Artist – Only Child
Single – The Visit
Released – 21st July 2023
Reviewer – Helen Maw, Liverpool Acoustic
Taken from their highly anticipated, upcoming fifth album, ‘The Visit’ is the brand new single
from Only Child. A melancholic yet hopeful track, The Visit follows the successful release of
‘Looking Forward To Looking Back – A Decade Of Only Child’, the critically acclaimed album
released in 2022. In O’Hare’s words, “The anniversary LP put a full stop on part one of Only
Child. Now we’re all grown up and ready to go in the way the new songs point.” This is
certainly the case with The Visit, there is something inherently defiant about the track, as if
O’Hare is searching for more. The song was recorded and produced at Crosstown Studios
and features Jon Lawton and Saxophonist Adam Letman alongside O’Hare.
According to O’Hare, “The Visit arrived vividly: firstly, waking me from a dream in a hotel
room in Wales as my wife and daughter slept beside me and then again weeks later as I
walked around my old secondary school as my daughter attended a gym lesson. We carry
our past with us and are not in control of when it chooses to appear.”
Flooded with a sense of warmth and nostalgia, the picked and strummed guitars shine
throughout the song. O’Hares voice is that of a storyteller, you are transported along with
him as he sings. As the song builds, the saxophone explodes into life, effortlessly backing
the vocals. The harmonies throughout are perfectly pitched and add a real sense of depth.
The Visit showcases the songwriting talents of Alan O’Hare and through the simple
production, his voice is allowed to shine through in the song.
Subtle, beautiful and thought provoking, this track is a fine example of the exciting things to
come from Only Child and their upcoming fifth album and I cannot wait to hear more.
The Visit is now available to stream and purchase from Only Child’s Bandcamp.
Helen Maw
Review © 2023 Helen Maw, Liverpool Acoustic