HOT PRESS 18 N0VEMBER 2010 FIRST CUTS CD reviews by Jackie Hayden "The Finish Line" is the debut album from Darragh Cullen, late of Pedro For President. 'Found Out' lifts off from a delicious chiming guitar figure, leading to Cullen's voice showing his unerring pop-rock instincts on a melodic track that has storming electric guitars and a grunge tendency for contrasting episodes. 'Long Way Round' is even smarter, with more glorious guitars that rampage all over your room, lots of noise, a beat that won't surrender and Cullen's spot-on vocal on a classy song. 'You' benefits by contrast by being less dense production-wise, and the prominent drums are more effective. Cullen wrote and played the lot himself too. This CD is my Pick of the Fortnight and tracks from it will be featured on Green on Red on Cork's Red FM (Sundays 7-10pm), The Secret Chord (Saturday 11 pm – 2 am) on WLR FM, Irish Nightlife (Friday's 10pm - 1am) on WLR FM, The Irish Alternative on Spin 1038 (Sundays 10.45 - 11.45am), Irish Beats on Beat FM (Saturday & Sunday 6-8pm), The Pulse (Mon-Fri at 10.00pm) on Radio Kerry, Electric Mainline on BBC Radio Foyle (Tuesdays at 7.30pm and Thursdays at 7pm) The Eclectic Light programme on KCLR96FM Sundays 9-11pm), Green and Live show on Limericks Live 95 FM (Sundays nights 8-10pm) and the Near 90.3 FM Sessions (Thursday 7pm-8pm). |
 PHOTO BY EMMA CULLEN |
