Aoife Moriarty - Dolls & JIgsaws
“DOLLS & JIGSAWS”
"Dolls and Jigsaws is a remarkable achievement, the album is a collection of 10 lovingly crafted songs that convey a remarkable maturity in both it's musical and lyrical vision."
Jackie Hayden’s pick of the fortnight, Hotpress, 03 FEB 25 2009
“Dolls & Jigsaws is not a typical DIY offering. Rather, it is an arresting slice of smart coffee table pop.”
Mick Heaney, The Sunday Times.
“.. highly accomplished quirky pop gem... an album that contains little of the self-conscious introspection adopted by most troubadours.”
Colm O’Hare, Hot Press Album Review 4/5 Stars
“...her classic songs and singing create a novel juxtaposition with her lyrics which referance everything from MaccyD’s to Nurofen.... they are set to some mighty fine music, based in pop but taking in elements of indie, jazz and balladry”.
Shipla Ganatra, Irish Daily Star, 17th April, 2009.
Dolls & Jigsaws is lyrically inspiring, built on a solid melodic foundation and punctuated with plenty of ambition in the realms of tempo and arrangement to surprise and excite.
Sarah Lynch, Limerick Event Guide, May, 09
“Aoife's voice is refreshing, on the note, sounds sweet and she has something to say. ...Well worth the wait and effort by this serious, thoughtful and talented young musician.”
Nessa Jennings, Newsfour, June 2nd, 2009.
National TV appearance on The Late Late Show, 6th March, 2009.
Jackie Hayden’s “Album of the Year”, Hotpress, 2009.
“Although Aoife Moriarty is a graduate of the International Bar singer-songwriter scene that gave the world the likes of Damien Rice and Declan O’Rourke, you wouldn’t know it listening to this highly accomplished quirky pop gem. She claims influences as diverse as Steely Dan, [early]Madonna and Blossom Dearie- it shows in spades on an album that contains little of the self-conscious introspection adopted by most troubadours.
With a voice sounding not unlike that of Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis, Moriarty’s natural singing style shines through, especially on slow-burners such as the haunting, ‘Memorabilia’ and gorgeous ‘Hard Life’- a dreamy, near perfect pop tune that someone like Dido would kill for. She sounds a tad like Karen Carpender- no bad thing- on the plaintive ‘One More Time’ while ‘My Kyrptonite’ is more theatrical than most of the songs here, betraying a playful caberet influence.
It takes a certain confidence to handle complex melodic arrangements such as the ones found on the current single, ‘Alphabet Soup’ the highlight of the album with its jazzy piano chords and memorable chorus. But she carries it off with ease despite an unexpected, sonically ambitious discordant middle eight section. The whole affair is buoyed by slick musicianship, sympathetic arrangements and the kind of pristine production that gives it a big budget sound”. four/five.
Hot Press, Feb 09
