Tell Men This is the solo recording debut of singer/songwriter
Yngve (full name
Yngve Wieland), an endearing 12-song set that was recorded in 2007 and 2008 with the aid of Dublin-based art project the Space to Be Yourself Collective, of which
Wieland himself is a founding member.
Wieland's influences span decades, but the music itself slots in seamlessly alongside the major names in contemporary Americana, from
M. Ward and
Conor Oberst to
Butch Walker and
Jenny Lewis. Duet partners Bennie Reilly and Michelle Considine (of Dublin band little xs for eyes) add a strong female presence to the record, but the songs themselves are all
Wieland's, and his personality is imprinted in each and every one. The songwriting is consistently strong throughout, dwelling on themes such as "innocence" (and the loss thereof) on tracks like "Innocence" and "Little Boy," but the overall mood is playful and celebratory, as exemplified by the title track's sardonic chorus: "Tell men this, if you give love a miss, it'll only be your mama comes looking for a kiss/And when you're done, please tell mum: 'I know you're a good kisser but it's time to move on."
Tell Men This is a stunningly simple record, but it's stunning nonetheless. ~ Dave Donnelly