Between the Earth and the Sky

Words like ‘maverick’ and ‘beatnik’ have been liberally seasoning the many reviews of the music of Lankum – formerly known as Lynched – now named after the child-murderer in the classic ballad. As soon as a track like ‘Sergeant William Bailey’ or ‘Peat Bog Soldiers’ kicks in with rough and rowdy vocals, you feel like you've been magicked into the most raucous pub in Dublin to witness a gig of real energy and ability. And then a tune like ‘The Townie Polka’ comes along to settle and reassure us that this Irish quartet can also do beauty and restraint.
The set starts with a great version of the traditional Irish song ‘What Will We Do When We Have No Money?’, which showcases the vocals of Radie Peat, at once burred and pure. ‘The Granite Gaze’ repeats the trick and reinforces their handling of a musical arc: the simple guitar line, lightly dusted with reverb, creates an ominous accompaniment to the dark lyric and brings things home after a frenetic mid-section. Eleven-minute ballad ‘The Turkish Reveille’ boldly meanders, with drones and minimal percussion framing the pair of storytellers, giving the tale room. It's these flourishes of confidence that suggest a band showing signs of real power.