The Brutal Here and Now album and tour
The Spook of The Thirteenth Lock release a new album The Brutal Here and Now on Friday 13th April on Transduction Records. The follow-up to their self-titled debut was produced and recorded by veteran producer Stephen Shannon and spook multi-instrumentalist Enda Bates.
The new album expands on the band’s fusion of Irish folk and experimental rock, absorbing the influence of traditional Indian and Italian music with a significantly broader palette of sounds, aided by guest musicians Adrian Harte (violin) and Kim Porcelli (cello). With songs written in English, Irish and Italian, The Brutal Here and Now finds lyricist Allen Blighe exploring the malleability of memory and history. From the frenzy of the opening track “The Tarantella” through to the captivating title track and the rousing closer “The Rattling Hell”, The Brutal Here and Now captures The Spook at the height of their powers.
Since their well-received debut album, The Spook have played the length and breadth of the country, shared the stage with Donal Lunny and Andy Irvine and even toured Japan. More recently, guitarist Donnchadh toured as part of acclaimed vocalist Iarla O’Lionaird’s backing band, while Enda has received various international awards and commissions for his work as a composer and completed a doctorate in composition at Trinity College Dublin.
The band, whose line-up has expanded to include Ronan Hayes on bass, are currently preparing for an Irish tour to coincide with the album’s release, kicking off at the Triskel Arts Centre in Cork on April 12th, 2012.
Tracklist:
1. The Tarantella
2. Suffer the Wait
3. Heave the Bellows
4. Sweeney’s Frenzy
5. Black Diaries
6. Bóthar Crua Iarthar
7. Ríleanna na hIfrinn
8. Mearchuimhneas
9. The Brutal Here and Now (Part I)
10. The Brutal Here and Now (Part II)
11. Shudder in the West
12. The Rattling Hell
The song “The Brutal Here and Now Part I” will be released as video and free mp3 download March 29th in advance of the album.
Tour dates:
Apr 12 – Triskel Arts Centre, Cork
Apr 13 – Whelans, Dublin
Apr 14 – The Bridgebrook Arms, Thomastown
Apr 19 – 2UIBestow/Boyle’s, Slane
Apr 21 – Brandon’s, Ennis
Apr 22 – Kinsale (venue TBC)
Apr 26 – Roisin Dubh, Galway
Apr 27 – Joe Lee’s Tullamore
May 03 – The Menagerie, Belfast
May 06 – Vantastival Festival