Maskedman - The Illusion of Grandeur

1 of 1

A difficult guy to second guess

Maskedman marks the return of Dermot Barrett, former singer with Dublin band Ten Speed Racer. He now calls Norway home and that wanderlust has also found its way onto his solo debut, which moves between styles and suggests that Barrett's own record collection would make for a good afternoon's rummaging.

While The Illusion of Grandeur opens with the excellent, Anathema-like prog of Daybreak, Barrett proves a difficult guy to second guess, as he dips into country-tinged pop (Revolving), barbed ballads (Stupid Earth Boy) and acoustic guitar spookiness (Paint). There are no clangers and the locals who he's charmed into the studio do an oak-solid job.

Hopefully there are some cheap flights on the horizon so Barrett can bring some of these songs home for live shows.

Tracklisting: Daybreak - If You Get It Wrong - Stupid Earth Boy - Coming of Age - Robots - On a Roll - Paint - Revolving - Sellotape the Seams - Rollin' Over