This week's single, "100 Acres of Sycamore" comes from Irish singer/songwriter Fionn Regan.
Regan hails from Bray in County Wicklow, and his Irish heritage certainly makes itself known in the Single of the Week.
Regan could easily be described as a smoother, celtic Bob Dylan (one of Regan's biggest influences). Regan's tone in his songs also sounds very similar to English-bred success story Mumford and Sons.
"100 Acres of Sycamore" possesses Regan's characteristic folky tone, as do his other songs, but with a decidedly darker tone. His previous, successful single "Be Good or Be Gone" has an almost cheerful sound, but "100 Acres of Sycamore" takes a turn for the ominous with a heavy, overbearing violin sound.
While the beginning of the song is very dark, it still manages to be serene and beautifully heartbreaking. But by the time the chorus comes, the violin picks up and gives the song a lighter and more enjoyable tone. The simple yet striking piano part also adds to this effect in the chorus.
The lyrics of "100 Acres of Sycamore" are very enigmatic, but they clearly deal with depression and anxiety. Regan addresses entities like "brother" and "sister" in a possible nod to fellow (and not to mention similar) Celtic born singer/songwriter Alexi Murdoch, who uses the terms "brother" and "sister" in his well-known song "Orange Sky."
Although this song can be clearly classified as folk, the lyrics establish themselves in contemporary society with references to modern technology, such as texting. This creates a very interesting contrast within the song.
Overall, Regan manages to create both a dark, foreboding atmosphere and a lighter, uplifting tone in "100 Acres of Sycamore." This feat, coupled with his gorgeous use of violin and piano establish this song as a must-listen for the week.
