Lankum - experimental folk

Subject: Lankum - experimental folk
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 04:00 AM

This article in the Guardian makes me think I should investigate further.

I have not heard them yet. Anyone here?

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: David C. Carter
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 04:23 AM

Dave:I,ve been listening to them for a long time now.

They are on you tube,or were.

I love what they do,very intense singing and playing.

Got to rush off,sorry.

Give them a try.

David

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 04:29 AM

Will do. Thanks David

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 08:26 AM

Listening on Spotify and they are very good.

I think that their earlier stuff where they are playing trad songs more, well, traditionaly, is not as good but then again traditional Irish is not my thing. Their later and experimental stuff is amazing.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 08:46 AM

I sent them most of my Gypsy recordings, and Ian sent me the song 'Love is kind'.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 08:48 AM

Sounds a good deal Nick. Nice to see you back :-)

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 08:59 AM

RTE's Gig on one of August 13 featured an hour from a concert they played in June:

The gig on one : Lankum

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 10:02 AM

Film maker Myles O'Reilly has been collaborating with various members of the band (as well as doing other great stuff). Worth checking out.

Here is Radie Peat singing Liam Weldon's Dark horse on the wind

In the past I have also flagged one of Lankum's members podcasts on the forum, also worth checking out.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 03:44 PM

they went under the name of 'Lynched' in their early days but needed to change it for PC reasons... might help in your quest

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 09 Sep 23 - 05:04 PM

A magnificent band, primed to reach an expanded audience following their recent Mercury Prize nomination, plus triumphant headlining slots at both the Green Man and Supersonic festivals over the past few weeks.

We were lucky enough to see them in Hebden Bridge in 2019 - tremendous live. Amazingly, there are still tickets for their London show at the Roundhouse in December - take a look/get along to see them there, or at their dates including Manchester and Leeds in the New Year.

I've noticed that they're exerting an increasing influence over repertoire at folk sessions, amongst singers of a wide spread of ages - in recent months I've heard versions of 'Newcastle', 'Go Dig My Grave', 'What Will We Do When We Have No Money', and 'On a Monday Morning', all clearly spurred by Lankum's recordings. This is in Yorkshire and the North West. Has anyone else observed the same?

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 09 Sep 23 - 05:12 PM

PS it's well worth checking out their various side projects, too. Ian Lynch has a brilliant podcast called Fire Draw Near, and released an eerily beguiling solo record under the name One Leg One Eye around the turn of the year.

Radie Peat has a super new band called ØXN, and you can also find some marvellous duet recordings of hers on YouTube - one of 'Hares on the Mountain' with her Lankum bandmate Darragh Lynch; and a stunning 'Factory Girl' with Lisa O'Neill.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Sep 23 - 07:35 AM

Vocals not their strong point, and every song, original or not, seems to degenerate, sorry build, into a morass of dub FX. Your mileage may very likely vary.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 11 Sep 23 - 09:29 AM

Radie Peat vocals not her strong point? Go to the link above.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 12 Sep 23 - 03:10 AM

I know quality of singers is highly subjective, but I agree with Nick - in fact, fwiw and at the risk of hyperbole, I consider Radie to be one of the finest folk singers that Britain and Ireland have produced in the last 50 years.

A big claim, I know (!) - but having heard similar, glowing superlatives from no less an authority than Shirley Collins herself, it's one that doesn't feel too outlandish to make…

I also personally find the complex sound-world that they establish - conjuring almost black-metal psychic heaviosity from harmonium, fiddle and the like - to be an equally potent facet of their work.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 12 Sep 23 - 04:58 AM

Anybody see the band on TV chatting to Boy George last night? Filmed some years ago I think.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 12 Sep 23 - 05:48 AM

... conjuring almost black-metal psychic heaviosity .....

????

DC

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 12 Sep 23 - 08:02 AM

I am not sure I'd rank Radie Peat among folksingers Britain produced, as poster above did, but that's probably nitpicking.

