Damian O’Neill ‘Trapped In A Cage’ 7” (Overground Records)
From the age of 14 Damian O’Neill has been the guitarist and songwriter behind the legendary Undertones.
Last year as part of Derry’s ‘City of Culture’ celebrations a play called Re-energize was commissioned for which Damian wrote the music and playwright Gary Mitchell wrote the lyrics. From that two songs were selected for this 7”.
The A-side Trapped In A Cage starts with the lines “I see a young man trapped in a cage, I see a heart that pumps with rage” suggesting this could be a furious punk song, but no, it builds up and then comes down. It’s a big power-pop tune and yes it’s the more aggressive end of what you might expect from The Undertones, but just as good, high praise indeed!
The B-side Love Makes The World Go Round is more commercial, it’s a love song about the tribulations of being in love. It sounds more like ‘It’s Going To Happen’ era Undertones and is unashamedly more pop. Not as good as the cracking A-side, but a fun that’s full of fun.
A review that’s short and sweet, just like the single. 7/10
Ray Nicholls