Pearse McGloughlin
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Pearse McGloughlin

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"Pearse McGloughlin - Twine EP"

Pearse McGloughlin, while remaining slightly under the radar, has placed himself as one of Ireland’s best emerging artists. Following on from last year’s ‘Busy Whisper’, McGloughlin has released a 4 track EP, ‘Twine’.

Opening with the title track, the EP is a step forward for McGloughlin. Its minimalist, with sparse production. This though, gives each instrument and vocals room to breathe. ’Twine’ introduces us to the EP with McGloughlin’s vocal and guitar joined by violins and percussion. Clever overlaying of violins lines give this track a rich quality while Maria Blackwell adds ghostly layered backing vocals.

Morning Mist (The Birds) is more uptempo than the opener. It’s easy to imagine how this track would sound with a full band sound from this production. Again, layered chorus vocals build ‘The Birds’ refrain up to a crescendo. Subtle tints of whistle and great string arrangement turn this into something special. ‘Mercedes and The Kingfisher’ is a haunting track, giving McGloughlin’s vocals and lyrics centre stage. Guitar and harmonica compliment here.

‘Sphereosphere’, finishes off the EP with 2 minutes and 30 seconds of intelligent lyrics, beautiful vocals, harmonies and uplifting rhythms. The track builds up beautifully combining all the elements we have heard in the EP and cleverly ends without overstaying its welcome. Divine.

This is an amazing stepping stone between albums, can’t wait for the next chapter.

Categories: Reviews
Tags: Pearse McGloughlin, Twine EP - Goldenplec


"Pearse McGloughlin"

Some new treats from the minds of the McGloughlins – beautiful new music from Pearse, set to another video by his brother Kevin. The song is called Spherosphere, taken from a new EP called Twine.
http://www.youtube.com/v/R0y7wNuuFNk&hl=en&fs=1
A gorgeous vid, colourful and mesmerising, at only two minutes and half minutes it flies by. Friends know I’m crazy about the metaphysical, parallel universes and worlds-within-worlds…I love that all around us there are mysteries, like the stories of people in the next apartment to the crystal lattices that make up the steel of park railings. Weird but wonderful.
After a busy year gigging since releasing the lovely album Busy Whisper in 2009, Pearse McGloughlin felt that certain new songs had been road-tested to a good enough reception to warrant committing them to a recorded form. I found this quote on the news section of his website.
When you’re in the middle of something it can be hard to see what’s going on, it’s difficult to have perspective. This EP has allowed me to stand back from a finished product and see where I am. I hope this will enrich what comes next. Some of the songs had been played live so often and people were asking about them – they were really aching to be recorded. So here they are. They will continue to evolve and devolve, to progress and regress.

Like his debut album, Twine draws on the talents of Christophe Capewell and introduces Enda Roche (percussion) and Maria Blackwell (backing vocals) into the fray. The EP was for the most part recorded in July 2010 by Jimmy Eadie at Bow Lane Studios in Dublin. - Harmless Noise


"Pearse McGloughlin - Busy Whisper"

A review of the album Busy Whisper by Pearse McGloughlin
Review Snapshot: Busy Whisper is a haunting collection of ten songs that reflect on those moments of longing that appear to happen in the peripheral. Sparse without being bleak, Busy Whisper sees McGloughlin emerge as one of Ireland's finest song writing talents.

The Cluas Verdict? 9 out of 10

Full Review:
The name Pearse McGloughlin might not mean anything to you now, but I don't doubt that it will become a great deal more familiar when Busy Whisper makes its way on to many end of year 'best of' lists. Full of ghostly compositions and tender melodies, it is hard to believe that Busy Whisper is a debut album and yet it is, perhaps, the finest Irish solo record I've heard since Damien Rice released O.

I've always found that one of the most disappointing aspects of real life is that it doesn't come with its own soundtrack, unlike movies and TV. If real life did have a soundtrack then Busy Whisper would provide the perfect accompaniment to those moments when memories that have stood quietly in the shadows for so long finally take centre stage. Opening with the wonderfully arranged L'espoir des Revenants, the first thing that strikes you about McGloughlin is how powerful his voice is.

McGloughlin's vocals are without a doubt his most effective instrument and serves as the perfect foil to the sparse layers upon microscopic layers of multi-instrumentation that colour the majority of tracks on Busy Whisper. Indeed, McGloughlin's voice is so good; it takes a number of listens to fully appreciate his talent as a lyricist and musician. Ways to Kill a Werewolf and Passion Song deal with the surreal and the (relatively) mundane respectively and yet, such is McGloughlin's ability as a songwriter, you can't help but be drawn into the both worlds.

Busy Whisper is exactly the sort of album that should see the LP survive as a format. There is no filler here and stand-out tracks are plentiful. Consume, Changeling and Long Day are exceptionally good but my own personal favourite is Saul (oh, you foolish Alice!) if only for the lyric: Met Saul last night/In a brawl/Still talking like he's in Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas/Says his job makes his skin crawl/Gotta get away/Soon as he gets some of that overtime pay.

