Kerry-born, Cork-based singer/ songwriter IAN WHITTY’S 2008 debut ‘The Lucky Caller No. 9’ established him as one of the most impressive performers to have emerged from the Irish indie scene over the past decade. Proffering sharp, Elvis Costello-esque wordplays and finely-honed, string-kissed arrangements, it was a consistently fine first offering featuring several popular radio singles such as ‘Not On Your Side’ and ‘Houndstooth Shirt.’
The clutch of gigs this writer saw Ian and his band, The Exchange, perform over the ensuing 12 months suggested they had a further embarrassment of riches ready to share with us. However, for a variety of reasons, it’s taken them a slightly ominous, Stone Roses-esque six years to return with all-new material.
Thankfully, the ‘Second Coming’-related analogies abruptly halt there, for ‘Birds Carry Souls’ is a fear-allaying return. An introspective affair from the folkier end of the artist’s oeuvre, the song’s origins can be traced back to a story Whitty heard was told about a robin that began following a woman after her husband passed away.
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On paper, this probably sounds like an unlikely premise for a ‘pop’ single, especially when Whitty and co have the likes of anthemic new songs such as ‘Prettiest Dress’ and ‘Rodeo’ still in reserve. In reality, though, ‘Birds Carry Souls’ reveals itself to be a substantial return after a few listens. With The Exchange weighing in with one of their most restrained contributions to date and Ian treating the sombre lyric with kid gloves (“Birds, they carry souls from the heavens to loved ones below/ though it’s dark, don’t you fear...come the morning your loved ones will appear”), it adds up to a poignant and genuinely affecting re-entry to the fray.
Ian Whitty & The Exchange Facebook page
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