Conor Buckley – “Life In The Wrong Lane” – meticulously insightful
Conor Buckley did some of his initial work with Ireland-based engineer Paul Thomas, who has worked with the likes of U2, Kate Bush, and UB40 etc. Conor moved to Prague in the Czech Republic in 2001 and began playing there, acquiring an underground following in the process. He recorded his first album ‘Violent Dawn’ in 2002, and also performed with legendary underground band Psi Vojaci. In 2009 he recorded his album ‘After The Flood’ in the famous Barrandov studio.
Conor also worked as an English language teacher for many years and has also studied for a Master’s in Music and Technology. As a producer he has worked on projects for American television, and his song ‘Linda Brown’ has been featured in a phone app. Conor Buckley currently lives in Cork, Ireland, and is releasing new music in anticipation of his forthcoming album.
Conor’s new single, “Life In The Wrong Lane” drops globally via all major music platforms like iTunes and Spotify, etc. on St Patrick’s Day March 17th. A quick run through Conor Buckley’s catalogue and you will discover a disparate collection of songs, of which some are acoustic, raw and stripped-down, while others are bathed in warmth; all fuzzy electric guitars and production – equal parts lush and psychedelic.
“Life In The Wrong Lane” is a hybrid blend of the above descriptions with an added female voice. Conor’s ever distinctive vocals, with its resonant quiver never far from the surface, is in full effect here, as he bears his heart in front of strummed acoustic guitar.
A little folksy, a little bluesy with an indie rock twist, this song of course is beautifully crafted in its ragged ‘looseness’, and born of an unquenchable creativity, with lyrics which are sometimes unnervingly biting.
Songwriting is a skill many artists can struggle with, but this doesn’t seem to apply to Conor Buckley. The musician takes his feelings, ideas, and emotions and forms them into words and music – but not the glossy and smooth type.
Conor prefers the raw and visceral. Or rather, a sound and message that connects strongly with whoever is sitting on the other side of the audio system. There isn’t a shiny persona, or sonic embellishment masking the song, which gets down to the nitty-gritty from the get-go.
An emphasis on meter and a conversational lilt instantly establishes Conor Buckley as the natural songwriter he is. Conor’s astute lyrics deliver in an unassuming depth, consistently bringing substance to the jangle of the arrangement. His prose is characteristically disarming, meticulously insightful, and at times poignant. Conor Buckley’s sincere penmanship resonates sufficiently to inspire a personal bond with the listener.
It’s interesting to note how long Conor Buckley’s solo career has rolled on quietly and consistently since he started out years ago. Aficionados of his left-field music style, will instantly recognize the work of a gifted songwriter on “Life In The Wrong Lane”.
OFFICIAL LINKS: WEBSITE – MUSIC STREAMS – SPOTIFY
