Oran Byrne releases his third studio album ‘I’ve Been Here Before’ today. This album sees Byrne take a step in a more experimental direction and it most definitely pays off.
There’s something incredibly comforting about watching an artist come into their own and Oran Byrne does exactly that on I’ve Been Here Before. This album feels like a moment of growth but also doesn’t lose sight of its roots. There’s new instruments, brave arrangements, but also heart and charm. And it really works. Right from the jump, the album does the unexpected. Title track I’ve Been Here Before kicks things off as a fully instrumental opener, and it’s insane. There’s some behind-the-scenes studio chatter that fades into one of the slickest guitar passages I’ve heard all year. It feels early 2000s in style but there’s a modern polish that makes it feel brand new. It’s a ballsy decision to have this as the title track. But it grabs your attention. That kind of sets the tone for the entire album, you can tell Oran is pushing his own boundaries
Then we roll into Flowers & Dungarees, which had me smiling immediately. The tempo’s lifted, the guitar’s got this peppy summer skip to it, and the vocals are strong. There’s a clear indie-rock influence here. I got flashbacks to The Pigeon Detectives (huge compliment) and lyrically it paints this bittersweet, cinematic love story. It’s nostalgic without being sappy. I’m not going to lie, hearing a hometown artist nail this kind of sound made me fairly proud.
From there, Dazed flips the mood. Slower, more delicate, with a twang of country-infused melancholy. The shift in pace is handled really well, just like the natural comedown after the rush. Byrne’s vocals soften here too. It’s gorgeous in its simplicity. ‘Somewhere’ follows up with a more traditional structure , solid drums, steady guitar, but still finds ways to keep things interesting. The production on this whole record deserves its flowers, because there’s always a bit of magic tucked in, whether it’s in the layering, reverb, or the pacing of the verses. It’s thoughtful stuff.
Midway through, ‘She’s A Wild Riot’ caught me off guard, in the best way. The chorus is so catchy and there’s something slightly unpredictable about how the lyrics land rhythmically. It was around here I had to message Oran directly and let him know how much I was loving the record. Then ‘Some Kind of Happiness’ shakes everything up again. It’s funky and fun, but still packed with emotion. There’s this cool interplay between Oran’s voice and the backing female vocals that gives the track extra lift.
We close out with two of the longer tracks: Memoirs and 77 Valley. Memoirs gives space for the music to breathe, especially in the last few minutes, just let that guitar run and don’t touch anything. It’s ambient, moody, and shows a lot of maturity and musical understanding. And then 77 Valley closes the whole thing off with a melancholic goodbye. It starts slow, gets under your skin and then gradually lifts into a more upbeat tempo. It’s sad and hopeful all at once, a perfect closer.
I’ve Been Here Before feels like a document of an artist opening themselves up and letting everything spill out. The shifts in mood, the blend of indie-pop and folkish vibes, the unexpected instrumentals. It’s a bold and beautiful release. Oran Byrne has clearly hit his stride, and I can’t wait to see where he goes next.
”I’ve Been Here Before” score an nice 8 out of 10
Reviewer – Alan Robinson @alan_robinson_photography