In his fascinating study of the history of drone, Monolithic Undertow: In Search of Sonic Oblivion, Harry Sword observes that examples of this broad genre are to be found absolutely everywhere from Buddhist chant to free jazz and techno and the innumerable drones of nature. For Misneach, Tau and the Drones of Praise started with minimalist drones, but ended up creating expansive folk pop spirituals for the modern age.
Led by Dubliner Seán Mulrooney, who has pursued many musical projects in Berlin over the last decade or so, The Drones of Praise are a loose collective guest-starring Tindersticks drummer Earl Harvin, singer Damien Dempsey and Pól Brennan of Clannad.
Mulrooney sings and chants in Irish on Na Heilimintí and the rousing Ceol Ón Chré, which features aforementioned stalwarts Dempsey and Brennan. Misneach is a robust Irish word, describing courage, spirit, bravery and fortitude, qualities that are in abundance on this captivating record.
This charismatic singer and musician returned home to Ireland from Berlin in 2019, where he reconnected with what he calls “all the magic, mystery and the myth of Ireland”. His mission is to participate in the evolution of Irish music, using all his diverse experimental experience to forge something fresh and new.
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With a little help from his friends, esteemed colleagues, and fellow musical psychonauts, Mulrooney and company have made a psychedelic Irish folk record with a huge heart and even bigger soul. As their refrain goes: “Éist le Ceol Ón Chré.”
