A Mix Of Emotion And Easy-Going Tension Makes Icarus From Eugene McGuinness Deeper With Each Listen

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A Mix Of Emotion And Easy-Going Tension Makes Icarus From Eugene McGuinness Deeper With Each Listen

25/2/2026

Eugene McGuinness
Icarus
Liverpool

He did it all, wrote some great songs, got pretty big, had the record deal, and life was good. The dream was realised, or was it? Tenure in the arts is notoriously scarce, and for Eugene McGuinness, when the deal came to an end, so did the rocket ride. He went indie, made a record, became a dad, and then settled for a new life as a former musician. I think the saying is “you can’t keep a good man down”, and it certainly was true for Eugene. He just needed a break, who can blame him? Achieving so much naturally spends all kinds of fuel. Recorded at the Docklands in Liverpool, Eugene McGuinness Versus The Universe will be released at the end of April. He’s peeling doors on the record like a miniature advent calendar, and today’s window is Icarus. We all know the story, we all probably felt like him once or twice, whether it’s temporary or fatal. We’re not immortal, but we’re not quitters either, right? Put on the song.

A sombre guitar with undertones in harmony tumbles along and gives way for the vocal. Soft, well-spoken, and delicately executed notes begin to dance on the steely beat. The tempo of the lyrics rises, as the music brings out extra layers of vocal and intrigue. The story builds, the paragraphs get longer, and the picture grows. A moody chorus breaks free like dolphins curving over the tip of the waves, drumming and violin find a niche, and the song builds in musical intensity. Elements of Mercury Rev and The Doves meet a homely folk intuition that fizzes within the composition.

Find out more on the Eugene McGuinness website

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Visit Mellowtone Records for more information

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