Coupled with 14 photographs taken by William Crowley, each of which reflects a song on the album, this album is a tour de force.
You can read it all here:
http://www.americana-uk.com/cd-reviews/item/cormac-o-caoimh-the-moon-loses-its-memory
34. Popmagazine Heaven
"Vraag me niet hoe je de achternaam uitspreekt van deze Ierse singer-songwriter, maar de kwaliteit van O Caoimh’s The Moon Loses Its Memory is superbe, een beeldschone mix van Nick Drake-achtige singer-songwriterfolk en folkpop á la Belle & Sebastian. Zoals bij veel van de betere zangers past O Caoimh’s stem wel perfect bij de liedjes, en daar draait het hier om. Een folky mix van pop en singer-songwriter met hier en daar wat jazzy elementen. O Caoimh schrijft zulke gewiekste melodieën dat ze je niet snel loslaten en je op de een of andere manier dwingen ze telkens weer tot je te nemen, als een junkie die een fix moet hebben. Spaarzaam geïnstrumenteerd met de nadruk op zijn kalmerende stem en voorbeeldige gitaarspel, lichtjes ondersteund door toetsen, drums, bas, elektrische gitaar en viool, heeft The Moon Loses Its Memory een origineel heel eigen geluid. Cormac O Caoimh is een artiest om nauw in de gaten te houden, hoe je de naam ook uitspreekt."
"Don't ask me how to pronounce the surname of this irish singer-songwriter, but the quality of O Caoimh's The Moon loses its memory is superb, a stunning mix of Nick Drake-like singer-songwriter folk and folkpop like Belle & Sebastian. As with many of the better singers, the voice of O caoimh fits perfectly with the songs and that what's it all about here.A folky mix of pop and singer-songwriter with here and there some jazzy elements. O Caoimh writes such smart melodies that they do not let you go quickly and somehow force you to take them in again and again, like a junkie who needs a fix. Sparsely instrumented with the emphasize on his calming/soothing voice and exemplary guitar performance, lightly supported by keyboards, drums, bass, electrical gitar and violin, The Moon loses its memory has an original own sound. Cormac o Caoimh is an artist to seriously keep an eye out for, however you pronounce the name ."
35. Songwriter Magazine
Verdict: An effortlessly charming album.
Released in Ireland earlier this year, The Moon Loses Its Memory is the third solo album from singer-songwriter Cormac O Caoimh. The classical guitarist from Cork, and former member of The Citadels, has teamed up with photographer William Crowley who has chosen a photo for the accompanying booklet to reflect each of the 14 tracks
It is apparent early on that O Caoimh has made a conscious decision to move away from the pared-back folk of his last record, A New Season For Love and returned to the poppier sound of his old band. No longer left alone with his classical guitar, Cormac has surrounded himself with other musicians and backing singers to give The Moon Loses Its Memory a much fuller production which largely compliment his introspective lyrics and gentle, almost spoken, singing style.
The lyrics are oblique in parts, direct in others, yet always hinting at love painfully lost and the encroachment of time, they flicker between defiance and self-flagellation. On the haunting Thirst & Water he sings “I’m wearing the coat/ the one you said didn’t suit me/ I put on weight, stood up straight/ to try to make it fit correctly” and on Silver As Mercury “there’s poison in my pores/ cancer at my core/ A sickness I adore/ Give me more”.
Overall the album is a success and a well-judged return to a fuller sound for O Caoimh.
Verdict: An effortlessly charming album
36. Best of 2014 Lists: Musician.ie, The Underground of Happiness, Paul Cullen, Remy's Music and Film Blog
Thanks to Conor O'Toole and The Underground of Happiness for including The Moon Loses its Memory in the best of 2014 list. He had these kind words to say "There’s a giddy quality to the tune, a wonderful offset against the poetic, poignant lyric. I love the stop-start too. And of course the major seventh chords. Deceptively simple, like all great pop music." Check out the full list of tunes here:http://theundergroundofhappiness.blogspot.ie/…/best-of-2014…
Big thanks also to Paul Cullen for choosing the moon loses its memory in his top ten Irish albums for 2014. He had these lovely words to say "#6 Cormac has been releasing quality music for a number of years now. His 2014 release, "The Moon Loses It's Memory" is a gorgeous record. He is a songwriter at the top of his game."
And to Remy's Musicfilmblog for including maze of your heart in his best of list . He had these kind words to say "One of the biggest earworms, I've regularly been found spontaneously singing 'You've gotta lot of feelings, and meanings for stealing...' around the homestead. 'Maze of Your Heart' is the definition of happiness in a song and Cormac's guitar playing, as on the rest of his album, The Moon Looses It's Memory, is a joy to listen to, and it's coming on another road trip next week"
And Musician.ie (results coming soon) shortlisted the album for the public vote of Best album (along with Hozier, Damien Rice, Kila, Delorentos and We Cut Corners).
37. Sphere Music - Cormac O Caoimh - The Alchemist
There is this undeniable explosive nature in every track(even the quite ones). Having a mastery of Jazz Bossa and Irish folk, he uses these influence to create an upbeat album that goes down easily like awesome coffee. Maze of Your Heart, Yellow Crumbs, the title track The Moon Loses its Memory, Thirst and Water and Solid all take you to a jazzy and poppy ride. You Stole December and the tracks that follow exude a different mood. These songs are meant for sitting down.
You can read it all here:
http://spheremusic.me/2015/01/29/cormac-o-caoimh-the-alchemist/
38. Quiffed Owl
William Crowley’s mixture of the organic and the synthetic in differing tones of photography are mirrored in this fine album of subtley melting folk songs by Cork singer, song writer Cormac O Caoimh.
The title of the album alone is as fitting to the content as the records art work. In most part the feeling of solitude emanating from it is not one of despair but of relief and joy. O Caoimh’s command of what is needed and where, is paramount to the overall success of it.
This is an album, continuously and consistently presenting songs of equal finery in an admirable honesty.
You can read it all here
https://quiffedowl.wordpress.com/2015/02/16/cormac-o-caoimh-the-moon-loses-its-memory/
Cormac O Caoimh uses
RedBear Picks, Godin Guitars, Schertler amps & Logjam Stompers
