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Ireland's Mother Mooch are an oddity. That's the best way to describe them. Their music defies convention as they don't fall under one category but a wide range of them. Blues Rock, Psych, Fuzz, Stoner, Doom, Desert Rock and even Grunge. Their debut album – Nocturnes – is an addictive slice of Heavy Rock music with Chloë's vocals being the centre of attraction. Don't get me wrong the riffs are fantastic through out but it's Chloë's soulful vocals that holds your attention from the start.

Opening track – The Tempest – is wonderful and weird sounding mix of Psych, Desert Rock, Blues, Grunge and Stoner Rock given a trippy modern makeover. The song and the whole album shouldn't really work but Mother Mooch pull this off with grace and style. The riffs have the right amount of power and excitement to put you in a hypnotic trance.

Second track – Sinners – is an almost seedy Blues Rock offering with the band going for an almost shoe-gaze approach and it sounds superb through out. It's not as heavy as the opening track but Mother Mooch revel in this almost stripped back delivery of what we call ROCK MUSIC. Chloë is on fine form once again as she packs a lot of power with her superb vocals.

Third track – My Song 21 – sees Mother Mooch venture into fast-paced Hard Rock/Stoner/Punk Rock territory that's catchy as hell. It's perhaps the closest Mother Mooch get into full party mood. An upbeat and rebellious offering showing another side to Mother Mooch.

Fourth Track – Into The Water – opts for a more classic 90s grunge sound with delicate vocals to match. It starts off rather quietly and slowly which gives Mother Mooch the chance to lay down some of the albums finest riffs.

The first 4 songs on the album should give you an impression on what to expect for the rest of the album. Though to Mother Mooch's credit they provide a few more surprises especially on songs such as L.H.O.O.Q, Hive Mind and Out On The Western Plain.

The final song – Out On The Western Plain – is an re imagination of Leadbelly classic song - “When The Boys Were Out On The Western Plains”. OK, a ton of other artists have covered this song in the past such as Rory Gallagher but Mother Mooch have given this classic song a Fuzz/Stoner Rock makevoer. And the results are impressive indeed. This version has a few spaced out riffs and I never expected that at all as I'm a huge fan of the original and Rory Gallagher version.

Nocturnes is an excellent debut album from Mother Mooch. It's a shame it's all over and done within 30 minutes as the album could have done with another song just to end it. Apart from that, Mother Mooch have delivered an outstanding debut album. Check out that awesome album cover as well. (Steve Howe/outlawsofthesun.blogspot.com)

Chloë Ní Dhúada - Vocals 
Sid Daly - Guitar, Vocals 
Farl - Guitar 
Barry Hayden - Bass 
Danni Nolan – Drums