March 2005:

PASSING BY review by Nicky Rossiter for Irish Music Magazine (bit of a non-review unfortunately, but figured it should be posted anyway!):

Patrick is a new voice to this reviewer. He hails from Belfast and he classes his type of music as ranging from acoustic rock to pop with a bit of folk in there too.

It is difficult to give a full assessment based on the limited exposure of his new three track CD titled Passing By. Of necessity it was probably produced on a budget but he uses personal creativity to over come any cash limitations.

The appearance is simple but well executed and the stark black and white – or should one say white on black – illustration and title is well done.

The three tracks on offer are very good but might benefit from a little bit of editing.

Patrick opens with the interestingly titled ‘Scene in the Park'. His voice has a feeling of coming from the heart and the lyrics are well constructed in the main.

My favourite track of the three is ‘Scathing Song'. The fact that this is the shorter of the three and the one with the quieter delivery may say more for my age than the song.

This debut album, however short, would make any listener interested in hearing more from Mr McKeown and I am sure that we will hear more.

I would urge him to try to include the lyrics on future releases and perhaps refrain from the track lengths being given as ‘really long' or ‘not so long'.