Much like a teacher, Meryl Streek imparts his knowledge and lived experiences to all who are willing to listen. His third album, ‘Stories They Don’t Teach You At School’, serves as an alternative form of education, delivered through a visceral blend of factual soundbites and raw emotion, loops and samples, guitars and bass. The lyrics resonate with core values of compassion, resilience, and community—themes rarely explored within a classroom setting or seen in today's fragmented society. By prioritising conviction over commercial success, the Dublin artist's outspokenness may invite controversy. Yet beneath the fervor lies a profound desire for positive social change at home in Ireland, and beyond.

Meryl Streek returned to Darkland Studios in Dublin to fine-tune the recordings previously made in a shed at the back of his ma's garden. Here he continued the genre-blurring nature of his earlier work, enticing listeners toward dissonant landscapes and hypnotic rhythms. Gentle piano tones collide with abrasive synths, creating a striking tension between beauty and noise. Streek tempers his rage when appropriate, integrating atmospheric textures and pop sensibilities into his ever-expanding sonic collage.

As is tradition with any Meryl Streek record, ‘Stories They Don’t Teach You At School’ unearths many uncomfortable truths. ‘Rotten Fruit’ examines media manipulation and the numbing proliferation of misinformation, all soundtracked by synth-punk. With gliding keys and a crunchy bassline, ‘Council Estates’ critiques systemic government failures affecting the working class. ‘Kelly’ is a slice of electronica that details an ongoing criminal investigation, currently classified as a “Contested Cause of Death”. The indie pop of 'The Chancer' brings much-needed attention to landlord politicians. As the album progresses, the mission remains absolute: to provide a voice for the voiceless.

To amplify these narratives, Meryl Streek handpicked a diverse group of collaborators for the project. ‘Rotten Fruit’ features Steve Ignorant of anarcho-punk collective CRASS. ‘Depression’ opens with a touching recording of the late Liam Norton, close friend and former touring companion, while Pete Holidai of The Radiators From Space contributes guitars on the song. Comedian Phill Jupitus provides the spoken outro for ‘The Chancer'. ‘Housing For All’ incorporates audio from Derelict Ireland campaigners Frank O’Connor and Jude Sherry. Venn Records owner and Gallows guitarist Laurent ‘Lags’ Barnard joins forces with Adebisi Shank bassist Vinny McCreith on the aggressive ‘Bullet,’ while Sophie Porter of Other Half provides bass guitar for ‘Life is Not a Rehearsal’. The album concludes with a three-minute spoken word piece by Frankie McNamara, the viral creator behind ‘Meditations for the Anxious Mind’.

In her 1990 protest anthem 'Black Boys on Mopeds', the late Sinead O’Connor warned, “To say what you feel is to dig your own grave”. With this release, Meryl Streek firmly holds the shovel.

TRACK LISTING

1. Welcome
2. Rotten Fruit
3. Rags To Riches
4. Council Estates
5. Depression
6. Kelly
7. Be The Hammer
8. The Chancer
9. Housing For All
10. Bullet
11. Life Is Not A Rehearsal
12. Frankie's Theme

Meryl Streek’s debut album ‘796’ caused quite the commotion when it was released in the Autumn of 2022. Best described as polemic post-punk, the uncompromising lyrical matter backed by a soundscape that leaps from house beats to abrasive noise has propelled the Dublin based performer from squat gigs to festival main stages in just a few years.

Originally a touring drummer for semi-pro indie bands, the grind of that lifestyle became too much and Streek decided it was time to find a new way of developing his musical ideas. A few weeks alone with Ableton, a music production tool favoured by electronic artists and DJs, streamlined the creative output. No longer dependent on other musicians, his art was able to go on its own journey, one that would often tie together diverse genres, Celtic music and dance, hip-hop and punk. This prolific outpouring of ideas, with no rules, no other band members, no label breathing down your neck, would provide the blueprint for Meryl Streek’s first sonic offering.

The bulk of ‘796’ was recorded in Meryl Streek’s home, at the time an apartment complex in downtown Vancouver, Canada. Working through the night recording drums himself in a friend’s studio and outsourcing other instruments to guitarists and bass players he knew from the industry. These sessions began to resemble other artists at their most experimental. Mogwai’s sprawling post-rock, Tortoise’s use of minimal electronics and DJ Shadow’s cut and paste sampling, would come to influence the overall sound of this new and exciting project.

It might be his signature spoken word snarl that bonds the songs of ‘796’ together, but without the rich textures backing the vocals, the tone of the record would be completely different. The instrumental version matches the lyrics with the same emotional weight, the same energy, the same joy and the same sadness, and showcases Meryl Streek’s skill not just as a storyteller, but also as a producer and composer.

TRACK LISTING

1. The Start (Instrumental)
2. Full Of Grace (Instrumental)
3. Death To The Landlord (Instrumental)
4. False Apologies (Instrumental)
5. Yesterday (Instrumental)
6. Matter Of Fact (Instrumental)
7. 796 (Instrumental)
8. Demon (Instrumental)
9. No Justice (Instrumental)
10. Suicide (Instrumental)
11. Educated Mates (Instrumental)
12. Dad (Instrumental)