Overall, Busy Whisper is a stunningly good debut album that showcases Pearse McGloughlin as one of Ireland's brightest musical prospects.

Steve O'Rourke

DOI: Busy Whisper was produced, in the main, by my fellow CLUAS writer Andy Knightley. This had no effect on my review but I felt it was worth declaring. - CLUAS


"Now Playing"

New clutch of emotive songs from the Sligoman whose “Busy Whisper” album was one of 2009’s understated gems. - The Irish Times


"Pearse McGloughlin"

rry Guerin talks to the Sligo singer-songwriter who made plenty of friends with his debut album, 'Busy Whisper', and has followed it up with a new EP, 'Twine'.

Pearse McGloughlin




Harry Guerin: In January 2010 you had just released your debut album, 'Busy Whisper', into the world. What are your feelings looking back and what have you learned in the past 12 months?
Pearse McGloughlin: I'm proud of the success 'Busy Whisper' had in the last year. In making it I had hoped to write a simple collection of quiet songs that worked together; it was like a challenge I set myself. I wasn't really thinking of how it would be received - there were no expectations of it at all, other than my own. I just wanted to be happy with the album that I made.

I've learned that you have to be able to acknowledge your successes, however small they are. As an independent you don't have the same wallop behind you as more widely known artists so if a show goes really well or you find new people are slowly coming around to your work, whatever it may be, it's good to acknowledge those little victories. It's too easy to complain.

HG: You've received a lot of praise for 'Busy Whisper'. How important has word of mouth been in helping you along?
PMcG: It has helped. It's very encouraging to have new faces at a show. It's an accumulation of many things though - a lot of gigging, some nice reviews, blogs, radio. There's been a nice warmth towards the music and I'm grateful for that.

HG: Your new EP, 'Twine', features more uptempo tracks than 'Busy Whisper'. Was that a big challenge for you as a songwriter?
PMcG: It wasn't a challenge. It wasn't a conscious decision or choice to write more uptempo tracks. Both 'Morning Mist' and 'Twine' were written a few weeks after mastering 'Busy Whisper', quite spontaneously. Perhaps something in me wanted to write against the grain of my debut. I've always loved bands who play upbeat music anyway and my live repertoire usually involves several livelier tracks. I wouldn't say that writing uptempo numbers is particularly difficult for me - it just wasn't what 'Busy Whisper' was about.

HG: If the album has become something of an under-appreciated art form in the digital age, the EP has suffered an even worse fate. Why did you decide to make one and not keep the songs for your second album?
PMcG: In a way EPs are more challenging than an album. If you have one weak song, because it's so short, it can really weaken it. I released 'Twine' because I write a lot and I wanted to make sure that I had released something in 2010. People had been asking about 'Twine' and 'Morning Mist'. Also, I didn't want to dive back in to another album just yet. You don't often get to stand back from a finished piece of work and that can be a valuable lesson. Also, it gives people who were interested in the music something new to engage with.

HG: As a new artist touring around Ireland, what's it like to arrive in towns and play your music to people who may not be familiar with it?
PMcG: I usually find it rewarding to play to a new audience. You have to convince them. Often people appreciate that you've made an effort to go and play to them too. There are a lot of promoters working at grass-roots level who make things easier. They do good work.

Sometimes touring is quite solitary, nomadic work. I love the sky in winter on a bright day. It's a privilege to witness it on my way to a show. Other times it's a more humdrum experience!

HG: Have the 'road miles' help you to grow in confidence?
PMcG: It's nice to play outside your comfort zone. Often as a songwriter you have to be an observer, a watcher. If you only play in your own scene perhaps you jeopardise that a little.

As regards growth in confidence, sometimes you will grow quickly in a short time. Certain gigs or shows will teach you a lot; playing in front of new crowds on a tour forces you to analyse what is working and what is not. But it depends on the person too. Just because you're doing something wrong doesn't mean you're going to improve! You have to be willing to learn.

HG: What were your personal highlights of 2010?
PMcG: The launch of 'Twine' at the Centre for Creative Practices was a beautiful evening of visuals, music and kindness.

The Trash Culture Revue in Cork was a highlight as was the 2fm session I did with the band in February. I got to do some fun shows in Spain with Harry Bird in July too.

On a more personal level, I married someone very special. I am lucky.

HG: What were your favourite albums in 2010 and what ones are you looking forward to in 2011?
PMcG: Groom's 'Marriage'. Mike Stevens is a great lyricist and I love 'Mysteries of Life'. 'Have One on Me' from Joanna Newsom was really lovely in places. I'm looking forward to hearing the We Cut Corners album - I believe that is to be released shortly. Mumblin' Deaf Ro is releasing a new album in 2011 as are Spook of the Thirteenth Lock. I'm excited ab - RTE Entertainment


"Pearse McGloughlin - Busy Whisper"

There are small, fanfare-less albums that deserve to be guiding lights for the aspiring and the jaded as to how these things should be done. McGloughlin's debut is one of them, and hopefully he will have a very good 2010 with these songs.

