Ireland’s Absolute Radio-backed alt-rock band Under Starling release debut album, Murmurations.
By Graeme Smith
We’ve already made our love for Under Starling known on this blog through previous shares of their single Wotjek and EP Portals. The band draws influence from rock giants like U2 and Biffy Clyro and bring their own unique take on the genre.
As their first full-length record, Murmurations gives us the chance to get fully immersed in their sound and narratives. As an album, it explores a brand of rock that’s distinctly Irish, and touches on topics from the history of the Emerald Isle, including the Great Famine, as well as their personal experiences.
The album opens with the acoustic intro of Hawthorn Tree which gives us a delicate, romantic start. Chanting vocals pour on the emotion as the track slowly builds to a psychedelic prog folk rock breakdown. From there it simmers before arriving at a layered crescendo.
The track pours seamlessly into the echoing and emotional Birdwatching and we get a sense straight away just what a total package this album is going to be. Its anthemic, singalong quality marks it out as a likely fan favourite. Changeling rounds of the album’s first movement in atmospheric style. Its heart-wrenching groove makes it a highlight.
Six second vignette piseóg tees up the expansive Dreamer. Title track Murmurations sits at the heart of the album, giving us poetic spoken word, natural imagery and rich Godspeed You Black Emperor!-esque post-rock in abundance.
The album’s second half brings the introspective, storytelling The Laundry, the moody and powerful Selkie and the driving, dynamic Rat King. Scread Chráite is another short moment of captured audio before most recently released single The Hunger provides the record’s heaviest moment, and its emotional climax. The album is then closed by ambient coda Fódín, a sod.
If you’re a fan of emotional, stadium-filling alternative rock, then Under Starling are certainly going to be your cup of tea. Their new album takes flight and never looks down.
Murmurations is out now and you can give it a listen below.
