Bill Blood - Come Softly To My Wake (1 Viewer)

[pete]

Album out on 30th May, heard it tonight and it's deadly. Apparently it'll be streaming on nialler9's site (where else?) before then so for now you should check this out:

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Bill Blood is otherwise known as Niall Byrne. Niall Byrne is known for his guitar work in instrumental indie pioneers The Redneck Manifesto. He is also one half of electronic duo Visionair. But it's with his work as Bill Blood and the raw folk songs that make up his forthcoming album 'Come Softly to My Wake', where his intimate, understated soul truly shines. That soul may have been sold to the devil a long time ago but even the devil couldn't keep him for long..

On 'Come Softly to My Wake' (TSR003) you will find simple dark melodies sung over impeccable folk guitar pickings with electronic drones and flourishes, creating an unworldly atmosphere many folk writers tend to stay away from. He sings of life, death, hope, despair, solace and redemption in a world-weary yet welcoming voice that pours over his guitar lines like silver.

Take the beautiful 'Being in Love' with its steel-string twangs and plucks painted over the top of a sinister organ drone and sprinkled with ghostly percussion. Or the downtrodden everyday blues of 'Just Got Paid'. But there is plenty of hope on this record like in the tender opener 'Lie Down' or the heartbreaking dream-like tale of 'What the Sun Said to the Moon'. As subtle as the record initially sounds, if you give it the time, 'Come Softly To My Wake' will get under your skin, maybe even into your blood..

The album was recorded one windy wintery afternoon in the home of, and with the help of, close friend and TRM bandmate Richard Egan (Jape), while keyboards and some light percussion were added one cold spring morning by Neil O'Connor (Somadrone/Goodtime/TRM).

This is a raw folk record that wouldn't seem out of place alongside the fingerpick stylings of John Fahey or the devil blues of Charlie Patton. It will also appeal to fans of AA Bondy, M. Ward, Papa M, Bill Callahan etc.

Come Softly To My Wake is released on May 30th 2013 on CD/MP3 via Temporary Secretary Recordings with a release gig on

Saturday June 8th in Bewleys Cafe Theatre (Grafton St), with some very special guests.

 

[rettucs]

thats nice.

nialler9 is niall byrne, right?

 

[pete]

thats nice.

nialler9 is niall byrne, right?

a different niall byrne, but yes

 

[the bearded lady]

it comes as no surprise that this is subtle and instantly haunting and beautiful coming from the great Niall Byrne.
it has a deft yet prickly feel, lovely stuff.

 

[ernesto]

Talented chap