After a day of metal and rap, hiphop and pop-rock, I hit play on the debut release by Andy Ruck – Pictures – to be greeted by a sweet and simple fiddle line and string bass, ahhhh now that’s a nice change! By the end of the first tune, “Favourite Song,” I’m singing along.

Immediately the simplistic yet full sound is captivating, and the basic melody lines of Ruck’s tunesmanship capture the attention. Traditional sounds of slight instrumentation, impeccable musicianship, and flawless production combine to present a bed like a five-star meal. The vocals, whispering gently in a sweet falsetto or soaring with life and strength, are the expertly selected wine that tops everything off with the perfect finish.

Andy who hails from Northern Ireland has spent over five years dedicated to writing and producing the 14 tracks featured on the album.
Andy said:
“It’s been a long hard road, but I’ve enjoyed every minute I’ve spent, recording and perfecting the album.”
“All of the material is original, written by me and, much of it is inspired by different chapters of my life”.
Andy tackles many of the struggles of human emotion that individuals succumb to daily.

From start to finish each course of this fine audio meal is the perfect complement to the one that came before. The way Andy has told the stories of the struggles, success, and hope in his songs keeps me spell-bound, tenderly chewing each tasty morsel. Songs like “Angel” and “Michael” with their melancholy answered by sweet redemption, with “Better Days” and “Favourite Song.”

As things move along, new flavors and layers are introduced to intrigue the palate. String beds and synth pads, more percussion and drums, even some great rockin’ guitars and neat vocal effects fill up the platter. But, the simplicity that pleases so much at the beginning is never lost and each new taste is exciting and fresh enough to stand on it’s own while complementing all the others.

All I can say is this Middle Tennessee music lover will be looking forward to the next release, already! Thanks, Andy Ruck!