Sometimes the best discoveries are the ones hiding in plain sight. Hamer Place is a Dublin band I had no idea existed, despite the fact that everyone involved has been right under my nose. Hamer (pronounced “haymer,” not “hammer”) plays bass in Oh Boland and decided to front his own thing, recruiting Oh Boland bandmates Niall Murphy (lead guitar) and Jack Condon (drums), plus Fionn Brennan from Search Results. They recorded Specials two years ago, shelved it, and now it’s finally here. Lucky us.

Here’s what Hamer does well: he writes hooks you can’t shake and wraps them around everyday observations that hit harder than they should. Gerry’s Retired turns office politics into a singalong (“Gerry’s retired / And there’s no one to replace him”). Tribute To Tina name-checks Tina Turner while casually delivering life advice (“She said what’s the point and she should know”). Hamer sings like he’s not trying too hard, which makes the whole thing go down easy. His voice has that relaxed, slackerish quality that complements his narrative lyrics without overselling them.

Most of Specials alternates between energetic, crunchy guitar rockers and quieter, laid-back moments that give you room to breathe. All That I Knew Was Blue is a coming-of-age hit waiting to happen. Saturday Night’s Alright (For Reading) is exactly as funny as the title suggests. The whole record operates on a frequency somewhere between modest and charming, and it sneaks up on you in the best way.

CD available on Bandcamp, with all proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland. Gosh, this band is easy to like.

Add to wantlist: Bandcamp