ITMA's series 'Drawing from the well' featured her:


Radie Peat : Murder, Lust and Incest

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 12 Sep 23 - 08:08 AM

I have just listened to the "Gig on One", linked to above by GUESTPeter Laban, and quite enjoyed it.

I could have done with less of the ethereal instrumental warbling, particularly after the last vocals and before the closing tune set (between 35 to 45 minutes in). My wife, who was in the next room, thought that I had fallen asleep and the system had gone into a loop.

Even after hearing it, I am none the wiser as to what "... conjuring almost black-metal psychic heaviosity ..." means.

DC

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: G-Force
Date: 12 Sep 23 - 02:37 PM

I saw the Boy George thing - quite impressive.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: matt milton
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 06:45 AM

" I've noticed that they're exerting an increasing influence over repertoire at folk sessions, amongst singers of a wide spread of ages - in recent months I've heard versions of 'Newcastle', 'Go Dig My Grave', 'What Will We Do When We Have No Money', and 'On a Monday Morning', all clearly spurred by Lankum's recordings. This is in Yorkshire and the North West. Has anyone else observed the same?"

Yes, at the weekly Matchstick Piehouse folk club I go to (where most attendees are in their 20s), a lot of the kids have been singing songs they've clearly learned from Lankum for a good 4 years or so now.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: Brian Peters
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 09:59 AM

Ian Lynch has a brilliant podcast called Fire Draw Near...

Ian drew on my research (with my enthusiastic permission) in his series of three 'Fire Draw Near' podcasts about 'The Wild Rover', and added a lot of great material he'd dug out himself. I recommend it - he really knows his stuff.

Personally I love the band, and Radie Peat's singing - she's the real deal as far as I'm concerned.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 12:20 PM

That's great to hear Brian, I'll seek out that episode.

Thanks also to other posters for bringing the Boy George clip to my attention!

Doug, it's merely a florid way of trying to describe the way in which Lankum - whose partial sonic roots and ongoing visual aesthetic as Lynched lay in experimental sub-genres of metal - maintain an edge of those atmospheres despite now primarily playing acoustic instruments in a folk(ish) idiom.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 01:39 PM

Fab stuff, Matt. And also, great to hear of a folk club where most attendees are in their 20s! Is that in Deptford? Perhaps pie & mash liquor is the elixir of youth...!

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: NightWing
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 01:45 PM

In the video of Dark Horse on the Wind, what's the instrument she's playing the drone with? Not one I recognize.

BB,
NightWing

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 02:10 PM

It's an Indian harmonium

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 02:11 PM

Hi Nightwing, apologies, I can't view your link -

But if it's this video, if you mean the instrument with piano keys and a bellows pump, then it's a harmonium

https://youtu.be/8LUCsbHAQbg?si=LohoL5mr5exMNZpJ

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: Rigby
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 02:23 PM

I love their rawness and intensity. They are not afraid of making music that is ugly or harsh, and that's a refreshing contrast to some modern folk acts who try to make everything sound as pretty as possible. But the album doesn't quite work for me. There are too many downtempo, dirge-y songs and it all gets a bit stodgy after a while.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Sep 23 - 05:49 AM

'Doomfolk' is used as a descriptor. Now, where did I put my Hedningarna CDs...

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 08:46 AM

I sent them most of my Gypsy recordings, and Ian sent me the song 'Love is kind'.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 08:59 AM

RTE's Gig on one of August 13 featured an hour from a concert they played in June:

The gig on one : Lankum

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 10:02 AM

Film maker Myles O'Reilly has been collaborating with various members of the band (as well as doing other great stuff). Worth checking out.

Here is Radie Peat singing Liam Weldon's Dark horse on the wind

In the past I have also flagged one of Lankum's members podcasts on the forum, also worth checking out.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 03:44 PM

they went under the name of 'Lynched' in their early days but needed to change it for PC reasons... might help in your quest

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 09 Sep 23 - 05:04 PM

A magnificent band, primed to reach an expanded audience following their recent Mercury Prize nomination, plus triumphant headlining slots at both the Green Man and Supersonic festivals over the past few weeks.

