Haunted! There is a certain errant quality to that exclamation mark that is oddly endearing. According to David Turpin, there’s been a bit of confusion about the correct pronunciation of this, his second album. Following on from 2008’s The Sweet Used-To-Be, Haunted! is apparently supposed to be spoken more as a gasp of surprise rather than of shock or horror. Glad he cleared that one up – I was gonna have trouble sleeping with that befuddlement going through my head hour upon hour.

If The Sweet Used-To-Be was a stark, eerie affair, slightly let down by a lack of innovation and an unrelentingly sombre mood, Haunted! is a totally different bag of bones entirely. Death, ghosts, animals, goblins, the supernatural… These are the things that make up the lyrical content, yet in spite of that there is an upbeat spirit to it, and this was perfectly represented at the album’s launch. Given the title and subject matter of the record, choosing this time of year for its release is an undoubtedly shrewd move.

Given the upmarket setting of the lovely Hugh Lane Gallery, the flashy little invites and the general aura of professionalism, present was a strong sense of occasion. The Dublin City Gallery’s Sculpture Hall was the main venue, and it was packed, with every seat taken. The crowd was, without exception as far as could be made out, an enthusiastically-appreciative audience who lapped up the whole event.

Amongst those attending, it was clear that the first single The Bone Dance is already a fan favourite, and it’s easy to see why; a marvellous romp of a dance-floor tune that still manages to maintain the macabre theme of the record, it's simply brilliant.

Truth be told, a rapturous reception greeted virtually every song. The crowd demanded an encore at the finish, which was apparently so unexpected that the maestro had to improvise a response – delivering a brief limerick before departing! A nicely unique way to end the event.

Turpin himself appears to be have an affable, amiable, friendly, soft-spoken persona, but when performing attains a maudlin, morose appearance that sometimes can’t help but slightly detract from what he's doing. Perhaps it’s nit-picking, but his voice doesn’t quite match the quality of his songwriting. His lead vocals are simply too monotone for his delightfully vibrant, complex, layered songs. By contrast, the backing vocalists were extremely impressive, perhaps David should leave the majority of singing duties to them… or is that too heretical to say so?

Still, these are minor complaints and ones that are mostly to do with the preferences of this one reviewer. What is in no doubt is that this is a talented individual who is imaginative with his ideas and exemplary with their execution, and who has gone from strength to strength since his debut 18 months or so ago. A grand future awaits.

- Sebastian Clare

SERIOUSLY, CHECK OUT THE BONE DANCE, IT'S WICKED: