If there's a criticism of this debut album from Lucky Bones (essentially a solo effort from Dublin-based singer songwriter Eamonn O'Connor) it's the sheer diversity of the fare on offer.

With a vocal style not far removed from Starsailor's James Walsh, Together We Are Not Alone spans traditional Irish folk (the title track, and Magnificent Mistake), early Chris DeBurgh style storytelling (the excellent Stand So Tall and moody Summer Nights Eruption), ballads (Frank Sinatra which has echoes of some of Eleanor McEvoy's more reflective pieces), pop/rock (the Starsailor-ish Longshot),and Pogue / Proclaimers style barroom shuffle (Towards The Setting Sun).

Recorded over five weeks in the sleepy town of Bastrop, some forty miles from Austin, Texas after a frustrating, fruitless period signed to Warner subsidiary London Records, the project came about through a chance meeting on tour with producer Stephen Ceresia. And now, back in Ireland, Eamonn's pulled Lucky Bones together to tour and promote the album.

Blending Irish roots with Americana, folk, country and rock and drawing on the influences of Townes Van Zandt, Dylan, Springsteen and Waits, Together We Are Not Alone is a strong debut and could well be Eamonn's lucky break.

***½

Review by Pete Whalley