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.
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.
