Irish musician Oisin Leech announced himself in 2024 as a singer-songwriter of some distinction with his stunning solo debut album ‘Cold Sea’.
As crisp and clear as the North Atlantic Ocean beside which it was recorded, his album benefited from the subtle presence of some stellar musicians, namely Steve Gunn, M Ward, Dónal Lunny, Róisín McGrory, and Bob Dylan’s bass player Tony Garnier but the acute sense of yearning was all Leech’s own.
- Cerys Matthews Album Of The Year BBC 6 2024
- MOJO Albums Of The Year
- Irish Times Top 10 Irish Albums Of 2024
- Irish Times Top 5 Roots Albums of 2024
- UNCUT Albums Of The Year
- Ralph McLean ‘Album Of The Year Best New Release’ 2024 BBC Radio Ulster
Oisin’s songs map exile, love, loss, and healing via erudite guitar and judicious use of synth and strings. The wilds of Malin, in north Co. Donegal helped inspire this quiet gem of a record. The songs, which are steeped in folk nestle up and whisper in your ear- they are deliberately uncluttered, even sparse. Like Malin itself, space and air are everywhere and the pace is unhurried. Yet, paradoxically, there is emotional intensity aplenty.
Since the album’s launch Oisin has been invited to share the stage with Vashti Bunyan, Lisa O’Neill, M Ward, Tindersticks and Gaz Coombes. The album was also chosen by Cerys Matthews as her BBC 6 Music ‘Album Of The Year’.
In March 2025 Oisin will open for Tindersticks across the EU and UK before embarking on a headline UK tour with special guest Steve Gunn. He will also perform at selected festivals across 2025/2026.