Diggin The Idleflower: Colm’s new album reveals more about his songwriting abilities

Irish singer-songwriter Colm Gavin’s brand-new sophomore album, ‘Diggin the Idleflower,’ captures the artistic musings of a man at the pinnacle of his career, reports Ryan Butler.

This very elegant composition combines elements of Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, and Randy Newman, among other widely different inspirations.

Songs like ‘Katie Macaroni’ and ‘It’s starting to feel like love’ have powerful vocal lines like ‘Did no one ever wonder about the burdens you shouldered?’ and feature beautiful string and woodwind arrangements that reflect Gavin’s admiration for 19th-century composers like Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gustav Mahler.

Colm from Clondalkin, who has long been recognised for his gift for both spoken and written word, uses this album to reveal more about his songwriting abilities.

Many of the tracks have the modular sensibility of early Paul McCartney or Paul Simon.

Naturally, he still enjoys writing songs for the average person.

The gospel plough boost of ‘Someday Puddin, Someday!’ or the bluesy cradle song ‘Song for Sam’ demonstrate this point.

‘What’s it like in LA?’, the album’s debut single, showcases Gavin’s shuffling and toe-tapping magnificence and effectively demonstrates why both audiences and critics around the world have praised his songwriting ability.

This melodic boquet, which hits stores everywhere on January 26, is a worthy addition to the collection of any fan of modern music.