LIMERICK’S THE LABOURERS RELEASE NEW UPBEAT BALLAD ‘THE LAST TIME’

SINGLE REVIEW | THE LABOURERS – THE LAST TIME by Anne Kelly

Returning with their brand new single this week are Limerick’s The Labourers, who find themselves leaning on their softer side with upbeat banjo led ballad ‘The Last Time’.

Having recently opened for the likes of Aslan, Brogeal, The Highstool Prophets and DUG, The Labourers are keen to establish their own distinctive, high energy sound that separates them from the opener to the headliner.

‘The Last Time’ begins with a distinctly traditional folk intro which seamlessly transitions into a melodic orchestration that leads into the first verse. The waltzing tempo sets the stage for reminiscent tale of forgotten love, whilst the overall interplay between the verse, pre-chorus, and chorus is effective, hinting at anthemic potential from this band.

Lyrical vulnerability carries the song throughout, comprehending a good example of folk storytelling with witty, relatable lines like “I borrowed some courage from a bottle of wine, It did the trick or I thought at the time,” or in verse 2: “Now all of those drinks were years ago, sure wasn’t Pat Kenny on The Late Late Show”. However, as good as the verses are lyrically, unfortunately the mix doesn’t allow them to shine when they should, with the overall production seeminly burying the potential emotion it definitely could have.

The duel vocals on the chorus: “It’s the last time that I love ya” works much better, and turns what could be a monotonous repetitive moment into something with sing-a-long potential. The instrumentation on the outro is really special, and showcases what The Labourers are absolutely capable of. With the right mix – or in a live setting – I believe that ‘The Last Time‘ will hit much harder, turning a merely promising track into something truly exceptional.