Cuimhne Ghlinn: Explorations in Irish Music for Pedal Steel Guitar is the debut album by David Murphy.
Released on Rollercoaster Records, Cuimhne Ghlinn: Explorations in Irish Music for Pedal Steel Guitar is the first full-length effort by Irish session musician, producer, and multi-instrumentalist David Murphy.
Across 40 minutes, Cuimhne Ghlinn: Explorations in Irish Music for Pedal Steel Guitar conjures a palette of sparse, dreamlike, atmospheric soundscapes and stirring, cinematic takes of culturally significant compositions and melodies from Ireland’s great harpers, composers, and song collectors.
Featuring a diverse cast of supporting musicians, including Peter Broderick (Strings), Steve Wickham (Fiddle), Laura McFadden (Cello), Aisling Urwin and Alannah Thornburgh (Harp), Rory McCarthy (Piano), Mark McCausland (Guitar), Anthony Ruby (Uilleann Pipes) and Cory Gray (Trumpet) amongst others, the album is a must-listen for fans of pedal steel guitar, atmospheric soundtracks, traditional Irish music, contemporary experimental, ambient and modern-classical music.
On his vision for the album, Murphy says, “The pedal steel guitar has unique timbre, tuning, and tonal capabilities. It offers rich sustain, swelling glissando and the ability to bend expressive and mournful notes that merge seamlessly and elastically into changing chords. Its unmistakable, crying sound is identified on hundreds of acclaimed records in folk and country genres.
“In the 21st century, it has continued its evolution into electronica, ambient, and experimental music realms. With this record, my objective was to take the instrument away from its excursions across well-worn roads through the dusty American south and southwest and deeper into a world much closer to home and, for the very first time, present it in a modern Irish framework.”
Murphy’s unique application of the evocative and ever-mysterious pedal steel guitar has resulted in his invitation to participate in many collaborations and projects over his years as a session musician and band member. Among those he has toured Ireland, the UK, Europe and the U.S.A. with are Aborist, Richmond Fontaine, and The Lost Brothers.
More on David Murphy
Firstly, don’t forget to grab your copy of Cuimhne Ghlinn: Explorations in Irish Music for Pedal Steel Guitar.
Secondly, David Murphy is taking off on tour and you can catch him at the below venues. To find out more, visit his website and check out his Instagram while you’re at it.
April 19th: Rollercoaster Records (In-store), Kilkenny
April 20th: Plugd Records (In-store), Cork
June 9th: Galway Folk Festival
June 16th: Doolin Folk Festival
August 9th: Kilkenny Arts Festival
G.M
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Photo credit: Celeste Burdon
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