New EP launched by well-known Waterford musician

Veteran Waterford songwriter, John Rory O'Connor has just released a new 4-track EP, featuring all original compositions.

The new collection is a welcome addition to his catalogue of songs and showcases the diverse nature of his songwriting.

Very much in the country and MOR style, the songs also hint at some of the personal influences of O'Connor with hints of both Elvis Presley and Don Williams very evident at times. 

The Presley influence is akin to when 'The King' performed ballads rather than his more raucous rock 'n' roll numbers.

The EP is titled, 'Four More For The Road', and it's lead track, 'A Hurling Princess' is likely one of the few songs ever written about hurling and love.

An upbeat, country song it's one of the tracks where the Elvis influence comes to the fore. 

The overall sound on the EP is excellent with an exemplary mix where each instrument is given space to breathe. 

The song's chorus is very catchy and the accompaniment is perfect.

For anyone with a love of hurling the song invokes images of the passionate display of fans of every county on match day while there is a slightly poignant tone to the lyrics.

'The Streets of Waterford' is a more downbeat number. 

A gentle ballad, it's a track where the melody of the song is allowed to soar and it also showcases O'Connor's ability as a vocalist.

This is particularly true on the chorus which lifts the song to a different level.

The way the chorus is excellent and exemplary in terms of how structured songwriting can have an immediate impact on a listener.

'Always and Forever' takes things down a different path to what has gone before. 

There is a slight Spanish and Flamenco flavour to the accompaniment that is wonderful to hear.

The musicianship throughout is fantastic and the guitar playing on this track, in particular, is stunning. 

The melody is excellent and lyrically the song tells a compelling story that captures the listener's attention from the start.

The final track on the EP is 'A Prayer to God This Night' which is set to the basic melody of 'Ave Maria' is very much a song of the times. 

It was composed during the pandemic, which is evident from the lyrics.

The EP is the fifth collection to be released by O'Connor, who is also very well known in Waterford City as a journalist and broadcaster.

His previous releases, which were all very well received, included: 'Embers in the Night', 'Ballrooms, Bar Rooms and Blues', 'I Often Think of You' and 'On The Promenade'.

The 'Four More For The Road' EP was released on the Eiram label and is now available locally and would make a welcome addition to any music fans collection.