Blog Post
JAMES O’HURLEY - EVIL
Review by Laura DQ • 1 April 2024
Two minutes isn’t very long to make an impression, but that’s exactly what James O’Hurley does with his debut single ‘Evil’. Striking in its brevity and sparse instrumentation, the singer-songwriter demonstrates that his voice is the real showstopper. Cutting through the jangling acoustic guitar, there’s a grit but also a warmth to his delivery as he wards off a woman who’d ‘better stay away’.
Surprisingly catchy, there’s a cyclical quality to the track, concluding with the same refrain as it commences. Atmospheric rather than flashy, O’Hurley successfully conjures a mood of foreboding; the kind of song you can imagine soundtracking something disconcerting on film or TV. And yet, there’s something joyful in the Latin groove at odds with the haunted lyrics.
Set for release on the 5th April, ‘Evil’ provides a tantalising glimpse of an artist who apparently returned to writing and recording after an extended break. Let’s hope he gets the recognition he deserves this time around. Two minutes isn’t very long to make an impression, and nor is it too long to check out a new artist. There’s more to come from James O’Hurley; make sure you’re one of the first in the know.