We were lucky enough to see them in Hebden Bridge in 2019 - tremendous live. Amazingly, there are still tickets for their London show at the Roundhouse in December - take a look/get along to see them there, or at their dates including Manchester and Leeds in the New Year.

I've noticed that they're exerting an increasing influence over repertoire at folk sessions, amongst singers of a wide spread of ages - in recent months I've heard versions of 'Newcastle', 'Go Dig My Grave', 'What Will We Do When We Have No Money', and 'On a Monday Morning', all clearly spurred by Lankum's recordings. This is in Yorkshire and the North West. Has anyone else observed the same?

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 09 Sep 23 - 05:12 PM

PS it's well worth checking out their various side projects, too. Ian Lynch has a brilliant podcast called Fire Draw Near, and released an eerily beguiling solo record under the name One Leg One Eye around the turn of the year.

Radie Peat has a super new band called ØXN, and you can also find some marvellous duet recordings of hers on YouTube - one of 'Hares on the Mountain' with her Lankum bandmate Darragh Lynch; and a stunning 'Factory Girl' with Lisa O'Neill.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Sep 23 - 07:35 AM

Vocals not their strong point, and every song, original or not, seems to degenerate, sorry build, into a morass of dub FX. Your mileage may very likely vary.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 11 Sep 23 - 09:29 AM

Radie Peat vocals not her strong point? Go to the link above.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 12 Sep 23 - 03:10 AM

I know quality of singers is highly subjective, but I agree with Nick - in fact, fwiw and at the risk of hyperbole, I consider Radie to be one of the finest folk singers that Britain and Ireland have produced in the last 50 years.

A big claim, I know (!) - but having heard similar, glowing superlatives from no less an authority than Shirley Collins herself, it's one that doesn't feel too outlandish to make…

I also personally find the complex sound-world that they establish - conjuring almost black-metal psychic heaviosity from harmonium, fiddle and the like - to be an equally potent facet of their work.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 12 Sep 23 - 04:58 AM

Anybody see the band on TV chatting to Boy George last night? Filmed some years ago I think.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 12 Sep 23 - 08:02 AM

I am not sure I'd rank Radie Peat among folksingers Britain produced, as poster above did, but that's probably nitpicking.

ITMA's series 'Drawing from the well' featured her:


Radie Peat : Murder, Lust and Incest

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 12:20 PM

That's great to hear Brian, I'll seek out that episode.

Thanks also to other posters for bringing the Boy George clip to my attention!

Doug, it's merely a florid way of trying to describe the way in which Lankum - whose partial sonic roots and ongoing visual aesthetic as Lynched lay in experimental sub-genres of metal - maintain an edge of those atmospheres despite now primarily playing acoustic instruments in a folk(ish) idiom.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 01:39 PM

Fab stuff, Matt. And also, great to hear of a folk club where most attendees are in their 20s! Is that in Deptford? Perhaps pie & mash liquor is the elixir of youth...!

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 02:10 PM

It's an Indian harmonium

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,BlackAcornUK
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 02:11 PM

Hi Nightwing, apologies, I can't view your link -

But if it's this video, if you mean the instrument with piano keys and a bellows pump, then it's a harmonium

https://youtu.be/8LUCsbHAQbg?si=LohoL5mr5exMNZpJ

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Sep 23 - 05:49 AM

'Doomfolk' is used as a descriptor. Now, where did I put my Hedningarna CDs...

Subject: Lankum - experimental folk
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 04:00 AM

This article in the Guardian makes me think I should investigate further.

I have not heard them yet. Anyone here?

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 04:29 AM

Will do. Thanks David

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 08:26 AM

Listening on Spotify and they are very good.

