SINGLE REVIEW: KEZIA GILL - DUBLIN'S OUTTA WHISKEY

For Kezia Gill fans, the countdown to the new album is now well and truly underway with the release of the first single "Dublin's Outta Whiskey". Revealed at this year's C2C shows, and an opener at recent festival performances, this is the start of a new era. From the opening drum beats, and loud upfront guitar, you know this is not going to be a gentle ballad.

Kezia all but smoulders as she deliver the opening lines, and she's not happy!

"One too many, one more times

Ain't no changing a made up mind

Made me leave when you made me hurt

You made your bed when you messed up hers

Silver tongue saying what I want to hear

For old times sake over one more beer

You're the type of guy used to getting his way

Never say never, maybe one day"

That musical punchy opening is all that backs Kezia as she fires out those opening verses, it is confrontational and attention grabbing, something Kezia has been waiting some months to do. The chorus sees the overall sound ramp up as Kezia reels off a number of things that are never going to happen.

"When the oak trees all grow money

Church bells don't ring on Sunday

And Nashville's out of country

And the neon fades to black

And boy I bet you wish we

Weren't just done and dusted history

When Dublin's outta whiskey

That's when I'm coming back"

Kezia's old English teacher may frown on the use of "Outta", but the rest of us can enjoy it for what it is, full of sass, not just trying to emulate Nashville, but leading the way as to where it should go next.

Barely over two and half minutes long it is like being mugged by audio, as it all but knocks you off your feet

"I hear you're struggling now we're through

If I were you, I'd miss me too

I bought your lies and paid the price

Hell'll be under a sheet of ice"

The end of the second chorus sees the sound rise in volume with Kezia's delivery becoming ever more fearsome with some huge extended notes

Just as you are starting to get the measure of the single a fleeting punchy drum and guitar combo deliver the final knockout blow and it is over. An exhilarating opener, an appetiser, just setting the scene for what is to come.