Dublin

A lazarus soul’s new music video celebrates Moore Street street traders

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The video for ‘The Dealers’ was made by Myles O’Reilly. The song was directly inspired by singer and songwriter Brian Brannigan’s trips with his mother

‘The Dealers’ is a deftly lyrical and musical highlight from Dublin band a lazarus soul’s recent album No Flowers Grow in Cement Gardens.

“I was fascinated by these strong working-class inner-city women, who were the breadwinners in a time of high unemployment & eked out a living in all weathers. I loved the vibrancy of it all as they brought Dublin alive with their sales pitches, Apples 5 for a pound.”

The song is a beautifully-realised elegy to Bridie and Tessie, two Dublin characters “out on their feet, selling knocked-off Reebok along cobbled streets.” The song’s orchestration is by Joe Chester and features noted Irish musician Steve Wickham on violin.

Myles O’Reilly’s music video underscores the parallel between the past and present with footage of the diverse and vibrant market now and then, with footage from the market now, and archive clips from Hands: Dublin’s Workhorses and The Humours of Moore Street.

Since the ’90s there has been a perennial threat that Moore Street would be closed down and replaced by a shopping centre, and it’s also the spot where Padraig Pearse surrendered to British forces along with five of the seven signatories of the Proclamation of Independence in 1916.

Source: A lazarus soul’s new music video celebrates Moore Street street traders | Nialler9

Rufous Nightjar release debut album “Songs for Three Voices”

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By Saoirse Murphy

Rufous Nightjar, a harmonious trio comprising Branwen Kavanagh, Anna Bishop, and Zoé Basha, release their inaugural album, “Songs for Three Voices”. The group’s journey traces back to a serendipitous encounter within Dublin’s underground traditional and folk music scene. After years of intersecting musical endeavours, the trio solidified their collaboration during a transformative exploration of Eastern European folk melodies in 2018.

The genesis of their debut album, “Songs for Three Voices”, finds its roots in the creative energy fostered during the pandemic-induced lockdown. Branwen Kavanagh, the creative force behind the compositions, delved into themes of mythology, folklore, and the ethereal realms, crafting a collection of a cappella melodies. Collaborating with Anna and Zoé, the trio embarked on an artistic odyssey, culminating in a tapestry of harmonies rich in tradition and emotion.

Their musical odyssey garnered widespread acclaim, with notable appearances on esteemed platforms such as Other Voices and the National Concert Hall. Rufous Nightjar’s performances captivated audiences across Ireland, leading to two sold-out tours and recognition on prominent media outlets, including Donal Dineen’s “Make me an Island” Podcast and RTE Radio 1’s Arena. Renowned Irish videographer Myles O Reilly further immortalized their artistry with a visually stunning creation filmed at Kilruddery house.

With an ethos rooted in communal expression, Rufous Nightjar extends an invitation to embrace and share their music. They envision their songs echoing through kitchens, pubs, and firesides, fostering connection and celebration of folk traditions. To commemorate this album, the trio released a limited run of 100 vinyl records of “Songs for Three Voices”, available now exclusively via Bandcamp.

As Rufous Nightjar takes flight with the debut album, “Songs for Three Voices”, their harmonious melodies promise to enchant listeners and leave an indelible mark on the rich tapestry of folk music.

Source: Rufous Nightjar release debut album “Songs for Three Voices”

Record Review: Rufous Nightjar Takes Flight

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Dublin Trio Ready To Release Debut LP “SONGS FOR THREE VOICES”

By A. Michael Uhlmann

Like a swallow soaring through the misty Amazon forest, Rufous Nightjar have arrived with thrilling harmonies that will transport you to another world. Hailing from Dublin, this trio of talented women, songwriter Branwen Kavanagh, Anna-Mieke Bishop, and Zoé Basha, are deeply rooted in Irish singing traditions, despite their band name suggesting to be from across the big pond.

Rooted in the thriving underground traditional and folk music scene of Dublin, Rufous Nightjar’s friendship and musical partnership blossomed. Individually, each member brings a wealth of talent and diverse experiences garnered from various creative endeavors. However, it was their shared love for traditional singing that ignited their collaboration, propelling them on a transformative journey across Eastern Europe in the summer of 2018.

During this odyssey, immersed in the rich tapestry of folk music, they forged a deep connection and honed their harmonious interplay. This profound experience served as the catalyst for their collaborative project, culminating in a mesmerizing collection of a cappella songs. Infused with themes of mythology, folklore, landscape, and the human experience, their music resonates with an universal appeal. Through enchanting melodies and poignant lyrics, Rufous Nightjar invites you into a world where tradition meets innovation, weaving a spellbinding tapestry of sound that captivates the soul.

Their upcoming debut album, also available in a limited LP version, “SONGS FOR THREE VOICES,” set to release on March 26th, features ten original tracks, the first two singles, “Red Robin” and “Sunday” offer a first glimpse into their enchanting sound. You can find them on Bandcamp.

Source: Rufous Nightjar Takes Flight – by A. Michael Uhlmann

Lankum: False Lankum review

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Without diluting their power or abandoning their gothic intensity, the Dublin group’s fourth album lulls the listener with songs of exquisite softness and deeply affecting harmony

By Jude Rogers

Lankum’s fourth album goes to new extremes, and not simply by dredging more trenches of their trademark gothic intensity. Four years after 2019’s raw-skinned The Livelong Day, with its exploratory epics, False Lankum teems with similar moments of iridescent bliss. But the 12 tracks here also unfurl into each other without a break, alternately lulling the listener then casting them into storms of shuddering sounds.

Recorded in Dublin’s Hellfire Studio by day, while the band spent their nights sleeping in a Martello tower on the coast, False Lankum begins with Radie Peat, the best folk singer of our times, instructing us to Go Dig My Grave. When Peat sings she magically straddles realities, sounding both like an uncompromising everywoman and a mystical instrument of bellows and reeds – a magic she employs to spiritual effect on the beautiful 17th-century ballad Newcastle.

Lankum: The New York Trader – video

Other tracks, such as Netta Perseus and Clear Away in the Morning (by US folklorist Gordon Bok), underline the band’s incredible facility with harmony. Their version of the latter is as accessible as Fleet Foxes’ White Winter Hymnal, full of exquisite softness – at least until their take on Master Crowley’s arrives, a menacing concertina reel that sounds precision-tooled to jar devils awake.

There is so much to revel in here: three instrumental fugues that are more about atmospheric discombobulation than repetition; Cormac Mac Diarmada’s sweet vocal debut on Child ballad Lord Abore and Mary Flynn; their deeply affecting turn through Cyril Tawney’s On a Monday Morning; the way hurdy-gurdies, hammered dulcimers and bowed piano strings create enveloping filmic canvases.

On recent form, Lankum could have become a hardcore drone band very easily, but they’ve done something braver by allowing their gentler sides a bold voice in the mix, while managing not to dilute their power or compromise their ambition. With a 3,300-capacity Roundhouse date later this year, they remain a radical band while making music that is reaching out to the mainstream – while also giving off the thrilling sense that there is so much more to come.

Source: Lankum: False Lankum review | Jude Rogers’ folk album of the month