Deaf Joe is an artist from Waterford who has previously released abstract folk music like 2014’s album From The Heights Of A Dream.
Where that release went for textured noise and treated effects, Deaf Joe’s latest album Love Stories dives headfirst into the ambient sonic water with more electronically-driven tracks that forgo traditional song structure and vocals in favour of mood-based arrangements.
The album came about after Joe worked on an ambient set for the Another Love Story Festival last year which developed into a full 8-track release. Its main inspirations according to its author are “the sound of the ocean roaring on an Icelandic black sand beach / swimming in Copenhagen harbour at the height of summer / The sight of a kaleidoscopic sunset over a volcanic lake in the Philippines / chasing memories of special places with lovers and loved ones he’ll never forget.”
Check out the album’s soaring sonics with standouts including opener ‘Taal Lake’, ‘Reynisfjara’ and ‘Ocean Beach’.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
