Lankum

Surprised not to find a thread so far. These seem to be on the verge of a breakthrough with their excellent third album The Livelong Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rukIHD7rNY

John Kelly played a few tracks from the new album a couple of days ago on his radio show and they sounded amazing. A dark, trancey take on Irish folk

I'm down with The Livelong Day. My favorite track is prob Ode to Lullaby, though that almost kind of missing the point. But I really like
Wild Rover, Katie Cruel, etc. Such foreboding drone!

(Also, off-topic, but I can't help but wish they'd try their hand at covering Richard Dawson's "Hob". Such a proper dirge! I think the Lankum folks could really sink their teeth into it!)

Oh I didn't know there was a thread! I only came across them a month or so ago (right after they toured in the UK, annoyingly) - my friends in Dublin already knew all about them though. Good antidote to the over-Gloamingification of Irish folk.

Some good live choobs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOMC4lqh1aI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz8iKCGs0QU

also love this (Radie Peat from Lankum + Lisa O'Neill):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzciq8q0Gfw

oops wrong order but you can work it out

I need to give this album a chance again. Didn't click with me.

This is scratching pretty close to the same miserablist gorgeous lush folk itch as the earlier Unthanks records. Love it.

Playing the Barbican in April! With Shirley Collins! https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2020/event/lankum

I got a ticket to see them at Cork Opera House on Paddy's Day

Not quite the same as seeing them live, but livestream from yesterday is up for another few hours: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=767853873950808

new song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhqpQiXnFx0

Yeah this is where it finally clicks for me (per my post upthread). Maybe they haven't changed all that much but I've heard the whole album and they could play on some sort of dark drone multi-act bill without an issue.

Good new interview:

https://thequietus.com/articles/32574-lankum-interview-ian-daragh-lynch-radie-peat-false-lankum-cormac-mac-diarmada

Been very into them since I found out about them in 2021-ish? Extremely excited for the new album and tour. Nice to see On A Monday Morning is making it onto the record, I loved the solo version Daragh posted on their YouTube.

It's cool to see there are some originals on this one too. Their own songs are so good that sometimes I feel I just want an album of those? But I guess the fact that they only have to put their best compositions on record is what keeps the quality so high

yeah, i'm excited for this album

turns out this is pretty good music to listen to when it looks like the sky is burning

Digging this -- the mix of traditional Irish folk with world-on-fire drone rock makes the former that much more stunning. Also appreciate the age-old art of album construction here.

Listening now, first time with the band. They do hypnotic real well. Their songs have the monotony that comes from comfort and are built with the economy that comes from confidence. Soundscape and sustained atmospheres are a good alternative to C93 or R. Dawson. Their style is not easy to place though, there's neo-folk, trad, some lullaby-singing, songwriter stuff, the guy has a voice not unlike R. Thompson, and yet the whole thing is one of a kind so kudos to them for carving that space. Imago should listen to The New York Trader. Master's Crowley also stood out, the opener of course, On a Monday Morning, and more. Every song holds together. I've heard few albums this year, but I'm confident saying this is higher tier.

They are absolutely spellbinding live too

I see The Quietus voted this No. 1 Album of the first six months of the year yet it's still criminally ignored on this website. Is this very anti-ILM? I'm not sure it is. AOY so far anyhow. Fantastic drone with some gorgeous vocal melodies. If you've forgotten about this - listen again!

not ignored in my house - top 5 of the year so far, maybe top 3!

It's on my short list, too!

not seen it mentioned anywhere but i assume the title is a play on this song performed here by George Fosbury?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEiis7bg4lo

Bob Copper’s write up from Songs and Summer Breezes here. The tune itself is used for multiple songs iirc (which i may not be)

As for Lankum, I’ve struggled with this album, but drone generally leaves me cold. Will give it another go though.

Is this very anti-ILM?

Maybe because it's Irish? English folk music tends to be hipper.

not seen it mentioned anywhere but i assume the title is a play on this song performed here by George Fosbury?

Bob Copper’s write up from Songs and Summer Breezes here. The tune itself is used for multiple songs iirc (which i may not be)

As for Lankum, I’ve struggled with this album, but drone generally leaves me cold. Will give it another go though.