With a beautiful, hushed delivery, great guitar playing and a spookiness around the edges of some tracks that just adds to their allure, the Sligo man is a reminder that sometimes the most intriguing of talents are on your own doorstep - if you can spare the time to look and listen.

Those who get as much joy discovering someone new as they do from the work of an old favourite will have a 'Ready Brek'-style glow in no time.

Harry Guerin - RTE


"Pearse McGloughlin - Busy Whisper"

Sligo-born McGloughlin’s debut album is a collection of haunting and deeply mellifluous songs that gently seep about the ears and promise to wander the mind for some time to come. His voice, clean and pure, drifts through intricate compositions, intoxicating and bewitching the listener with every gentle, honeyed breath. The deceptive array of instrumentation that softly laps at the ghostly vocals and guitar-led harmonies includes cello, mandolin, double bass and violin; all adding luscious flesh to fragile bones. From opening track ‘L’Espoir Des Revenants’ to the melodic ‘Ways To Kill A Werewolf’ with its lycanthropic metaphors, through ‘Haunting Room’ – a lilting treaty on regret – and the closing lullaby ‘Long Day’, the listener is led along a wistful and contemplative trek in and out of darkness, subdued reflection and beatnik wordplay, all presided over by McGloughlin’s dulcet tones. An album that revels in an unabashed intimacy and raw tenderness. - AU Magazine


Discography

Desired Effect EP 2007
Changeling EP - 2009
Busy Whisper (album) - 2009
Twine EP 2010

Photos

Bio

Irish solo artist, Pearse McGloughlin, creates tender and haunting songs of forgotten moments and quiet reflection. Dreamy and atmospheric, his work has an organic aesthetic reminiscent of Mazzy Star or Grand Salvo, shot through with exuberant bursts of emotion. His debut album 'Busy Whisper' received widespread critical acclaim and made many ‘Best Albums of 2009’ lists.

Since the release of his debut, the video for 'Ways to Kill Werewolf', realised by Pearse's brother Kevin, won Best Male Video at the inaugural IMTV Awards. In March, Pearse performed a session for 2FM's 'There Is No Alternative'. He also contributed 'Jongmyo Shrine' to the Fast Forward compilation released on Indiecater Records to coincide with the World Cup. October and November 2010 saw the release of 'Twine', an EP which was engineered by Jimmy Eadie at Bow Lane in Dublin. The Irish Times welcomed the ''new clutch of emotive songs from the Sligoman, whose Busy Whisper album was one of 2009's understated gems''.

Pearse is currently working on the follow up to 'Busy Whisper'.
Praise for Busy Whisper:

Soft-focused, mellow tunes delivered with quietly assured authority
-The Irish Times

A collection of haunting and deeply mellifluous songs that gently seep about the ears and promise to wander the mind for some time to come 8/10
-AU Magazine

There are small, fanfare-less albums that deserve to be guiding lights for the aspiring and the jaded … sometimes the most intriguing of talents are on your doorstep 4/5…Harry Guerin RTE

Busy Whisper is exactly the sort of album that should see the LP survive as a format… (it) is a stunningly good debut album that showcases Pearse McGloughlin as one of Ireland's brightest musical prospects (9/10)
- Cluas

beautifully realised, with instrumentation that in many places rivals the words in the war for your affections
-MP3Hugger

Busy Whisper is everything a good acoustic album should be; unassuming and unpretentious. Easily one of the best albums of 2009. It’s refreshingly different and offers a lot more than most (9/10)
- Drop-D Music Magazine

Touching and sensitively unguarded….will simply cut you to the quick.
– Losing Today UK

An immediately engaging performer, whose natural demeanour and soft-spoken asides offer little indication as to the extent of his talent, both as a musician and songwriter.
– Art and Soul UK

Praise for Twine

Singer-songwriters aren’t normally my bag and I was a latecomer to the sound of Pearse McGloughlin but he’s gradually winding his way through my circulatory system with these vitally warm songs of his. Busy Whisper was a great album of 2009 and this year, he kept things going with regular gigs before recording the Twine EP which Spherosphere is taken from. He works closely with his visual artist brother Kevin and the result is fantastic, high-quality art, as can be seen in all the recent videos.
- Harmless Noise Blog

On rare occasions, an artist will emerge who avoids regurgitating the tried and tested formula and produces a truly poignant collection of songs. Pearse Mcgloughlin stands as one of those exceptions.
- Oxygen.ie

New clutch of emotive songs from the Sligoman, whose Busy Whisper album was one of 2009's understated gems
- JIm Carroll, The Irish Times

EPs either disappoint, or beg to be played repeatedly. Pearse McLoughlin’s Twine falls in to the latter category
- City Lifers, Manchester