Birr man releases stunning new album celebrating the Blackwater region
‘It’s reminiscent of the finger-picked intimacy of Nick Drake and Nick Jones’
Offaly born folk artist Mark Lyndon has released a stunning new album, which is called “Silhouettes.”
Silhouettes is a meticulously researched oral history of the Blackwater Valley transformed into a modern folk record. The Birr man spent months diving into archives and conducting interviews to bring forgotten, everyday history to light.He speaks beautifully about the real-life lore behind his tracks, like "The Last 35" (the daring inmate breakout from Kilworth Camp) and “The Brothers Graham" (a haunting local folk tale). Mark’s previous work has been featured on RTÉ Radio 1, BBC, and the IFTA-nominated short film PUNT.
With this new album, Mark has bridged the gap between Ireland’s storied past and its contemporary folk future. In the album the well of folklore around the Blackwater Valley, Mark’s guitar and his powerful voice take centre stage. It’s reminiscent of the finger-picked intimacy of Nick Drake and Nick Jones and the lyrical prowess of Paul Brady and Richard Thompson; this debut album captures the lost stories of what was everyday Irish history and brings them into the light.
"After only a few months of living in the area,” commented Mark, “I realised the richness of the history around me and I drew great inspiration from it. These stories, that seem so outlandish in the context of how we live our lives now, were everyday occurrences for people across Ireland. These aren't just myths; they are the lived experiences of the Blackwater Valley, re-imagined through the lens of modern folk. It is a great honour to act as a conduit for these stories."
While Silhouettes is his debut album, he is no stranger to the national stage. His sophisticated compositions have already earned him critical acclaim with singles “Nocturne” and “First Light” receiving positive reviews on Hotpress and Irish Music Magazine. and His songs have been broadcast on BBC, RTÉ Radio 1, Cork’s RedFM, Galway Bay FM and more. These songs also lend themselves to screen, “Nocturne” from the album featured in the IFTA-nominated short film PUNT. “Soft, warm guitars meet rich vocals in an acoustic love letter,” commented Hotpress about the single release of Nocturne. “Shades of Nick Drake and Paul Brady.” commented thebeat.ie “Skilled guitar playing” – Midland Tribune.
Mark says his natural environment is performing live for an audience. Having shared stages with legends such as Andy Irvine, Donal Lunny, John Blek, Susan O’Neill and Muireann Bradley, he has honed a live performance that is as much a storytelling session as it is a concert. His rich vocals and intricate acoustic arrang ements envelop his audience, drawing them into a world of ancient stories and impressive musical skill.
Silhouettes was released on Friday 12th of June online, on CD and Vinyl via Bandcamp. The album is available on Bandcamp here: https://marklyndon.bandcamp.com/ Mark is currently bring his show around Ireland. On Friday 17th of July, he’s performing at Coughlan’s Live, Douglas Street, Cork City.