Avatar Launch Second Album

Avatar will launch its second album, LIKE RIVER TO OCEAN, at Club Head Bang Bang, The Greyhound Bar, Tralee on March 11th at 9.30 pm

Like River To Ocean is the second album from Kerry born natives, James Kennedy and Tony O Flaherty who together form Avatar. The duo is a synthesis of Kennedy's original compositions and arrangements coupled with O' Flaherty's engineering skills. The services of some of Ireland's finest musicians known as The Avatar Massive are also enlisted. Avatar produce a fusion of 70's Dub Reggae, Jazz and Ambient Sounds which are uniquely their own and present a ten strong band at live performances. Like River To Ocean has been described as delightfully melodic with Kennedy's flowing bass lines being complimented superbly by some beautiful brass harmonies and a diverse range of instrumentation.

Like River To Ocean has been particularly influenced by the exquisite landscape around Fenit harbour in north Kerry. This area has had a significant resonance for Kennedy since early childhood. It is a place of amazing beauty. The eight tracks comprising the album Like River To Ocean have each their own individual rhythm, from the opening track Sunrise Dub with its hypnotic bass line to the crescendo of Loving Kindness Dub's searing horn section the album holds many delights for the discerning listener, culminating in the final track, Like River To Ocean Dub.

Following on from the acclaim of Avatar's first album Summa Iru in 2005, Like River To Ocean has already received praise in The Irish Examiner, Hot Press, United Reggae Magazine and German publications such as Hanfblatt and Dubblog as well as significant national and international radio play. The band's services have also been required by many established artists for remix work, most recently by German Reggae group, The Senior Allstars, and Ireland's Liam O Maonlai. They are also currently involved in collaborations with Dutch Reggae DJ, Esta Selecta's Haiti Project, and have just completed a new video of Heart Of Wisdom Dub with Irish film maker Shaun O' Connor featuring the hauntingly beautiful voice of Aine Whelan.

For more on Avatar, check out Avatar Sounds