Paddy Murphy "Coffin Ship" ATS Records
Release date: September 24th, 2014
Running time. 39:16, 13 tracks
 
 
Sometimes  one loses track of a band and then the risk of putting aside a kick-ass album is too high. Paddy Murphy hail from Steyr (Austria) and consists of Franz Höffler (lead vocals, banjos, mandolin, acoustic guitar, harmonica and bodhrán), Hermann Hartl (fiddle, vocals), Christoph Niederhuber (guitar, vocals), Ingolf Wolfsegger (bass, tin whistle, vocals) and Alexander Hewlett (drums). They were featured in one of our samplers back in 2009  and they released their debut album in 2012. I don’t know how or why, but  I overlooked it. Luckily my friend Steven, who has an amazing musical taste, pointed out that I should review the band’s new album. Now I’m in debt with him.
 
Paddy Murphy “Coffin Ship” is a brilliant album and all the things that I like to listen can be found there: sets of tunes, a couple of not-so-over-exposed traditional songs, several fast-paced original numbers and several original ballads. 
 
There are only two Irish ballads, “An Irish Soldier Laddie” and “Kelly the Boy from Killane”. The former has an interesting fiddle and banjo intro, a great arrangement in the middle, and, the most important thing, it sounds different of the Auld Corn Brigade rendition. The latter features harmonica and Paddy Murphy are able to put their own stamp on the song. Listen to the great bass solo followed by guitar and fiddle.
 
Regarding the sets of tunes “Monaghan Jig” and “Irish Maiden”, both of them have a metal/hard rock twist with a fantastic fiddling perfectly backed by the rhythm section and the electric guitar.
 
The punk edge can be heard on five numbers. “Hot Girl” is the single and you should watch the video for this song. The music is played with fiddle, banjo and accordion, and a guitar solo showcases Christoph Niedehuber skills on this track. The sound is reminiscent of the Oysterband “Rise Above” period.
 
“Coffin Ship” features tin whistle and its sound follows the new European Celtic punk wave led by Finnegan’s Hell and The Royal Spuds. Some drops of Fiddler’s Green can be felt too. The other number closer to the Finnegan’s Hell and The Royal Spuds approach would be track no. 9, “Drink and Go to Hell”, a fast-paced anthem with gang vocals and a slight DKM influence.
 
“If Ever I Will  See” is another powerful song . Imagine German Celtic/Folk rock band Paddy Goes to Hollyhead becoming a Celtic punk band. Finally, “Dublin’s Last Hero” is the fifth element of this group of excellent Celtic punk numbers. A catchy song to sing-a-long.
 
The self-penned ballads or slow songs get different treatments. “Take Your Life” is the kind of song that will make the fans hold their mobile phones up in the darkness of a live show. “True Friendship” is an acoustic song featuring guest Gerald Höfler on accordion. Fans who also love Irish folk music will enjoy this number in the North Cregg vein. “What Can I Do” is a Dave King-esque song. On the closing number, “Sailing Home for Christmas”, Paddy Murphy shifts to the quieter end of the Great Big Sea territory.
 
Paddy Murphy has evolved in the right direction. They were a solid band, but nowadays they are able to deliver their own brilliant stuff. Not only is “Coffin Ship” a well-balanced album, but the starting point of a successful career. Taking into account their musicianship and quality of their songs, I don’t think that they suffer the blank page syndrome when they start working on their third album. Do yourself a favour and grab a copy of this masterpiece.