You say quacky. I say quirky. Larry Beau's woven persona is one of "a minstrel, a wanderer, a charming character who serenades and seduces with his weird and wonderful voice". However, persona aside, Beau's music is straighter than you, or he, might think. On first listen there is an anticipation of a much darker offering than is delivered in Peepshow Stars. That Beau fails to cough up the twisted meanderings of a dark soul is quickly compensated with the emergence of some worthwhile music. Take the pleasant, folk-influenced, Sleeping Valentine and Spoilsport as examples: What you have here is a mix of sounds which bring you back to ye olde summer days of discovering a parent's record collection. And Beau wears his musical influences on his sleeve: Paul McCartney - White Album phase, some roaming Bob Dylan, a large pinch of guitar folk and even a dash of Peter Sarstedt (Where Do You Go To My Lovely). The mixture is an interesting cake, which leaves a haunting aftertaste ensuring you return for more. Indeed, with its folk orientations and fairytale feel, Peepshow Stars is, in places, pleasant with only a hint of the dark basement. Larry Beau - or Declan Burke as he is known in his hometown of Galway - has a certain something, and after a few listens, one becomes less concerned with the conundrum that is Monsieur Beau and more focused on the music, man. Which is how it should be. Beau's strengths lie in his ability to craft wonderfully succinct and toe-tappingly perfect tunes. Employing guitars, piano, a throat whistle and an air of times gone by, Beau's off to a promising start. Let's hope emulation evolves into something more personally distinct for the clearly talented Beau. A happy sad album if ever I heard one.

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