Right from the first lines, the tone is set: according to At The Barrier, it is “high time to join the club” and lift the veil on a band that remains strangely under the radar, despite “four studio albums, six live albums and a best-of” already released.
A signature sound from the very first track
Throughout his review, Seuras Og goes through the album track by track :
Overall, he feels the album marks “a new chapter” for the band, brighter and more pop-leaning, without abandoning our Celtic folk roots.
“Love Madness”, the opening track, is described as an “insufferably catchy burst” — driven by a sparkling 12-string guitar, strong percussion and our trademark twin fiddles that bring the unmistakable Celtic touch.
The title track “You Should Know” carries a lively jugband-blues energy, with a bouncing bassline and fiddle lines reminiscent of Dexys.
He also highlights Taylor Byrne’s voice and shares the story of how he joined the band after being spotted performing in the streets of Dublin — a detail he recounts with humour and admiration.
Genre-blending done right
One of the surprises for him is “I Know Who You Are”, built on a clearly hip-hop-influenced drum pattern and a near-sprechgesang vocal line. A bold move — but one that, he says, works “curiously well” thanks to the fluid guitars and the Gallic-folk textures added by the fiddles. The instrumental “Imbloc” reminds him of the atmospheric soundscapes of Clannad, which he considers a beautiful compliment.
A nod to 1960s British rock
Seuras Og also drops a series of delightful rock references throughout his review:
- Speaking of “I Will Go”, he wonders: “What would the Stones or the Pretty Things of 1964 sound like with fiddles?” — before answering: “Delicious.”
- “Never Get Enough” evokes The Kinks, with even a hint of “Ticket To Ride” in the guitar work.
These echoes help anchor the album in a shared musical heritage between France, Ireland… and Britain.
An intimate and emotional ending
The reviewer admits that “Winter’s Nearly Done” initially surprised him — a stripped-back, fragile, intimate closing track.
But he soon realises that its sincerity and slow rise, carried by the fiddles, make it one of the album’s highlights.
“A really rather special experience”
In conclusion, At The Barrier describes the album as “a really rather special experience” and encourages readers not to keep the band a secret any longer. He ends with a sentence that sums up the spirit of the entire review: “If I see their name on any lineup in ’26, me and my tent, we’ll be heading thataway.” A promise that means a lot to us.