From: The Event Guide 16.05.01

Article: CD Review

Author: Cat Hughes

Article Title: Courtney Love

Singer/Songwriter Pete Courtney has just released his debut album 'One Of These Kids'. Cat Hughes pours the tea.

It's sunny out. In the park across the street, birds sing, kids play, everyone smiles. And here you sit, in the corner of a gloomy pub, the same pasty shade you were this morning. But it's all ok, because you're interviewing Pete Courtney. Possibly the most amiable man in music, this Monaghan born, Dublin based singer/songwriter's laid-back approach to life has made gig-going over the past few years a positively healthy experience. "I've noticed, at other gigs, there can be a lot of tension in the room. And personally, even if it's a high-energy gig, I think it's really important to feel relaxed. And I hope that comes across with me. It's not about rock'n'roll or alienating anyone. It's just about sitting back and listening to the song - the profundity. It should be light-hearted".

And just to brighten your day, Pete has released an album of equally calming charms. Mixing a gentle philosophy, a sense of irony, a voice, an acoustic guitar, and the odd perfect extra: 'One Of These Kids' is the ideal accompaniment to your lazy summer days. And it seems that relaxed mood was more than evident during recording. "A lot of it was intentional, but then some of it was really erratic. We recorded it with the windows open - with birds singing along and doing backing vocals. And sometimes we'd to stop cos there was a siren or a car alarm. So there was just this lovely warm feeling while we were recording. It just felt really creative".

With the British press giddy over their oh-so-catchily titled 'New Acoustic Movement'. And our own shores littered with a fresh breed of singer/songwriter - that's less earnest conceit and furrowed brow, and more easy charms and fragile beauty. It seems the world is paying new attention to the troubled troubadour. "They've always been there though. There's an age in every decade when people get really disillusioned with what's going on, and that's reflected socially and in the arts. So I think, almost by necessity, people are more aware of the singer/songwriters that are around - the ones with messages aswell, it's not all just about their own therapy".

And the message on 'One Of these Kids' takes the form of a quiet, warm-hearted spirituality, that neatly side steps any tree-hugger tendencies with it's gentle sense of humour (and perhaps a touch of his metaller kid roots). And to help Pete on this mission..a fluffy, foot-tall philosopher has been spotted sharing the stage with him - one of the centuries finest thinkers (no really), Winnie the Pooh. "Of all the things I've learned - magical, mystical and material - he's a composition of the whole lot. The whole symbolism of Owl - who's the intellect - he thinks about things too much, whereas Pooh just trusts his instincts and redeems situations, cos it's his heart that he's working with. It's amazing when you read it in that light. It really sums up so much of western society. The truth it tells.it's just about being good. And being good is really easy. It's a manifesto for the world.And I love honey!".