Brendan Campbell 'Burgers And Murders' album

Brendan Campbell is the type of artist that comes around once in a blue moon, creating the kind of music that makes you stop and really listen. He could be compared to Bon Iver for the unearthly tones of his music, he could be compared to Nick Drake because of his silky voice and he could be compared to any Scottish artist like Burt Jansch because of his broad accent and Celtic background, but Brendan is unique, and instead of putting him in a comparative box, should be appreciated for just being a little bit out of the ordinary.

Staggeringly talented on the guitar, to watch Brendan play live adds a different dimension to the music completely. His finger picking skills will leave you bemused as to where the second guitar is kept and who might be playing it. He has a presence on stage that is both charming and bewildering, probably in part due to his background. Born in Pollok in Glasgow, a rough part of Glasgow’s south side, he was brought up the youngest of six in a family with a background in folk music.

He spent his formative years teaching himself the guitar and tin whistle, putting him in good stead to join an array of Celtic folk bands who can happily tour throughout his homeland. It is this influence that is most clear on this album, which is in essence, a contemporary folk album. All the nuances of his musical past are present but added is the lyricism of a young lad growing up in Glasgow which makes it startlingly real. “Burgers and Murders,” the title track is a narration of a typical night in Glasgow, warts and all, and though the wordplay is sometimes harsh, the melody and guitar playing is pure splendour.

The haunting tone of Brendan’s voice is the kind to make a room fall silent and he makes no apologies for his strong broad accent, which adds depth and interesting rhythms to his patter. His first EP Twilight Bird was a four track charm released in June, its tone more subdued than “Pirate Song,” but with comments like “astonishing debut EP” from Sunday Times Culture, it was widely commended.

Burgers And Murders is a collection of very different songs, some more upbeat than others, such as “Pirate Song,” an uplifting ballad, and songs like “Indica” that have an ominous melody but send goose bumps to the extremities. All these differences just cement what a natural and well-rounded musician Brendan is. The album is not trend driven; it’s a collection of timeless songs that will always be relevant as long as people appreciate beautiful musicality.

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Brendan Campbell - Burgers And Murders