This week is all about Eugene O'Reilly's latest project: The Hallstars Volume One.

Many know Eugene from the band Five O'Clock Shadow and his time at Bay City MusicWorks. He moved away a while back, to a hall between Matamata and Te Aroha. And after years of playing covers Eugene wanted to record his own songs: to that end he assembled a veritable cast of thousands. The now-finished album is called The Hallstars Volume One.

It's a record of three halves: there's a pop reggae opening, a central heavy rock section and an acoustic finale. Stylistically perhaps few will like it all equally, but literally every song has something to recommend it.

I actually had to stop listening for a while because the cheerful loping reggae of opener Come Back got so etched in my head that it drove me to distraction. It is presented here in an extended version – there is also a single edit for radio – but is a masterpiece of efficiency. Consider this: there's a 10 seconds instrumental introduction, there's a verse, and the insanely catchy chorus kicks in at... 24 seconds. If radio ever notice this we will never hear the end of it.

Several local players contribute to that track, including Nick Ririnui, drum teacher and percussionist whose playing has elevated many a band, bass player Jeff Kildare, and Josh Pow, a solo performer from the Mount.

More locals

Second song, Right This Time, is equally accessible and features a tight little rap written and performed by Keanu Parangi as well as more Tauranga alumni: Roger Smith on drums, who started many years ago with Graham Clark, bassist Damon Innes, host of many a Mount jam session and a recording artist himself, and the fantastic Wellington-based saxophone player Oscar Laven.

Then there's a segue to part two, the heavy rock section, coming via the power pop of Setting Sun which, like nearly everything here, is a big production number. When I say 'power pop” I'm thinking Springsteen at his biggest and most anthemic. Maybe a lost track from The River sessions...?

Then for a few songs Eugene, who also plays guitars, bass, synths and more, turns over the lead vocals to others. This was the original plan, something akin to Fly My Pretties, with different singers fronting certain songs. Jordan Davison takes Too Much Is Just Enough with Eugene supplying a bank of nasty guitars and James Bos anchoring with rock-solid drums. James is back for You Yeah You which Holly Griffiths leads, coming on like a cross between Cindy Lauper and Pat Benetar.

But if I go on just mentioning each song I'll run out of space. Let me name-check a few more musicians instead. Dan Rubock, who worked alongside Eugene in Bay MusicWorks is on-board, recorded in Puerto Rico or Chile or somewhere unlikely; Baz Mantis and Marilyn Collins Smith (Electric Universe) crop up on guitar and backing vocals respectively; Christopher Trail sings; Wellington NZSO viola player Glenda Van Drimmelen-Craven features; Tim Julian plays piano; and there are many more I'm missing...

Ballads

I haven't even mentioned four rather lovely acoustic ballads, the final two sung by Eugene, wrapping up the album as the Roger Waters-style Okay To Cry builds to a crescendo of Eugene's electric guitar.

I also haven't mentioned the Most Valuable Players. Obvious MVPs here are Gavin Northcroft, playing and arranging many of the keyboard and string parts, and Nathan Sowter who mixed and mastered the project and whose work is simply outstanding. It sounds huge and vital and is in every way an international production which could hold its own anywhere.

This is all presented as a A4-sized 'book” with artwork by Eugene's mother Christine and graphic design by his wife Joanna who also sings backing vocals. I'm sure I'm still missing a dozen interesting things. Find out yourself: this Saturday (19 September) Eugene will be at MusicWorks Tauranga, 132 Devonport Rd from 12.00 – 2.30pm for anyone to purchase an album/ songbook or just have a catch-up. As to the music, there are three tracks on Spotify or contact Eugene via eugene@thehall.co.nz or www.thehallstars.co.nz to hear more.