Declan O’ Rourke – Kyabram With Kisses XX

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Declan O’ Rourke – Kyabram With Kisses XX Album Review

In this episode of Logan Sounds Off, I am reviewing “Kyabram With Kisses XX” by Declan O’ Rourke. This was released for Record Store Day 2025, and contains demos as well as studio dialogue and more from Declan’s album “Since Kyabram”.

Reviewing "Kyabram With Kisses XX" by Declan O' Rourke, released for Record Store Day 2025 — Loop Fans

It was really cool to be given a copy of this new Record Store Day pressing by Anthem Vinyl, the new Irish pressing plant, which pressed this record.

I had the pleasure of being given a tour of the new premises, and how the vinyl pressing process worked. I always had a vague idea, but to see the plant in person was very cool. It was amazing to be able to listen to an album that I had seen where it had been pressed.

In this review I discuss the different aspects of this album and how it contrasts to the original record – Since Kyabram. Does the studio dialogue add more context? Yes. Do the demos give you more insight into the original tracks? Obviously! Are the covers necessary? Without a doubt. The covers add more aspects to the album, whether it’s Paul Weller’s magnificent cover of Galileo, or whether it is Imelda May adding her own vibrancy to the amazing “Love Is The Way”. The demos compliment the tracks, and give way more context and insight into the songwriting process. Speaking of context, the studio dialogue allows us to hear between the grooves. What was happening in the room like when Declan commenting on the track.

Reviewing Declan O' Rourke's Kyabram With Kisses XX on Logan Sounds Off — Declan O’ Rourke

For someone who is new to Declan’s music, this album got me into Since Kyabram, and both albums compliment each other perfectly. Thank you to Anthem Vinyl, Declan O’ Rourke, Paul Weller, Imelda May as well as all the other incredible people who made this album happen!

Thanks to Anthem Vinyl for giving me a copy of the vinyl.