Invisible Fields

For those familiar with Real World's label, this fits nicely into the repertoire. I admit that while O Lionard's sound's a bit more laid back than my tastes tend towards either with Irish folk-influenced or adventurous rock-tinged music, that this made a great soundtrack for a rainy morning commute. It reminds me very much of Peadar O Riada's two albums released over a decade ago on the New Jersey indie label Bar None--like O Lionard, O Riada (as those who recognize Sean O Riada's heir apparent!) takes the Irish language and traditional influences and washes them within a bath of electronic textures at once oddly contemporary in its density and at times even medieval in its evocation of chant and plainsong arrangements.

On slight letdown: I do wish that O Lionard had included the Irish-language texts along with the lyrics he prints in English; the only exception to the anglicized liner notes is his "Aurora," taking inspiration from Sean O Riordain's wonderful poem here printed, linking Africa Thuas/North Africa's winds to what is felt across the oceans in Ireland by this predecessor to O Lionard, a Cork visionary and modernist-existentialist thinker from the middle of the last century. O Lionard, as with the O Riadas and O Riordain, continues the Irish Munster bardic tradition into another millenium. This album, his third I believe, again brings the most contemporary of chill out beats into the contemplative milieu of monastery and meadow. Blending ancient strands into a complex new spiralled tapestry of sound, this is enduring music.

In my comment to the Afro Celt Sound System's record "Anatomic" I gave Iarla Ó Lionáird high praise and called him "one of the true voices of our contemporary music". Why? What is it in him that isn't to be found in all the other artists mixing sean-nós in modern influence? An impossible question to answer.

I am very particular about making as little sense being the key to enrichening my experiences - that is, I cherish the notion that there are things in my consciousness, in even the most fundamental of principles and opinions, that I can't figure out because they are so essentially tied to my own personality. I could be the product of my enviroment, and partially I am, yet I am also the product of my soul. So every time a voice reaches deeper than others, straight into the heart of the matter, into the mysterious space I can't define in myself, it's a cause to celebrate. Ó Lionáird is like this, there is vision in his voice alone, and certain economy, especially as we're directly descending from Afro Celt Sound System. This is lusher than his previous albums, but also sparer. He says a lot more with less trouble.

The songs themselves tie together and all of them feel integrated together. The music itself is in touch with our time yet it's still so not Zeitgeist it's refreshingly healthful. There are arcs of sound coming and going, floating and shivering about, and none of it is palpable enough to be immersed with first listenings. I remember buying "Anatomic" and this the same day, and it was not but only after a week of listening to "Anatomic" that I got around to listening this record through for the first time. And now it has filled my imagination already. "A Nest of Stars" is one of his best songs, an amazing contrast of the economical and sonic lushness. And Ó Lionáird's voice hovers above the soundscape like that of an angel, sometimes accompanied by a whole canvas of sounds, sometimes, as in the profound "Taimse Im' Chodladh" or "I'm Weary of Lying Alone", by scarcely anything at all. This is the combination of the best things in sean-nós and modern 'fusion' (that graveyard of a word). This is in the vein of Martyn Bennett at his best ("Glen Lyon", 2001): meditative, contemplative, deeply alive and existential. Ó Lionáird knows his Weltschmerz, but is seems he also knows ours. Even thinking of "An Buchailin Ban" sends shivers down my spine.

This is only his third album in the past ten years, so let's hope he continues to go down his path, as he seems to be giving us an album more glorious than the earlier with each release.

With best regards,
AK

Listening to Iarla makes the world feel great. What a voice! He makes you smile, cry, ponder, want to dance, want to sing, want to lie down and listen while the music he makes fills your heart with joy and love. I had a wee crush on Iarla when I heard him live in Wellington, New Zealand and now after buying this CD from Amazon I have a huge crush!! The world is a better place with him in it.