Regan’s Affectations

The Volcanic Hallucination of

Night

Angela Macari O’Looney

This four track CD is just a sample from Shane Regan’s collection of songs. More of a lyricist than a singer, Shane tells a story in each piece, while he’s accompanied by beautiful musical arrangements.

Guitar and Vocals are performed by Shane, Lead Guitar-Paddy Lyons, Bass Guitar-Ken Murphy and Drums-Dennis Cassidy.

Also mentioned on the cover are collaborators Ray Beggan, Enda Reilly, Finghin MacCarthaigh and Noelle O’Sullivan.

Each song or piece is spoken, as opposed to being sung. This wouldn’t usually be something I’d enjoy. However, those excellent instrumentals throughout the entire CD make up for his non-singing, reciting style.

The first composition is the title track The Volcanic Hallucination of Night. A big drum roll and seductive intro on lead involving screaming notes take you into this rhapsody. Enter a beautiful trickling guitar riff and Shane who begins his crazy trip with reflections of some insoluble conundrum.
It changes tempo to a jazzy beat as he does a chorus. In between verse and chorus is a dramatic ascending phrase of notes that creates a sense of tumbling in a downward spiral. I love this.

Mother (I’m home) is done in a waltz or three four tempo. On an acoustic guitar some heavenly riffs and hooks add to the lovely melody line. It’s on the style of a love ballad and is quite romantic. Lyrics are enjoyable, as Shane tells his sad tale with interesting descriptions.

Bourg Madame begins with an elaborate Rock/Trad style intro involving superb guitar.
Throughout this composition are acoustic and electric guitar, performing what I would describe as a Celtic concerto, where one matches the other’s complex riffs with equally mind blowing fretwork.

Come on Ridiculous is a cynical narration, where Shane philosophises with some senseless rhyming that I can’t quite understand, but find amusing just the same. His backing vocalists add a little to his deep and critical jesting about life in general. The instrumentals are jazzy, bluesy and extremely moody.

On the front of the CD is a photograph of Shane, which reminds me of a young Joyce or Wilde. He’s reading a newspaper, which is on fire. Everything in the picture is black and white apart from the fire, which he doesn’t appear to notice as he reads. The other images on the cover art are just as non sensical and in a lot of ways reflect the slightly overcomplicated and quirky content.

I absolutely adore Shane and Paddy’s guitar playing on this short album. Dennis’s use of brushes on the sweeter Mother I’m home song are extremely effective. The musical input in general is wonderful and lift each piece, keeping them colourful and interesting.