Don’t Settle (Vol. 2 - Transmissions West) is the second of two live records that Glen Hansard has released this year (with Transmissions East having joined us in late April). The two albums serve as a retrospective of sorts for Hansard, but rather than releasing a traditional Best Of, he and his band re-recorded these 20 tracks live across two nights in Berlin’s legendary Funkhaus venue. Glen Hansard has always been a fantastic live performer first and foremost, and this way of presenting these songs, taken from across a 36-year recording career, has given them a wickedly exciting new life.

First up on this volume are two cuts from The Frames, Hansard’s legendary indie band, with fan favourite “Revelate” kicking things off with a mighty bang, before the gentle “What Happens When The Heart Just Stops” shows off a more intimate side. From there, we’re treated to a host of songs from his more recent solo career (albeit with one welcome interlude of “When Your Mind’s Made Up” from his most successful act, The Swell Season).

There are incredible moments throughout, but “Her Mercy” proves to be the ultimate highlight at track four. Starting with a gentle strum of the electric guitar, the song slowly reveals itself, with the band pumping up the energy until we arrive at a massive crescendo and an almighty crowd-singalong. It’s a moment of euphoria that could only have been captured live, and that feels like the whole point of doing a retrospective live record in this way.

Glen Hansard is one of the great talents that Ireland has ever produced, and to hear him present his magnificent songs in this way feels wholly unique, exciting and vital. If you’ve never had the pleasure of hearing his work, both this and Vol. 1 of this collection are a fantastic place to start.

Rating: A-

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