I think that their earlier stuff where they are playing trad songs more, well, traditionaly, is not as good but then again traditional Irish is not my thing. Their later and experimental stuff is amazing.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 08:48 AM

Sounds a good deal Nick. Nice to see you back :-)

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: NightWing
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 01:45 PM

In the video of Dark Horse on the Wind, what's the instrument she's playing the drone with? Not one I recognize.

BB,
NightWing

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 12 Sep 23 - 05:48 AM

... conjuring almost black-metal psychic heaviosity .....

????

DC

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 12 Sep 23 - 08:08 AM

I have just listened to the "Gig on One", linked to above by GUESTPeter Laban, and quite enjoyed it.

I could have done with less of the ethereal instrumental warbling, particularly after the last vocals and before the closing tune set (between 35 to 45 minutes in). My wife, who was in the next room, thought that I had fallen asleep and the system had gone into a loop.

Even after hearing it, I am none the wiser as to what "... conjuring almost black-metal psychic heaviosity ..." means.

DC

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: David C. Carter
Date: 06 Sep 23 - 04:23 AM

Dave:I,ve been listening to them for a long time now.

They are on you tube,or were.

I love what they do,very intense singing and playing.

Got to rush off,sorry.

Give them a try.

David

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: matt milton
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 06:45 AM

" I've noticed that they're exerting an increasing influence over repertoire at folk sessions, amongst singers of a wide spread of ages - in recent months I've heard versions of 'Newcastle', 'Go Dig My Grave', 'What Will We Do When We Have No Money', and 'On a Monday Morning', all clearly spurred by Lankum's recordings. This is in Yorkshire and the North West. Has anyone else observed the same?"

Yes, at the weekly Matchstick Piehouse folk club I go to (where most attendees are in their 20s), a lot of the kids have been singing songs they've clearly learned from Lankum for a good 4 years or so now.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: Brian Peters
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 09:59 AM

Ian Lynch has a brilliant podcast called Fire Draw Near...

Ian drew on my research (with my enthusiastic permission) in his series of three 'Fire Draw Near' podcasts about 'The Wild Rover', and added a lot of great material he'd dug out himself. I recommend it - he really knows his stuff.

Personally I love the band, and Radie Peat's singing - she's the real deal as far as I'm concerned.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: G-Force
Date: 12 Sep 23 - 02:37 PM

I saw the Boy George thing - quite impressive.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: Rigby
Date: 13 Sep 23 - 02:23 PM

I love their rawness and intensity. They are not afraid of making music that is ugly or harsh, and that's a refreshing contrast to some modern folk acts who try to make everything sound as pretty as possible. But the album doesn't quite work for me. There are too many downtempo, dirge-y songs and it all gets a bit stodgy after a while.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,North Country Primitive
Date: 30 Nov 23 - 06:24 PM

Late to this thread, but in my humble opinion, the majestic False Lankum is one of the best folk related releases I’ve heard in years. Really looking forward to seeing them in Manchester in January. Glad they really know their stuff too. Brian’s post above made me very happy.

Cheers, Nigel

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jan 24 - 04:48 PM

I think False Lankum as an album is up there with Dark Side of the Moon, OK Computer and Sgt Pepper.
It transcends genre. Masterpiece.

Subject: RE: Lankum - experimental folk
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 11 Jan 24 - 07:13 AM

"There are too many downtempo, dirge-y songs and it all gets a bit stodgy after a while."

@Rigby - that's how I feel too. On paper, I ought to love Lankum because I listen to a lot of so-called 'experimental' music and I love folk music. But in practice I find it a little one-dimensional - it just doesn't do it for me.

I think understatement suits traditional music and I feel a lot of 'experimental' folk over-eggs the pudding. The previous wave of idiosyncratic folkies - Mary Hampton, Cath & Phil Tyler, Alasdair Roberts - are much more my thing.

Listening to May Bradley sing unaccompanied songs still sounds to me much more powerful and strikingly 'other' than any 'experimental' drone folk does. For me, making folk that sounds like PJ Harvey, Radiohead or Nick Cave is a step towards the mainstream, rather than away from it.