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Pearse McGloughlin’s Highly Anticipated New Album The Soft Animal Released on 29 July and Summer Tour Announced

June 10, 2016

Bluestack Records in conjunction with Urchin Music present The Soft Animal. The fourth studio album from Pearse McGloughlin of Nocturnes will be released on 29 July and is now available to pre-order.

The Soft Animal by Nocturnes is songwriter Pearse McGloughlin’s first album release since the birth of his daughter, and a more personal record than previous works. A transformed creativity and time of reflection has resulted in an emotionally resonant album drawing from childhood and parenthood, and human spiritual and animal nature.

Nocturnes features Choice Music Award winning Adrian Crowley on lead vocals for ‘Heikegani’; Pearse’s long time collaborator Enda Roche on multiple instruments; Christophe Capewell on violins and Christian Volkmann on harmonica for ‘On The Mississippi’. Produced at Asta Kalapa studios by Darragh Nolan, the album was largely recorded in live takes creating a heady organic impact.

A follow-on from his previous collaboration with friend and composer Justin Grounds (a concept album of electronic chamber songs based on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Idiot which The Irish Times described as breathing ‘life and art into electronic music’) The Soft Animal is a new departure, in essence an ambient first person narrative. A collection of new age noir, it features meditative atmospherics alongside folk tinged tales of rebirth, the natural world and soft-focused introspection.

Pearse, on the inspiration behind The Soft Animal, observes: ‘I wanted to explore what we share as humans: our animal origins, our residence in the natural world. Having my daughter arrive into my life prompted this simple reverie.’

The Soft Animal interweaves intentionally lo-fi recordings with rich production to create an expansive range of sounds and emotions echoing influences as diverse as Sufjan Stevens and A Winged Victory for the Sullen.

Reflecting on the recording process Pearse comments: ‘Enda, Darragh and I were guided by the drama of what can happen when you record musicians playing live together. We were seeking feeling and atmosphere more than sonic perfection’.

In my hands, a bone white antler,
I am perched on a mossy stone,
When I slip into the river
and I let the antler go…….from ‘The Antler’

The Soft Animal will be released on 29 July 2016 and is available to pre-order now at www.pearsemcgloughlin.bandcamp.com

Bluestack Records is an independent record label from Ireland. Based in Sligo, they have previously released music from Ambience Affair, Go Panda Go, Winter Aid, Christof and The Casanova Wave. The Soft Animal is their first collaboration with Urchin Music.

PRESS QUOTES

For The Soft Animal (2016)

‘melancholy melodics (and) lyrics that feel like they’ve been uncovered from a book…’ – The Irish Times

For Idiot Songs (2013)

‘a short suite of forlorn tunes that exemplify elegance, subtlety and good taste’ 4*** – The Irish Times

‘the pair, with help from Enda Roche, create what the best albums manage to do, an atmosphere exclusive to itself with its own identity’ Nialler 9

‘a beautifully executed, impressively constructed track instantly calling to mind the likes of Villagers, Death Cab For Cutie and – another Ben Gibbard project – The Postal Service.’ – BBC Across The Line

For In Movement (2012)

A quiet triumph – Hot Press

‘McGloughlin’s accomplished schtick is quiet and whispery. Instead of sweeping you off your feet like a tidal wave, this music announces itself by lapping in around your ankles’ – Evening Herald

For Busy Whisper (2009)

A beautiful, hushed delivery 4**** – RTÉ Ten

SUMMER TOUR DATES
Saturday 11th June | Bark Café, Rathmines, Dublin 6, Free Entry
Wednesday June 29th | Thirty Four, Lennox Street (Listening Party) Dublin, Free
Wednesday July 6th | Cáirde Sligo Arts Festival, Shells Café, Sligo, Free Entry
Thursday July 14th | Róisín Dubh, Galway, Free Entry
Friday July 22nd | Liberties Festival, Dublin | TBC | www.libertiesfestival.ie
Friday July 29th | Bello Bar, Dublin | €10 | Tickets available on the door

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