David Murphy - Cuimhne Ghlinn: Explorations in Irish Music for Pedal Steel Guitar (2024)

David Murphy is a multi-instrumentalist based in Cork, Ireland known best for his work with the pedal steel guitar.

Taking the instrument outside the confines of its traditional roots, Murphy has accumulated a growing list of recording and live credits. He can regularly be seen and heard on stage and in the studio with diverse Irish artists such as The Lost Brothers, John Blek & The Rats, Arborist, Cian Nugent, Ordnance Survey, Greenshine and The Remedy Club amongst others as well as touring or performing alongside acclaimed international artists such as Willy Vlautin, The Delines, Richmond Fontaine, M. Ward and Jolie Holland.

2024 sees Murphy take his first steps out of the shadows as a solo artist with the release of his own full-length studio album 'Cuimhne Ghlinn: Explorations in Irish Music for Pedal Steel Guitar' on the Rollercoaster Records label. This continues his quest to expand the vocabulary of the instrument and take it in new and exciting directions.

Murphy’s all-instrumental debut album recasts ancient Irish harp tunes and historic airs by O’Carolan, O’Riada et al into the 21st century, voiced by the mysterious, emotive and swelling sound of the pedal steel guitar. Supported by an all-star cast of musicians from across contemporary, modern-classical and folk worlds, the pedal steel ably takes its place within an ensemble featuring cello, violin, piano, harp, uilleann pipes and lush electronic textures and synths. Across 40 minutes, the album conjures a palette of sparse, dreamlike, atmospheric soundscapes and stirring, cinematic takes of these culturally significant compositions and melodies from Ireland’s great harpers, composers and song collectors.

This record promises to be a must-listen for fans of pedal steel guitar, atmospheric soundtracks, traditional Irish music, contemporary experimental, ambient and modern-classical music. It features a diverse cast of supporting musicians including Peter Broderick (Efterklang, Erased Tapes), Steve Wickham (The Waterboys, Sinead O'Connor, U2), Laura McFadden (Arborist), Aisling Urwin (Woven Kin), Alannah Thornburgh, Rory McCarthy (Notify), Mark McCausland (The Lost Brothers), Anthony Ruby, Cory Gray (The Delines, The Decemberists) and Graham Heaney (Saint Sister) amongst others.

On his vision for the album, Murphy says: "The pedal steel guitar has unique timbre, tuning and tonal capabilities. It offers rich sustain, swelling glissando and the ability to bend expressive and mournful notes that merge seamlessly and elastically into changing chords. Its unmistakable, crying sound is identified on hundreds of acclaimed records in folk and country genres. In the 21st century, it has continued its evolution into electronica, ambient and experimental music realms. With this record, my objective was to take the instrument away from its excursions across well-worn roads through the dusty American south and southwest and deeper into a world much closer to home and, for the very first time, present it in a modern Irish framework."

Tracklist:
1.01 - David Murphy - Aisling Gheal (5:58)
1.02 - David Murphy - Bridget Cruise (5:14)
1.03 - David Murphy - Citi na gCumann (5:48)
1.04 - David Murphy - Eleanor Plunkett (4:31)
1.05 - David Murphy - An Draigheann (6:30)
1.06 - David Murphy - Cuimhne Ghlinn (3:29)
1.07 - David Murphy - Sean O'Duibhir a Gleanna (4:19)
1.08 - David Murphy - An Spéic Seoigheach (3:32)