Alt-Folk/Blues Duo Arrow In The Sky Release Self-Titled Album

Music Review | 9th Aug, 2024 Arrow In The Sky

Arrow In The Sky have been gathering an impressive following since the release of a number of singles including The Girl Who Thought She Was A Bird, Time of Need and Fire which has over 9k streams on Spotify.

The multi-instrumentalists, Conor McCauley and Brian Murphy songwriting partnership creates a distinct world of rapture and sorrow, blending traditional instruments with an unconventional approach.

The latest release from the band is their highly anticipated self-titled album, Arrow In The Sky.

Initially, the band pursued the traditional route of self-funding recording sessions at high-end studios. However, as producer conflicts and mounting studio bills accumulated, it became clear that this path would not lead to the sound Arrow was aiming for.

Instead, they chose to retreat to the residential haven of the Cronin brothers' Transmission Rooms studios in Longford. With additional instrumentation and vocals added in makeshift home studios—Brian's grandmother's dining room, his childhood bedroom, and his father's kitchen—the album began to take on a deeply personal touch.

I could start to hear the personality of the band more when I had time to go deep into the recording and editing without looking at a clock worrying about studio time - Brian

As the album was coming together, Conor McCauley began to feel a persistent numbness in his hands, later diagnosed as Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Despite frequent hospitalizations and the condition he wryly referred to as More Shit, Conor's dedication to the project never wavered.

Esteemed musicians, including Jason Cooper of The Cure, cello virtuoso Gerard Toal, former band member Shayne Byrne, and many other friends, generously contributed their talents, adding layers of musical artistry that enriched the album.

While the album was originally written for the most part in the wake of Ireland's financial collapse and dealt with the effects of that on small-town inhabitants and their lives, these themes appear no less relevant now over a decade later.

Many of the themes we were dealing with when first starting writing the album have strangely come full circle again. Things like the mass exodus of our youth and economic hardship. All these things appear to be relevant again. It's like they never went away or we are stuck in a time loop - Brian

Arrow In The Sky - The Girl Who Thought She Was A Bird (Youtube)

The single Arrow In The Sky is available through all streaming platforms.

Photo Credit: MusicBox PR

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