Wax & Seal
(Ivy Court/CD)
Katie Moten
'Wax & Seal', the debut album from Meath man Tadhg Cooke, is a soothing and enjoyable listen, encapsulating a lot of feeling throughout.

It's primarily a melancholic album, with regret being the dominant theme. 'Roadmap', 'George's St Arcade' and 'Six O Two' tell of regret, loss and relationships not working out. Cooke's vocals carrying you gently through emotion-filled songs, which mark him as a songwriter with notable depth.

With a voice not unlike The Thrills' Conor Deasy, Cooke's work also shares with the Dublin quintet that same nostalgia for 1960s music, with reminders of The Beatles and The Beach Boys in 'Monochrome' and 'Ivory Heart' particularly.

With wistful, yearning lyrics and heartfelt songs, 'Wax & Seal' has a lot to recommend it.