World-renowned Irish American supergroup The Gloaming return with their highly anticipated third studio album The Gloaming 3 on 22nd February 2019 on Real World Records.
In our recent interview with Martin Hayes he recalled how The Gloaming came about:
“The Gloaming happened accidentally. I was in New York and Iarla Ó Lionáird [sean-nós singer], who I’d been friendly with my whole life, talked about doing some gigs with me and Dennis or having us accompany him on a few songs, but I couldn’t see how it would work. I also around then did some studio jamming in New York with Thomas Bartlett, who I had known since he was a kid and a few of his musical friends. Towards the end of the evening, Thomas and I just played a few tunes by ourselves and I thought there’s something here that works with the way he plays piano. So I started thinking that might work with Thomas, myself, Dennis and Iarla but then thought it’ll just be fiddle playing the tune and so I’ll just drop Caoimhín into this and that became the formation of The Gloaming. We just booked a few gigs in Ireland, with a sold-out gig at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, and we had yet to play a note. We booked a studio to rehearse and put something together. I wasn’t sure how it would work but it came together mainly because the people in it had a like-mindedness about that more open and moody way of dealing with the music”.
Their last studio album, The Gloaming 2, was released back in 2016 on which they met and exceeded the expectations set by their debut. Listening to the two new tracks below Sheehan’s Jigs and Áthas (Joy) the indications are that they are still on that upward trajectory and that the universal acclaim for their live performances will no doubt continue to grow.
Featuring Iarla Ó Lionáird (voice), Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh (Hardanger d’Amore), Dennis Cahill (guitar), Martin Hayes (fiddle) and Thomas Bartlett (piano).
The Gloaming 3 was produced by Thomas Bartlett (Sufjan Stevens, St. Vincent), the album was recorded in New York City at Reservoir Studios. Like its predecessors, it richly reimagines the vernacular of traditional Irish music through a modern prism via elements of post-rock, jazz, contemporary classical, chamber and minimalism.
Pre-Order it here (CD | Vinyl)