Single reviewsThe Other Side Reviews

Barry J Walsh – The Sound (2024)

Despite having over two decades experience in the music industry, Ireland-based Barry J Walsh only recently returned to his role as an individual singer-songwriter. A few months ago, his concoction of nostalgic power-pop and indie-pop hit our ears in ‘Rescue Me’ dragging us back to the sounds of The Beatles and The Beach Boys. Waiting eagerly for more, our desire for more from Walsh arrives in his sophomore single ‘The Sound’. Join us jump headfirst into this song.

Following the well-received ‘Rescue Me’, ‘The Sound’ is another leap backwards 50 years to the nostalgic power-pop of the 60s and 70s. Once again leaning toward The Beatles, ‘The Sound’ an upbeat twirl of old-school music. Made for audiences of then and now, Walsh highlights his ability of transcending time with a thread of shimmering good music – good music never dies or fades.

‘Rescue Me’ was described as a “breezy scorcher of a song…” layering scorching guitars with dynamic drums and a trippy keyboard. Yet, while the scorching sting of ‘Rescue Me’ remains in ‘The Sound’, the new single navigates the line between buzzing burns and soothing tones. Filled with pounding drums, a soaring guitar, and more trippy keyboards, ‘The Sound’ waves from savage pop to smooth new wave but with a strong layer of happy power-pop jangling along.

Merry and moving, the melody of ‘The Sound’ is light-hearted and cheerful – the perfect encapsulation of its intimate message. Walsh explains:

“It’s a song which has a dig at those miserabilists who only ever light up a room when they leave it and are all take but no give. As an antidote to that I used the image of a Sally Army brass band marching around as a symbol of spreading some joy and as the song says, tenderness and goodness abound when you let your heart hear The Sound…”


In addition to the single, Walsh released an official lyrics video for ‘The Sound’. You can view the video below or on his YouTube channel.



Find out more about Barry J Walsh on his X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.


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