Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10

It is the voice of the seemingly softly spoken that the most damage can appear to be done, for whilst the taciturn and antagonistic, the aggressive and the uncompromising dole out their version of wisdom with forceful conceit, without impunity, the communitive and the peaceful will always find a way to break your heart without a shred of meanness or callused malice parting their lips.

To die at the words of kindness is to know your heart has felt the deep consideration of thought, and whether it is in the follow up to an action, or just in the empathy shown by a sympathetic character, to have compassionate words placed on your skin, to have them melt your own reserve, is to feel the charity of a death that keeps you very much alive.

For Mike Ryan and his self-titled release, the sound of gentleness that carries in his voice is the precursor to the sheer elegance that comes along in droves afterwards, and to be killed with kindness in such a way by a musician who understands their power, their resonance on the human heart.

Across tracks such as Under The Weather, Carry My Heart, Put Those Dreams To Bed, Wave After Wave, and the opener I’ll Watch The Sun, Mike Ryan soothes the soul with a gentle caress of music, and a even finer purr of exultation ringing in the ears, one that casts the low call to a moment of high drama.

It should not be forgotten that whilst the loud and demonstrative, the ones with the passionate cry and the seeker of drama are noticed more, it is the ones who exemplify mercy, who find the spectacle of courting a show of discipline, a voice of strength but with a heart of genuine faith and commitment to cause the pain of beautiful devastation, that makes a heart break, that makes it weep, that makes it sing with the grace of angel.

Mike Ryan deserves huge praise for this self-titled album, one that is the musical equivalent of purity, and one that loves to love.

Ian D. Hall