Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *

“Time Flies Over Us, but leaves its shadow behind”, and what a mighty shadow is to be felt when someone, anyone, finds themselves stepping off the train at Lime Street Station, when they cross the Irish Sea and see in the shimmering distance the graces, the welcome of history wrapping its arms around the visitor.

That shadow is one of strength and comfort, for only when the visitor is ready can they take in the illumination provided by its populace, bright, shining with radiance, one that is both progressive and timeless in its authority, and as the visitor sees the magic curves, the pin-point observation and the Straight Lines drawn so too does their appreciation of the artist and artistry of spirit to be found, not fostered or given nodding recognition to, but full blown gratitude to what the city that hugs the Mersey provides as they bask in the illumination, and provide their own light in which shine.

Time flies, and in music and art it is timed by the artistic release, and in how the vision offered differs or stands up to what passed its way before. Following on from the superb Emotional Geography, Only Child, led by the leading light that is Alan O’ Hare, Straight Lines is arguably the album to which any heart will embrace, as much as those that feel the warmth of humanity as they depart their trains from other ports of call, and to which the poet who shines brightly when he sings and when he is composing songs.

For whilst Alan O’ Hare is a musician and a song writer, one who captures the essence of his hometown with remarkable observation, he is deep down aman of poetic form, and as tracks such as Everybody Comes From Something, …And The Band Played On, William Ralph Dean, the excellent The Progressive Priest, the album title track of Straight Lines, and Staring Down The Barrel Of Middle Distance, the recital of the words of the Liverpool streets is proudly spoken, orated, sang with passion and truth.

With Andy Connally, Julia Fiebelkorn, Amy Chalmers, Jon Lawton, and an impressive sax performance by Adam Lenton on the song Have You Ever Heard (Lou Reed Sing Rock ‘n’ Roll) all adding to the atmosphere and beauty of the creative mood, those shadows that others wait to clear as they acclimatise to the sense of clarity that awaits them, is beholden by the poet in his element, with his natural sense of justice and character radiating above those Liverpool streets.

An album of class, sincerity, drama, and above all the one element required in today’s world, hope. Alan O’ Hare – Only Child keep rising.

Ian D. Hall