Kildare teacher releases second album

A MUSICIAN will launch his second solo album launched on Friday, five years after his debut album ‘Middle Ages’ was impacted by the pandemic.

Peter McLoughlin (46) – known to everyone as ‘Peco’ – is from Ellistown just outside Rathangan.

“Peco is literally abbreviated from Peter, like a nickname from growing up, so he uses that as his professional name,” explained James Kearney from his management company ‘Live Loud Music’ from Carbury who produced the album.

“That’s what everybody would call him, nobody would call him Peter 'Miniature Leaps of Faith' has been released as “a collection of songs built around hope”, and Peco will give a public airing in the Silken Thomas in Kildare Town on Saturday (7 November).

“Musically there's a blend of influences from folk, americana and a bit of indie-rock,” said James.

“Thematically, the album explores the struggles of daily life, from raising children to railing against an increasingly corrupt modern world, to growing older, and romantic relationships and finally dealing with grief and loss.

“Ultimately, there seems to be a sort of wry acceptance on the songwriter’s part and then hope.

“Though the scope of the themes is ambitious and weighty they are explored with a lightness of touch, humour and humanity.

As with all Peco's output there is a love of melody, so everything is delivered through some catchy hooks.

“He’s been around for a while, been in a band called ‘Valentine Black’’ who were fairly successful gigging around Kildare.

“He is a solo musician but uses a backing band of musicians he’s played with over the years.

“We will be announcing more gigs in the run-up to Christmas, and we’re planning a nationwide tour in the New Year to give the album time to breathe, probably seven or eight venues in Dublin, Limerick, Kilkenny – mid-sized venues.

“But you've got to remember he is holding down a full-time job as a teacher in west Dublin as well.

“Were calling this his sophomore album, following on from his debut ‘Middle Ages’’ which was released just in time for Covid to hit, and he never got a real proper run at it, although he was managed to get a few tunes from released onto Spotify.

“We’d hope this album will get a better run of success this time round,” concluded James.