Killer

Killer

Killian (Killer) Feehan

Angela Macari O’Looney

Named after its creator, this ten track debut album is entertaining from start to finish. Acoustic/Punk/Rock singer Killer has an abundance of imagination, is a multi musician and writes upbeat songs well suited to his own vocals.

Hailing from North County Dublin, Killer has had a colourful musical career to date, beginning at the tender age of sixteen. Originally a member of a band called Ubiquitous, who later became Guiltrip, he played lots of Dublin bars and venues.

Killer eventually decided to go it alone and concentrate on writing and gigging as a solo musician/songwriter. His first CD was a self titled six track demo, which proved a huge success. Guest appearances with Lisa Quinn on Near FM and Mike Hogan’s open Mic Show on FM104 followed. He also played support to The Coronas and has travelled around the Globe with his music, using his experiences to enrich and enhance his style and stage presence.
This collection of songs begins with a fast moving, upbeat number.

Planets (You’re the reason)

Opening up with a thumping punk beat and a touch of harmonica, this number is charged with NRG and spark. The melody line is catchy; guitars are distortion packed. The key change for the chorus lifts it up another notch. A bit of harmony filters through for the second chorus and that harmonica riff is a perfectly placed feature throughout.

Before I reach my Prime

Explosive intro, superb guitars and loads going on in it, this is one of my favourites. Lead guitar is brilliant, with a wonderful riff intro that’s repeated throughout. Baseline is vibrant and very effective. You hear this astounding wall of sound, amazing twin guitar bits in a song that is heavy rock at its best. And the most impressive thing about this full sound is that all of the instruments are played by one man apart from beats and programming.

Opening with a seductive baseline, followed by a lead guitar riff that’s spectacular, the third song on the album is The Magic Door. It has a fab rock n roll beat, a superb guitar solo and the chorus is one you’ll be singing along with!

Wishing Well

Acoustic, with a three four tempo, this is a pretty number and is laid back but has a cheerful melody line and lyrics are poignant. Hey won’t you tell me what I want to hear/ Let me know when you finish your beer/Cause you know every saint has his sins/Lights are on but there’s nobody in.
Backing vocals are splendid in this song which has a divine lead solo taking it to a close.

With a trickling guitar intro and choppy percussion, the next number Slow Right Down is a song that would bring to mind for me one of the most inspirational singer/songwriters of our time; Kat Stevens.
Acoustic guitar notes and chords throughout are totally hypnotic, as Killer pours out the beautiful but sad lyrics. Conveyer belts of people lift/ As the tides they rise and shift/ Children sing Row Row your boat/Cause down here we don’t walk, we float. It seems to be about a flood and how water can be so powerful and devastating. And in the disaster, the way he describes children’s reactions is brilliant;
A little girl stands on a stairs/ And asks why God ignored her prayers/ Screams at the water to stop it’s theft, for the town and people with nothing left. Guitar creates a wonderful sense of movement, trickling like water and finally finishes with a big jazzy chord!

I Am Music

Killer reminds us here of his ability to divert from the easy going acoustic numbers back to Rock music, with sexy baselines and distortion packed electric guitar chords. Lead riffs are scorching, as he personifies music in lyrics. Infused with subtle key changes, the melody line is seductive in this song and chord combinations are excellent.

Upbeat and slinky, Brand New is a love song with elaborate guitar riffs and an appealing moodiness about it. Chords combinations are catchy and Killer uses flanger for his solo, which is superb.

Smith O’Brien’s Cottage

This number is slow with lovely guitar throughout. Melody is gorgeous and soulful. It’s a sad story about Smith O’Brien, a political prisoner, who eventually was granted a pardon. Descriptions are very sad, harmonica lending to the atmosphere of the song. The cottage first stood as a lonely stable/ Wasn’t aloud visitors but he was still able, to feed the free pigeons and attend to his garden/ But he vowed to escape so wasn’t given a pardon.

With an acoustic intro, the next number Grey Street is moody with lots of minor chords and amazing guitar throughout. Fast moving, it has a sense of drama about it. Killer’s delivery is excellent in this song about the tragedy of prostitution in Melbourne and a hopeless girl, who sold her soul to satisfy her material needs.

Last but not least, The longest Day is dedicated to the memory of Stephen J. Byrne 1953-2005. Acoustic guitar notes are beautiful; Killer sings this lovely ballad with conviction and soul. It’s fascinating how his vocals can be soft and meaningful one minute and belt out blasting Punk/Rock numbers the next. The words reflect what goes on in the minds of people who mourn and that helpless feeling that those left behind are left with permanently, when a loved one is gone.

The cover art of Killer’s album depicts scenes from his songs and things which inspired them. Smith O’Brien’s cottage, the sign post for Grey Street, a door that’s illuminated; the magic door and on the back of the cover, the instruments used in the recording.
This fascinating guy performed all of the parts of each number, apart from the drum programming and Loops provided by Mark Reddy. Harmonica, bass, Acoustic and electric guitars, lap slaps and drumbeats, percussion are all done by the man himself. A key note mentioned on the back cover is that this album was made without using pitch correction software. So no artificial correction is used. What you hear is the real deal!

Killer is a one man band with a difference indeed and he proves it with this memorable CD. It took him seven days of recording over a period of months to arrive at his destination. But it was worth it and although singer/songwriters are ten a penny these days, occasionally a Goldmine of talent like this comes along.