M/anam – smidiríní
Irish/Icelandic vocal group M’ANAM (meaning ‘my soul’ in Irish) have recently released a new EP smidiríní. The all-male group – which formed in 2018 and includes members such as Dónal Kearney (of folk group TRÚ) and Gavin Brennan, who also performs with Anúna – create work inspired by the music, culture and landscapes of both Ireland and Iceland with singers from both countries. This new four-track record follows the group’s self-titled 2019 album and contains four previously unreleased works including a version of ‘The Parting Glass’ and ‘M’ANAM’, a song composed by Anúna’s Michael McGlynn, Artistic Director of the group. Recorded at Saint Bartholomew’s Church and mastered by Brian Masterson at Soundscape Studios, smidiríní is available to purchase now on Bandcamp: https://manam.bandcamp.com/album/smidir-n

Elaine Mai – Home
Electronic artist and producer Elaine Mai has released her debut album Home. The nine-track album, including previously released singles ‘No Forever’, ‘Still Feel’ and ‘Go Slow’, features a number of of collaborations with female Irish artists such as MayKay, Ailbhe Reddy, Sinéad White and Loah. According to Mai, ‘All of the tracks on Home relate to the theme of belonging. For me, the experience of feeling like you belong somewhere or with someone can happen in so many different ways. You might feel it in your favourite club, or in the company of friends, and every track tells a story about experiencing that feeling. I’m really proud of this piece of work and collaborating with so many brilliant Irish female artists has been an absolute pleasure. I’m really excited for people to hear it and experience it live.’ The record is a combination of electro-pop influences, propulsive rhythms and ear-worm synth lines. Purchase Home on Bandcamp: https://elainemai.bandcamp.com/album/home

IN THE ECHO: Field Recordings from Earlsfort Terrace
IN THE ECHO: Field Recordings from Earlsfort Terrace is a new, eight-track album featuring Lisa O’Neill and Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Katie Kim and Seán Mac Erlaine, Paul Noonan and Roger Moffatt, Eileen Carpio and Sean Carpio, Conor O’Brien and Cian Nugent, Brigid Mae Power and Adrian Crowley, Saileóg Ní Cheannabháin and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, and Lisa Hannigan and Crash Ensemble. Released on the Ergodos label, the album was produced by Ross Turner and recorded between 2014 and 2016 in various locations in the National Concert Hall building, including old lecture theatres, dis-used stairwells, and a former morgue. ‘There are musicians from different disciplines working together,’ said Turner. ‘A conduit runs through the collaborations – that is the environment, the surroundings in which the music was created. Recording within remote pockets and open spaces of the building provided a completely unique atmosphere to the performances. I understand what it means to most musicians to feel comfortable, and I also understand that a sense of something special happening is vitally important for inspiration and performance. When the balance is right, the results yield truly satisfying situations for the musician and the listener.’ Purchase IN THE ECHO: Field Recordings from Earlsfort Terrace on Bandcamp: https://ergodos.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-echo-field-recordings-from-earlsfort-terrace 

Crash Ensemble – Free State
To mark 13 years of Crash Ensemble’s Free State commissioning project, which has showcased a range of composers including Andrew Hamilton, Matthew Whiteside and Gemma Doherty of Saint Sister – the group have just released a new compilation album, Free State. The record represents the essence of the project and was released last week on Crash Records. It includes music by composers Elis Czerniak, Timothy Doyle, Peter Fahey, Amanda Feery and Dónal Sarsfield. To coincide with the album release, Crash Ensemble have also released a new video for Timothy Doyle’s Veneer by filmmaker Tadhg O’Sullivan. Visit: https://orcd.co/freestate

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