Dublin quartet Lankum have today been nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize. Their fourth album ‘False Lankum’ was selected as one of the top twelve albums released by UK and Irish artists between 21 July 2022 and 19 July 2023. The prize will be awarded in a live ceremony in London on September 7th and broadcast on BBC Four and BBC Radio 6 Music.
Lankum released their critically acclaimed album ‘False Lankum’ back in March through Rough Trade Records, reaching #2 in the Irish Charts.
Drawing on traditional folk songs, Lankum put their own dark, distinctive mark onto each, leaning into heavy drones and sonic distortion that imparts new intensity and beauty into each track. This record sees the band cement their breakout from the folk genre, creating bold, contemporary music that may be fashioned from traditional elements but is firmly new.
Lankum planned for the album to feel like a complete piece – a progression and a journey for the listener. “We wanted to create more contrast on the record so the light parts would be almost spiritual and the dark parts would be incredibly dark, even horror inducing,” they explain. The album’s 12 tracks, composed of 10 traditional songs and two originals, show the four-piece using a new palate to colour their sound in an increasingly experimental way, alongside longtime producer John ‘Spud’ Murphy.
“Our interpretation of the traditional song Go Dig My Grave is one that centres around the emotion of grief – all-consuming, unbearable and absolute” explain Lankum, “A visceral physical reaction to something that the body and mind are almost incapable of processing. The second part of the song is inspired by the Irish tradition of keening (from the Irish caoineadh) – a traditional form of lament for the deceased. Regarded by some as opening up ‘perilous channels of communication with the dead’, the practice came under severe censure from the catholic church in Ireland from the 17th century on.”
Photo Credit: Sorcha Doyle Ryder
Stream ‘False Lankum’ below:
