Cronin announce new EP Good Days Ahead alongside two major live shows

Just as they announce a new EP, ‘Good Days Ahead’, the Mullingar band Cronin have two significant dates in their diary – hot on the heels of the release of their atmospheric new single, ‘Overlooking Paris’. And there’s a new video too.

The buachailli have been busy, and there’s no indication that they’ve any intention of taking the foot off the throttle and dropping back a gear.

The two big gigs they have ahead are this Sunday (Easter Sunday) at The Stables in Mullingar, and then on Thursday May 1, at Whelan’s in Dublin. Both shows form part of their launch of Good Days Ahead.

Cronin, who are Drumlish natives Johnny and Mick Cronin together with Brian Murphy and Fiachra Milner, take to the stage at The Stables at 8pm, (similar start time at Whelan’s).

The current single on release from the four, Overlooking Paris, is accompanied by a new video shot by Pete Kingston (Meryl Streel, John Murry) in the historic Greville Arms Hotel.

Recorded at Black Box Studio, France, the track was produced by David Odlum (The Frames, Lisa O’Neill, Sam Smith), who also contributes guitar and synths. Strings come courtesy of Anna Houston (No Crowes) and Steve Wickham (The Waterboys), and additional recording and mixing was by Mick Cronin at the band’s own Transmission Rooms Studio.

Never ones to shy away from their influences, the band describe the track as their very own ‘James Bond spy theme’, drawing from the lush, cinematic worlds of John Barry and Serge Gainsbourg.

Lyrically, it channels the stripped-back elegance of ‘Johnsburg, Illinois’ by Tom Waits and the nostalgic romance of good friend ,Shane MacGowan’s ‘Summer in Siam’. Overlooking Paris has picked up some great support on radio and press: “There’s something about that song, reminds me of maybe a bit of Leonard Cohen, maybe a bit of The Tindersticks,” is the verdict of Dan Hegarty of RTÉ 2FM; Kieran McGuinness, of Radio Nova, has described it as “very hypnotic”.

Hot Press magazine was also impressed: “Emits a smoky, Waitsian quality. Featuring accordion, gypsy-ish strings and guitars with the reverb turned to 11.”

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