But the talented Dubliner has the uncanny knack of getting up close and personal ? without losing the listener's interest halfway through.

The superb Shots from 2005 is a prime example of the Dempsey technique ? stripped bare delicate songs that kick like a mule!

There's more of the same on his fourth album, To Hell Or Barbados, which takes its title from the Sean O'Callaghan book which tells of 50,000 Irish men, women and children sent to Barbados as slaves during Oliver Cromwell's conquest in Ireland.

But in addition, this record can boast one of the best ever anti-drugs songs Serious on which Dempsey has a two-way conversation with a drug dealer trying to tempt a potential buyer. Stirring stuff.

It's also got the obligatory killer track in the single Your Pretty Smile.

Elsewhere, Dempsey explores electronica (The City), reggae (Teachers), and folk/campfire (Kilburn Stroll).

My personal favourite is the gorgeous easy listening Summer's In My Heart.

Really, though, with each track being so different to the next, there are no skip moments.

You can tell Dempsey has really gone for it on the album.

He's brought in one of Ireland's finest accordionists, Sharon Shannon; ex-Adam & The Ants guitarist, Marco Pirroni; famed Uillean pipe player, Conor McKeon; cellist, Caroline Dale; Nadia and Yamina Nid El Mourid from French band Lo'Jo as back-up vocalists and Robert Plant's guitarist, Justin Adams.

On the title track, Dempsey's phenomenal voice is at its strongest .

It's fair to say that Shots has now definitely been surpassed as the pinnacle of this young songwriter's already impressive career. Can't wait for album number 5.