Under Starling present debut album, “Murmurations”
The waterford band intertwine folk, indie and rock elements to craft a unique brand of alternative Irish Music
Drawing comparisons to Irish acts such as The Cranberries, Kings of Leon and U2, Under Starling demonstrate their own distinctive flair in “Murmurations”. In the debut offering, the band seek to deliver colossal and somewhat tangiable soundscapes, all inspired by history, nature, society and emotion; written under the light of reverb-laden guitars, expansive arranging and deeply personal songwriting. The band’s discography has, since their inception, been grounded in a sense of escapism and eurphoria - both sensations of which warmly carry through in the album’s twelve tracks.
The band have an interesting, soft alternative sound that swells with power across the LP, exploring their passion for environmental conservation and interest in mythology (“Selkie”), the harrowing stories of the Great Irish Famine ("The Hunger"), Celtic folklore (“Hawthorn Tree”) and the ways of rural Irish living (“Piseog”). Survival, loss, resilience, relationships, superstition, collectivism and hope are the themes that anchor the album’s narrative, diving deep into the Irish psyche and stories that have been long forgotten.
Sonically, “Murmurations” is an atmospheric, predominantly soft, and hypnotic listen - a fascinating contrast to such chosen themes. Their musicality is another point of attention, as they transition between the use of traditional instruments including the harmonium, mandolin, and bódhrán, but maintain a core framework of electric guitars and percussion.
Stand out songs include indie single release “Changeling”, the folk-tinted “The Laundry” and, as a fan of heavier alternative music, “Rat King” and “The Hunger”. “Rat King” gives a first proper taste of the band’s alternative rock character, and leaves a strong impression at number nine in the running order. The power potential in vocalist’s Danny Dunford’s voice is very much teased here, and you will be satisfied in succeeding track “The Hunger”, where the whole band steps it up. Both vocally and instrumentally, it is the impact in these two tracks that we’re looking forward to hearing placed earlier or more frequently in their forthcoming album releases.
Overall, the album pivots between the dark and light of Irish history and culture, and does so first, with elegance, and then, authority. It’s embedded with nostalgia and curiousity, teetering between a fascination with reality and fantasy, and leaving a question mark over if the two are really that different. With the right attention, it’s an engrossing listen, although focus is needed to appreciate its slow-burn nature and the deliverability development between the first and second half of the collection.
Listen to our highlighed choice and full album below.
Under Starling are included in our “Ireland” playlist. Stream below!
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