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Alter Ego is the brand-new album from Irish songwriter and musician Paul McCann (coming 17th February 2023).
Following 2018’s critically acclaimed debut album ‘Here Comes the Rapture’, Paul McCann is unleashing the follow-up second album titled ‘Alter Ego’. For this album, Paul took a very different approach to both the writing and the recording processes. Lyrically, Paul chronicled his grief, following the sudden death of his father in late 2018. The themes of the songs include love, reflection, confusion, anger and the whirlwind of emotions experienced by McCann during this time.
Of the album's creative process, McCann said: "Writing these songs acted as a type of therapy for me during a very difficult time. When you hear the album, you can hear a lot of different emotions and feelings seeping through. It is the most personal and exposed my songwriting has ever been. Some of it wasn't exactly easy to write or record, but certainly did help me come out the other side with some shred of sanity remaining".
Recording sessions for the album commenced in 2019, with a 2021 release date initially scheduled. The arrival of COVID caused massive delays to the recording process. Scheduling sessions in-between lockdowns, and with the use of remote recording, McCann worked closely with JAM Studio’s Martin Quinn in developing these songs whenever possible.
Where previously McCann had played most of the instrumentation himself, the recording process for ‘Alter Ego’ is somewhat different and features guest appearances from several high-profile musicians including Jason Falkner (St. Vincent, Beck, Paul McCartney); Roger Joseph Manning Jr (Beck, Jellyfish, Air); Charlotte Hatherley (Ash, Bat for Lashes); Gary Lucas (Jeff Buckley, Captain Beefheart), Sylvie Lewis and many others.
Regarding these collaborations, McCann said: "It really was a dream to work with a lot of these musicians. I had shared my first album with a lot of these people who I have been listening to for many years. The only positive thing that came out of COVID was that lockdown allowed me the opportunity to collaborate with these incredible musicians".
‘Alter Ego’ also features McCann’s close friends and regular collaborators Majella O’Reilly, Brendan Scott and Tony Smith, as well as McCann’s two daughters Lily and Cassie. The album was recorded at JAM Studios in Kells, Co Meath with Martin Quinn producing alongside McCann.
Includes unlimited streaming of Alter Ego
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
...more
Alter Ego is the brand-new album from Irish songwriter and musician Paul McCann (coming 17th February 2023).
Following 2018’s critically acclaimed debut album ‘Here Comes the Rapture’, Paul McCann is unleashing the follow-up second album titled ‘Alter Ego’. For this album, Paul took a very different approach to both the writing and the recording processes. Lyrically, Paul chronicled his grief, following the sudden death of his father in late 2018. The themes of the songs include love, reflection, confusion, anger and the whirlwind of emotions experienced by McCann during this time.
Of the album's creative process, McCann said: "Writing these songs acted as a type of therapy for me during a very difficult time. When you hear the album, you can hear a lot of different emotions and feelings seeping through. It is the most personal and exposed my songwriting has ever been. Some of it wasn't exactly easy to write or record, but certainly did help me come out the other side with some shred of sanity remaining".
Recording sessions for the album commenced in 2019, with a 2021 release date initially scheduled. The arrival of COVID caused massive delays to the recording process. Scheduling sessions in-between lockdowns, and with the use of remote recording, McCann worked closely with JAM Studio’s Martin Quinn in developing these songs whenever possible.
Where previously McCann had played most of the instrumentation himself, the recording process for ‘Alter Ego’ is somewhat different and features guest appearances from several high-profile musicians including Jason Falkner (St. Vincent, Beck, Paul McCartney); Roger Joseph Manning Jr (Beck, Jellyfish, Air); Charlotte Hatherley (Ash, Bat for Lashes); Gary Lucas (Jeff Buckley, Captain Beefheart), Sylvie Lewis and many others.
Regarding these collaborations, McCann said: "It really was a dream to work with a lot of these musicians. I had shared my first album with a lot of these people who I have been listening to for many years. The only positive thing that came out of COVID was that lockdown allowed me the opportunity to collaborate with these incredible musicians".
