Single Review - This Drink (is like having you home) - Alan Finlan

 

With his new single (co written with Stephen Manley) Alan Finlan seems to have found the style most suited to his voice.  This Drink (is like having you home) is a song about loneliness – which is one of those subjects that is very relevant at the moment.

Opening with a simple acoustic guitar the intermittent steel is not only beautiful but adds a poignancy to the feel of the song.  The addition of the slow drumbeat and the tone of Alan’s vocal all combine to reinforce the solitude in the lyrics – which are chock full of imagery, helping to tell the story.

Dropping to a near whisper with no backing instrumentation, our storyteller relates his long working day, his return to the empty house and takes off his watch that is ticking away, showing the time that  he is spending alone.  Without the watch, he can pretend that time isn’t passing so slowly.

As so many before him, he is drinking, but perhaps not to forget but in fact drinking to remember.  When he’s drinking he can feel like he isn’t alone and he is surrounded by memories – for good or for bad.

Luckily, we know Alan has tended a bar or we could be worried about alcoholism as he offers important advice: there are drinks that don’t mix and those that play tricks – they hurt the one you love the most.

There’s a reference to Jack and Diane, assuming that is the John Mellencamp song, 2 American kids doing the best that they can, then it’s true – life goes on.

So whatever your tipple, wine, whisky or rum, grab a glass or several; remember there’s no closing time when you’re alone, and listen to Alan -   hopefully your night will be improved.

This Drink (is like having you home), the new single from Alan Finlan is available to download and stream from Monday 30 November

Find and follow Alan of Facebook, his website, Instagram and Spotify