ERIS O'BRIEN

BLESSED FOOL Cat# SV0336

Eris has emerged from the role of songwriter to performer with the release of his debut CD titled: Blessed Fool. Some of Eris' songs have appeared on albums by some of this country's best-loved artists. These include: Ross Wilson (Bed of Nails), Linda & Vika Bull (These Hands), Ian Moss (Worlds Away), Jimmy Barnes (Hell of a Time). He even cracked the U.S. market, with the release of a song titled: Do Right(by Me), which had a local release over there.

These opportunities to connect with other performers and writers is largely due to Eris' longstanding relationship with Ross Wilson. They have been co-writing songs over many years. Ross' expertise as a publisher and mentor has been crucial. At the end of recording his first solo project Eris commented:" I've come to a point in my career where I want to do my songs my way". Blessed Fool is a collection of songs ranging from country waltzes, to folk, to swing. They reflect a background steeped in a wide variety of traditional music styles.

The title track has a special significance. Eris has worked for several years assisting those with chronic mental illness. Blessed Fool is a call for greater tolerance and acceptance of those who are often so alienated. " It's weird. In the past, if you asked me to write a love song, I would have replied:' they've already been written'. Lo and behold, I've got an album full of 'em".

NOW LISTEN!!
I love the guy - his lyric skills & melodic sense have added a lot to the development of my own music. 'Blessed Fool' is so far out of the mainstream that its magnificent & it includes a brilliant reworking (w/Geoff Achison lead gtr) of our first ever collaboration (w/John Pullicino) 'Bed of Nails'. The title track is a classic & there are many other gems on this classy debut. Its not rock, more a deeply felt collection of songs rooted in multi folk genres.
ROSS WILSON

RADIO FEEDBACK

I'm glad you got Eris O'Brien to send me a copy of Blessed Fool. I think it's a delightful album, and I'm looking forward to playing a lot more of it on Kind of Blues. I'll see if I can get others at the station to play it also......I'd like to enable as many people as possible to hear it. Lovely Stuff! Thanks for providing great music for the listeners here in Central Victoria.
Philip Knipe ‘Kind of Blues’
Thurs 7pm-10pm KLFM Bendigo/Castlemaine, Vic

Played a couple of Eris' songs last night - incl. Bed of Nails.... His
album is really great - why haven't I heard of him before?!
Craig Latham - Nothing Happening
Monday nights 8-10 on 2MCE-FM (92.3mhz Bathurst ~ 94.7mhz Orange).