‘Alter Ego’ also features McCann’s close friends and regular collaborators Majella O’Reilly, Brendan Scott and Tony Smith, as well as McCann’s two daughters Lily and Cassie. The album was recorded at JAM Studios in Kells, Co Meath with Martin Quinn producing alongside McCann.
credits
released February 17, 2023
World Keeps Turning Round
Paul McCann: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Lead and Rhythm Electric Guitars, Organ | Martin Quinn: Piano, Keys, Additional Guitar Magic | Andrew Quinn: Drums, Percussion | Kevin Kelleher: Flugel Horn | Sylvie Lewis: Backing Vocals | Astrid Williamson: Backing Vocals | Majella O’Reilly: Backing Vocals
Lost in this Moment
Paul McCann: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Lead and Rhythm Electric Guitars | Martin Quinn: Synth, Piano, Keys | Andrew Quinn: Drums, Percussion | Jason Falkner: Bass | Majella O’Reilly: Backing Vocals | Brendan Scott: Backing Vocals | Tony Smith: Backing Vocals
All is Fair (In Love & War)
Paul McCann: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Lead and Rhythm Electric Guitars | Martin Quinn: Bass, Backing Vocals, Synth, Keys | Andrew Quinn: Drums, Percussion | Roger Joseph Manning Jr: Backing Vocals, Mellotron, Moog Solo, Electric Piano, Synth, Keys
Love is All That Matters
Paul McCann: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Double Bass | Sylvie Lewis: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals | Martin Quinn: Piano | Andrew Quinn: Drums, Percussion | Gary Lucas: Guitar Wizardry | The Avoca String Quartet: Strings | String Arrangement: Martin Quinn
Divide and Conquer
Paul McCann: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Lead and Rhythm Electric Guitars, Organ | Martin Quinn: 12 String Guitar, Keys | Andrew Quinn: Drums, Percussion | Lily McCann: Backing Vocals | Cassie McCann: Backing Vocals |Brendan Scott: Backing Vocals | Majella O’Reilly: Backing Vocals
Where Has the Music Gone?
Paul McCann: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Lead and Rhythm Electric Guitars | Martin Quinn: Synth, Piano, Keys | Andrew Quinn: Drums, Percussion | Jason Falkner: Bass | James Quinn: Clavinet, Electric Rhodes Piano | Alan D’Arcy: Saxophone | Kevin Kelleher: Trumpet | Majella O’Reilly: Backing Vocals | Brendan Scott: Backing Vocals | Tony Smith: Backing Vocals | Brass Arrangement: Martin Quinn
The Voice of Reason
Paul McCann: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Bass, Lead and Rhythm Electric Guitars | Martin Quinn: Keys | Andrew Quinn: Drums, Percussion | Majella O’Reilly: Backing Vocals | Brendan Scott: Backing Vocals | Tony Smith: Backing Vocals
Red River Run
Paul McCann: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Electric Guitar | Martin Quinn: Keys | Andrew Quinn: Drums, Percussion | Ken Stringfellow: Bass, Omnichord, Harmonium, Piano, Backing Vocals | Sylvie Lewis: Backing Vocals | Astrid Williamson: Backing Vocals
Call Off the Dogs
Paul McCann: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Lead and Rhythm Electric Guitars, Trumpet | Martin Quinn: Keys, Guitar| Andrew Quinn: Drums, Percussion | Ken Stringfellow: Organ, Electric Piano, Tambourine, Backing Vocals | Alan D’Arcy: Saxophone | Evin O’Meara: Trumpet, Trombone | Kevin Foran: Trumpet | Brass Arrangement: Martin Quinn and Paul McCann
Out of the Blue
Paul McCann: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Double Bass | Martin Quinn: Piano | The Avoca String Quartet: Strings | String Arrangement: Martin Quinn
Something Has Changed
Paul McCann: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Bass, Lead and Rhythm Electric Guitars | Martin Quinn: Keys | Andrew Quinn: Drums, Percussion | Charlotte Hatherley: Lead and Rhythm Electric Guitars, Backing Vocals, Wurlitzer electronic piano, Synths and Noiz!
Weight of the Bow
Paul McCann: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar | Martin Quinn: Piano, Mellotron | Majella O’Reilly: Backing Vocals | The Avoca String Quartet: Strings | String Arrangement: Martin Quinn
XTC had their moment in time...this recording extends it...Full of small, tight , quirky songs it juz rolls along. Recommended but maybe only for XTC fans.. cwhitney
Philadelphia-based Labrador make unfussy and empathetic alt-country meant to sincerely bolster the downcast in times of strife. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 5, 2023
