Aki (nyckelharpa, vocals), Kevin Murphy (cello, vocals), and the group’s newest member Ultan O’Brien (fiddle), make up the acclaimed Dublin-based trio SLOW MOVING CLOUDS, who combine roots in the Irish and Nordic folk traditions with post-punk drones, baroque strings, and soaring falsetto vocals – creating an immersive, atmospheric sound.
They have shared with us their video for ‘Under the City’, the second track on new album Starfall, which comprises of live snippets from the band’s recent tour in the UK in October, followed by a jaunt across the globe to Hong Kong.
‘Under The City’ is an original song which has emerged from experimenting with Finnish and Irish folk influences. The melodic strains of these forms feed directly into the song.
The title alludes to the idea that in tandem with what is visible, there are messages about the future emanating from another realm – ‘Under the City’. This is underpinned by a feeling that seismic social shifts are not far away.
Kevin Murphy gives us the backstory of the his lyrics: “Lyrically it comes from conversations with my five-year-old daughter Eileen who speaks English, Spanish, Irish with a little Portuguese. We have language fights which consist of arguments in made-up languages, which she always wins. I have recorded these and constructed a song from her most impressive words and phrases. We have decided that these are the lyrical manifestations of the messages coming from under the city.”
‘Starfall’, released in September, was hailed as “a collection that oozes a musical curiosity that’s all their own. World music at its finest” by The Irish Times; and described as ‘…a falling meteor shower with its flurry of pizzicatos and skittish folk-like melodies’ by The London Standard.
The 9 track album released on the new Berlin-based PEOPLE music platform, led by Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) and Aaron and Bryce Dessner (The National), is available digitally via 37d03d (www.p-e-o-p-l-e.com/album/starfall), and all usual online outlets. Order the CD directly from the band at slowmovingclouds.com.
Slow Moving Clouds return to the UK in February to perform at Celtic Connections alongside Lisa O’Neill, at St. Andrew’s in the Square, Glasgow, 7.30pm, Saturday 2nd February 2019. Tickets available here.