― Fizzles, Sunday, July 16, 2023 7:15 AM (thirteen hours ago)

I think the band have specifically mentioned this version - False Lankum, sung by John Reilly, a Traveller, who was camped at Cloongrehan, Cootehall, County Roscommon:
https://digital.ucd.ie/view/ivrla:31077

I was personally more familiar with Steeleye Span's "Long Lankin" & Shirley Collins' "Cruel Lincoln", but it bubbles up a lot.

Really enjoying this but I wouldn't say it's standard ILM - the folk bits are, uh, folk-ier than than folk x drone/metal stuff that's done well here prior like Chelsea Wolfe or Emma Ruth Rundle.

xp it definitely could be, lots of Irish folk is unjustly ignored or brushed over in favour of English stuff, but the wave of recent English avant-folk (Stick in the Wheel, Shovel Dance Collective, Jim Ghedi, etc.) doesn't get a lot of attention on here either. I agree with etc - the folk bits here draw deeply from traditional music, which is usually a harder sell to a broader audience than original compositions

anyway glad to see people are enjoying the new record! for my money it's the most consistent Lankum album - other albums may have better songs, but none of them are as good a front-to-back listen as this one (which also makes it a good starting point in their discography imo). oh and if you get the chance to see them live, do it! hearing them open their concert with The Wild Rover was transcendental

ah, thanks etc - tangled roots! xp

Lankum are a national treasure.

https://www.hotpress.com/music/lankum-cancel-denmark-show-and-entire-us-tour-22984296

Bummer.

Its shit, but Im sure they have good reason.

Did anyone check out Ian's solo album?

https://nyahhrecords.bandcamp.com/album/and-take-the-black-worm-with-me

We did a little feature on it here:

https://www.mixcloud.com/DublinDigitalRadio/no-place-like-drone-021122-one-leg-one-eye-special/

Looking forward to seeing them at Supersonic in Birmingham (UK) this weekend. New to them but can sense that live they hit twice as hard

This is a shoo-in for the Mercury Prize tonight.

oh well, nice try

this album is so fucking good

it's certainly a "me problem" but i always get an anachronistic vibe when i listen to folk music, especially with traditional compositions. the magic of this album is that it feels and sounds modern while playing the traditional tunes mostly straight. sure there's the drone so not completely straight, but the harmonies and song structure aren't all that different from the traditional interpretations

https://www.uncut.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/U319-SLY-STONE-COVER-FINAL-RGB-696x522.jpg

FYI the band have compiled the cd on the cover of the new Uncut - includes a load of great new Irish stuff including Jonny Dillon, Elaine Malone and Landless, among others. Inside the mag I also talk to them about the Mercurys, the good weirdos of Dublin and doom yoga.

hope the glue that they use for Uncut CD doesnt mean the CD accidently falls into my trolley at Sainsburys.....

Let's hope not and that honest dadrock consumers continue to help me feed my children.

"the young people" is one of the best songs i've ever heard. i wish it would go on forever

love this album

FYI the band have compiled the cd on the cover of the new Uncut

that landless track is stunning

Don't think this was posted yet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuaLiowElxE

I really tried with these guys, but I guess I was expecting the ratio of drone to traditional Irish stuff to lean more heavily in the former.

I'm liking this a lot on first listen. Like a lot of neo-folk stuff I wish any of the new rhythm sections could play like Fairport's or Pentangle's. They just end up sounding like rock.

CYRM Vinyl album ends on a locked groove of noise and drone.

Scott Walker track would be YMMR levels of trouser flapping sound pressure when played live I'd imagine.

False Lankum also ends in a lock groove

FYI the band have compiled the cd on the cover of the new Uncut - includes a load of great new Irish stuff including Jonny Dillon, Elaine Malone and Landless, among others. Inside the mag I also talk to them about the Mercurys, the good weirdos of Dublin and doom yoga.

― Piedie Gimbel, Thursday, October 12, 2023 1:49 PM

Really liking the Trá Pháidín track "cé mo dhuine si​ú​l sa hi​-​vis" off this comp - Irish trad meets jazzy post-rock; threw it a nomination for the EOY poll.

https://trawfawdeen.bandcamp.com/track/c-mo-dhuine-si-l-sa-hi-vis

Yes, heard this on EOY noms and it's great.

I've been listening to some of the tracks the False Lankum songs are based on and Gordon Bok's version of Clear Away In The Morning is so beautiful