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It can be near impossible for a young man to pick up an acoustic guitar, sing plaintive and measured songs and not immediately get the Nick Drake stamp. But the truth of is that the late, great Drake owns this genre (with Elliott Smith staking a sizable claim), and Irish-born Fionn Regan inevitably does recall the vaunted songwriter’s sensitive touch on his debut.
Aside from some sprinkled piano parts, occasional drum brushes and angelic backups, the 26-year-old keeps it stark, offering only his warm, accent-free voice and geetar-strummin’ to emphasize his sit-at-a-window-and-watch-the-rain lyrics. The End Of History is most captivating when Regan incorporates unusual lyrical details, as in Put A Penny In The Slot, in which he confesses to stealing his friend’s belongings, then begs forgiveness.
O’Regan plays the Rivoli tonight (Thursday, July 26).
