SELK, are the alt-folk ensemble spearheaded by lead vocalist/songwriter Anna Jordan. Forthcoming album ‘Shed The Skin’ promises to be SELK’s most personal and accomplished work to date.
The record moves between full band intricate arrangements, to minimal evocative pieces and is set to be a stunning showcase of SELK’s unique style and talent. The record moves between full band intricate arrangements, to minimal evocative pieces stripping the sound back to it’s bare bones featuring only Anna on piano/guitar/loops with strings, or bass.
Their sound weaves between genres, drawing on jazz, classical, electronica, avant-folk, ambient rock, classical and more. SELK’s otherworldly sound juxtaposes Jordan’s stark, emotionally raw lyrics and hypnotic acoustic with percussive grooves from Cassidy and the band.
The group’s line-up, featuring Barry Brady on guitar and Dave Redmond on bass, has added a powerful rhythm section that has transformed their sound since their debut album ‘Beast’, which was recorded as a duo (Anna Jordan and Dennis Cassidy). The album also features stunning string arrangements performed by cellist Kate Ellis and violinist Cora Venus Lunny (Crash Ensemble) scored by Judith Ring.
Some of the pieces on the album were composed by Anna during lockdown. You can almost feel the stillness and softness in the songs, the intimacy and sense of space that comes from the process of creating alone in that focused state of mind, which was a very welcome escape from the stress of that time.
Singles from the album include poignant and introspective ‘Moments’, that was recently released; ‘No Saviours’ a vibrant track, with folk/Americana undertones, accentuated beautifully by a string arrangement composed by Judith Ring; and ‘Spill’ which Hot Press described as “a starry-eyed track that belongs in an Oscar nominated indie movie”.
SELK performed two sold out shows in Dingle over the last few months, one as a four piece as part of the Other Voices festival in the beautiful chapel ‘An Díseart’, the other as a two piece (Anna & Dennis Cassidy) at the Féile na Bealtaine festival in The Green Room.
‘Shed The Skin’ is available on all major streaming platforms now.
