Mumblin’ Deaf Ro – The Herring and the Brine (Free download)

Mumblin’ Deaf Ro’s The Herring and the Brine album is one of the finest Irish releases of the last 10 years to my mind. It’s just turned 5 years old and rather than give it a cake and a badge, Ronan Hession has marked the occasion by making the album free for download. Here’s what I said about it back in 2007:

A lo-fi folk release with a distinctly Irish story-telling slant, Ronan Hession’s second album is tale-driven with meditations on drowning, priesthood, presidential regret, murder by two sisters and a German-bound immigrant. The album is heaving with interesting characters told with a uniquely crumbling yet endearing voice. The lyricism is a real highlight here and Hession could certainly moonlight as a poet if he desired. A charming record.

Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait another five years for the followup. HINT.

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Niall Byrne

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, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.