Mary Louise and Teresa O’Donnell – Heavenly harps, heavenly cloths: Contemporary music for the Irish harp by Brian Boydell
An album of music for Irish harp composed by Brian Boydell between 1961 and 1989, Heavenly harps, heavenly cloths is an opportunity to hear pieces from a key period in the instrument’s revival. The works are for Irish harp duo, solo Irish harp and voice with harp accompaniment, and include Four Sketches for Two Irish Harps from 1962, three settings of Yeats songs, and works from his An Album of Pieces for the Irish Harp from 1989. Mary Louise and Teresa O’Donnell are both musicians and musicologists (Mary Louise is the author of Ireland’s Harp: The Shaping of Irish Identity c. 1770–1880 and together they authored Sisters of the Revolutionaries: The Story of Margaret and Mary Brigid Pearse). Available on Bandcamp. Visit https://marylouiseteresaodonnell.bandcamp.com/releases

Bryan O’Leary – Tranquility in Tureencahill
Tranquility in Tureencahill is the new 7-track EP from accordion player Bryan O’Leary. All seven tracks are his own compositions, some dedicated to musical heroes such as Jimmy Doyle, Nicky McAuliffe, Billy Clifford and Jackie Daly. This is the first release on the new Sliabh Luachra Music record label set up by Eoin ‘Stan’ O’Sullivan. Accompanied by Brian Mooney on bouzouki, O’Leary is also joined by Sharon Howley on cello and Therese McInerney on fiddle for his air ‘Créde ó Chiarraí Luachra’. The EP also features the tunes he was recently commissioned to write by RTÉ’s The Rolling Wave as part of the Faoiseamh series. Visit https://sliabhluachra.bandcamp.com/releases

Anna Murray – City Shadows
City Shadows by Tokyo-based composer Anna Murray – released on Cafe OTO’s Takuroku label – was compiled from field recordings of walks through the city, combined with improvised sampling, instrumental layering and live-performed processing. The resulting sound is a dream-like slow-scan through rushing traffic, temple bells, scurrying cicadas, noh chants, scattered crowds, the sound of radios playing from shop windows, game machines and vignettes of passing conversations. To purchase, visit www.cafeoto.co.uk/shop/anna-murray-city-shadows/

Rónán Ó Snodaigh – Tá’n t’Ádh Liom
Bodhrán player and singer with Kíla Rónán Ó Snodaigh has just released a new song, ‘Tá’n t’Ádh Liom’, meaning ‘Lucky is me’. The track features film-maker and musician Myles O’Reilly accompanying under his musical moniker Indistinct Chatter with subtle synth. Commenting on the inspiration for the song, Ó Snodaigh said: ‘It appears I have been helped a lot along the way and maybe I have just stopped long enough this year to notice how lucky I have been and how much grace has been bestowed on me.’ Purchase the track on Bandcamp: https://ronanosnodaigh.bandcamp.com/track/t-n-t-dh-liom

Orla Gartland – More Like You
Dublin singer-songwriter Orla Gartland’s new song ‘More Like You’ was released this week. Following ‘Pretending’ in October 2020, this is the latest single from her upcoming album, due for release later this year. The candid single is a personal account of dealing with feelings of insecurity and inferiority. She writes: ‘ “More Like You” was born from a petty friend jealousy I have for my best friend’s other best friend. She’s someone who I only ever heard good things about, someone I wanted to hate until I met her and – of course – I didn’t. I loved her.’ Visit: www.orlagartland.com.

Mary Dullea – Persian Autumn: Piano Music by Farhat and Tafreshipour
Released on Métier Records last autumn by Irish pianist Mary Dullea, Persian Autumn features works by two Iranian composers, Hormoz Farhat (b. 1928) – who was a professor of music at Trinity College Dublin – and Amir Mahyar Tafreshipour (b. 1974). Farhat studied with Darius Milhaud, Lukas Foss and Roy Harris in the US and the album features his two piano sonatas. Tafreshipour’s works include the Persian-influenced Yasna, Shabahang, Pendar for piano, and Celebration at Pasagardae. Visit: https://divineartrecords.com/recording/persian-autumn-piano-music-by-farhat-and-tafreshipour/

Alex Gough – That’s My Job
This latest single from Waterford rapper and producer Alex Gough, ‘That’s My Job’, comes from his 2020 album Forever Classic. The track, which was written, recorded and produced by Gough in his bedroom during the first lockdown last year, is about being responsible for yourself and taking care of that responsibility first and foremost. Gough says; ‘You can’t constantly look after everyone else without looking after yourself first. That is “That’s My Job” in a nutshell right there.’ Visit: www.alexgoughmusic.com.

The Crayon Set – Moment
Indie-pop act from Dublin The Crayon Set today release new single ‘Moment’, which will feature on their upcoming album Downer Disco due for release this summer. The glittering synth-pop track is about depression but not giving up on life. Downer Disco follows The Crayon Set’s previous album release Lost Languages from 2017. Visit: www.facebook.com/thecrayonset

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