Recorded live in a house in Galway, with acclaimed producer Philip Weinrobe (Big Thief, Adrienne Lenker) at the helm, the powerful and cinematic album features deeply evocative original songs infused with memory, tribute, and gratitude. Throughout, a strong sense of home prevails, both their own hard-won digs, past and present, and an inner refuge for anyone longing for connection beyond time and geography. “All these songs have addresses,” says co-frontman Diarmuid Mac Gloinn. “They’re about specific locations and specific people.” The brothers cite fiction writers George Saunders and Claire Keegan as particular inspirations on this record.

The brotherly harmonies and multi-instrumental abilities of Diarmuid and Brían Mac Gloinn were joined on ‘All Tied Together’ by multi-instrumentalists Shahzad Ismaily (Laura Viers, Cass McCombs) who flew over from Brooklyn, Alain Mc Fadden, Caimin Gilmore, Kate Ellis, Sam Amidon, Romain Bly and Louise Gaffney.

While initially achieving renown as purveyors of their ancestors’ music mixed with folk-based originals, the Mac Gloinn brothers – Brían and Diarmuid - have increasingly focused on honing their own material, enlisting trusted co-conspirators to distill voice and vision into potent tunes. They have brought their interpretation of the Irish folk tradition to global audiences, going from Trad sessions to touring with the likes of Hozier and boygenius.

‘All Tied Together’ follows the duo’s previous acclaimed 2022 album ‘Nine Waves’ and standalone single ‘I’m A Rover’, which won them an RTE Radio One Folk Award for Best Traditional Folk Track. Ye Vagabonds were also named Best Folk Group for the second time at the 2021 ceremony, where they hold the record for most awarded artists.

‘All Tied Together’ is the tenth album to be released by River Lea (run by Geoff Travis, Jeannette Lee and Tim Chipping) following records by Lisa O’Neill, Brìghde Chaimbeul, John Francis Flynn, a compilation of Irish music from the archives compiled by Lankum’s Ian Lynch, Sam Amidon, Poor Creature and Ye Vagabond’s previous albums ‘The Hare’s Lament’ and ‘Nine Waves’.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: A particularly lovely set of harmonic folk music, all shimmering acoustic guitars and staggering vocals, slowly growing orchestration and delightfully understated drive. There are moments of upbeat groove (The Flood) but even then, it's bucolic chill shines through. Stunner.

TRACK LISTING

1. On Sitric Road
2. The Flood
3. Danny
4. Cuckoo Storm
5. I’ll Keep Singing
6. Gravity
7. Where The Heart Lies
8. Mayfly
9. Young Again
10. Four Walls
11. Long Grass
12. We Always Forget About The Rain

Ye Vagabonds return with a limited 7", featuring live recordings of two new
songs - 'On Sitric Road' and 'Mayfly'.

The band explain "These songs are about real people and places encountered over the course of a decade living in the Stoneybatter neighbourhood of Dublin's north inner city during an ongoing housing crisis".

Featuring Kate Ellis on Cello, Caimin Gilmore on Double Bass and long-time collaborator Alain MacFadden on Harmonium, Synth and E- Bowed Mandolin. Recorded live in a bookshop on the actual Sitric Road.

Available on 7" vinyl only - not on streaming services. 

TRACK LISTING

1. On Sitric Road
2. Mayfly (Live)

Poor Creature is comprised of Ruth Clinton, Cormac MacDiarmada and John Dermody, all three are members of other bands (Landless and Lankum respectively) who have built a large following on re-interpreting songs from the past. Songs that have existed for centuries can seem immutable and anchored to time. A new generation of Irish musicians are keen to acknowledge that musical legacy, while reimagining the songs within a contemporary context.

Poor Creature’s sound – particularly in the context of contemporary Irish folk – offers something unique. There’s the gauzy, underwater, almost psychedelic seams of ‘Bury Me Not’ and ‘Adieu Lovely Erin’. ‘All Smiles Tonight’ and ‘Hicks’ Farewell’ nod to the influence of American folk/bluegrass acts like Doc Watson and the Louvin Brothers. These shifting sounds are made possible by producer John ‘Spud’ Murphy, who has produced all of Lankum’s albums, and worked with Junior Brother, ØXN, Pretty Happy, Ye Vagabonds as as well as the final two albums by The Jimmy Cake, with whom John has played for over 20 years.

“There’s something about the everyday and the fantastical, being entangled, which I think Irish music does so well.” This also sums up All Smiles Tonight, moving through stories and loss and history to create an otherworldly and timeless album for the ages.

STAFF COMMENTS

Barry says: Members of Landless and Lankum, bringers of the biggest wave of folk appreciation i've known for some time come together for 'Poor Creature', a beautiful mix of the traditional with hints of ambient and drone peeking through in the more meditative parts. A beautiful mix of influences, and a beautiful counterfoil to the purely melodic instrumentation of trad. folk. Ace.

TRACK LISTING

Side A
Adieu Lovely Erin
Bury Me Not
The Whole Town Knows
Lorene

Side B
An Draighneán Donn
All Smiles Tonight
Hicks’ Farewell
Willie-o