There is an Island - There is an Island There is an Island

Recorded over four days in a small, windswept church in West Sligo, There is an Island's eponymous debut album chronicles the Dublin folk trio's quiet, decade-long evolution: a collection of hushed invocations, oceanic lullabies and haunting melodies, at once transparent and full of warmth.

Throughout that time, the band have kept an elusive presence, surfacing only occasionally for rare, intimate live performances. This record captures that sound: rich vocals, earthy violin textures, delicate guitar colourings, minimal piano and ethereal soundscapes.

Singer Michelle O'Rourke, Benedict Schlepper-Connolly (violin, guitar) and Garrett Sholdice (piano) draw on an eclectic spread of influences, from Nick Cave to Planxty to Mozart, to create songs often inspired by the memories and places that linger in our hearts.

The album conjures images of sincere introspection alongside post-apocalyptic vistas: from the darkly serene opening notes of 'Evensong' to the vivid recollections of 'Anywhere' and 'Buried Glass', and the eco-lamentations of 'Mountain' and 'Dust'.

Taking in a lilting setting of Danish band Efterklang's ‘Sedna’ and a stark rendition of the 17th-century tune ‘Caoineadh Eoghain Ruadh’, the album closes with a majestic orchestral version of 'Dust', performed by O'Rourke with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.