Be careful of first impressions. Upon visual examination, you may not think much of Mute, the debut album by Catchers, an Irish folk-rock fourpiece fronted by a female. If this sounds familiar, you're probably thinking exactly what I thought when I received it.
I feared it even more when I examined the booklet (a non-glossy, black-and-white affair with pretentious photographs of a naked man by a stream). I groaned all the way through the album opener, the slow, purposefully vague "Beauty No.3," although I enjoyed the harmonies between lyricist/singer Dale Grundle (who actually handles most of the singing) and the aforementioned, Alice Lemon, who actually doesn't have all that much in common with any of the O'voices that have become synonymous with Irish pop these days.
A couple of tracks in, the music took a distict upbeat turn! Although the lyrics throughout the CD generally remain somewhat opaque, every song has a great hook. Grundle and Lemon's vocals, along with competent backing by Ger Fitzgerald (bass) and Peter Kelly (drums), make this overlooked album thoroughly enjoyable. Tiny type on the back reads "file under pop/rock," and I couldn't put it better myself.
--
