Brian Halloran revives ’90s rock with new EP, Four Orphans.

By Graeme Smith

New to our blog, Brian Halloran has just come to our attention through his new EP release, Four Orphans.

Four Orphans is a collection of tracks that didn’t quite fit onto Brian’s previous album (2023’s The Cocktail Hour) or his upcoming album. Rather than let them fade away into obscurity, he’s gathered them into an EP, channelling the spirit of ’90s rock bands like R.E.M. and Counting Crows.

The EP kicks off with the bittersweet The Only Thing Keeping Me Down. A brightness in its instrumental tempers the melancholy in its lyrics. A singalong chorus shows Brian’s affinity for the anthemic and some clever wordplay sticks with you. It’s a strong start.

For a Song was inspired by one of Brian’s favourite songwriters, Semisonic’s Dan Wilson. It’s a punchy highlight that pays tribute to Dan’s ability to weave a tale while giving us plenty of heartache. Your Satellite slows things down with a pleading ballad before Spin My Wheels closes the EP in acoustic style. The stripped-back instrumental gives plenty of space to Brian’s expressive vocal in the verse before things build to a dynamic finish.

Fashions come and go when it comes to sounds, but there are always stalwarts keeping each genre alive. Brian Halloran’s new EP is a wonderful time warp to the ’90s while also bringing something new and interesting to the world of indie rock.

Four Orphans was mixed by Ricky Watts and is set for release on 20 December 2024.