Kyron and the Strangels was formed when three friends, from Northern Irleand, came together for song writing sessions. They were; Kyron Bourke, Philip Kampff and Cormac O’Kane. The name Strangels was taken from a Tom Waits song ‘The Ocean Doesn’t Want Me Today’ which was based on a word that Tom’s daughter dreamed up by combining the words ‘strange angels’.

It was in the summer of 2007 that The Strangels began to play live in the Black Box in Belfast. Kyron and Cormac, along with new band members Feargal on drums and Bernard on bass, started to perform the original songs to an ever-increasing fan base.

'Hanging on the Ground' is a highly charged emotional song. It has everything you want from a song; passion, emotion, a good beat, rhythm and memorable melody, as well as fantastic vocals from Kyron.

I absolutely love the strings and brass in this single not to mention the uplifting ‘plink plonk’ of what I can only think would be a xylophone, in the intro and throughout the track. It mixes fantastically with the electric guitar, drums and bass.

Kyron’s gravely vocals add depth and meaning especially when nearing the end of the song. You can hear the anguish and despair in his voice; a true artist on top form.

9

Helena Rea