White McKenzie are a 6 piece band from Dublin formed in late 2010. Their debut release, Absence was released on the 30th of September 2011 and has seen them gain a steadily growing fan base across the country.
It’s difficult to attach a specific genre to White McKenzie as they switch between soaring, guitar led anthems and powerful piano pieces. Vocalist, Kieran O’Reilly, rotates between the brooding tones of The Editors’ Tom Smith and a slightly more energetic Paul Banks (Interpol). The standout track on this record is 4am. What starts as a simple piano backed tune steadily builds into a crescendo of resplendent racket which will have even the most reserved, strumming their indiscernible guitars. Fans of The Editors and White Lies will appreciate album closer Crawling the Walls which borrows aspects of both bands giving you a subtly splendid song.
Absence is a fantastic debut considering the band is only at its teething stage. In a mere seven songs, White McKenzie give other aspiring artists a lesson in how to make a debut record. Their perceptibly growing fan base can now welcome a new recruit. You can catch them playing The Grand Social in early February of next year.