Fómhar
Prepare to be transported through time and space, experiencing a modern take on ancient rituals that still resonate with the human soul. Set to release on July 31—the eve of Lughnasadh—the latest opus from Dublin’s Fómhar, Fuil Na Seanchoille, will be available via Fiadh Productions. This third album signifies a rebirth, delving into past, present, and future intersections, melding Celtic and Wurundjeri seasonal rituals into a singular auditory experience.
Each track on Fuil Na Seanchoille acts as a ritual, aligning with the Celtic seasons while paying homage to the Wurundjeri seasons observed by the pre-invasion people. But what sets this album apart is its profound connection to ancient acoustics. Recorded with impulse responses from the ancient monument of Newgrange, the album captures the unique resonance of a space designed for spiritual and social rituals. The result is a hauntingly immersive experience, as if the music reverberated through those ancient stones.
Frank Stevens of AudioLab meticulously captured the acoustic essence of Newgrange, ensuring that every sound on the album reflects the tomb’s primary resonance frequency of 110 Hz. This frequency, which falls within the human vocal range, is thought to have been deliberately chosen in Neolithic times to enhance ritual chanting. The connection between these ancient acoustic properties and the human brain is fascinating; listening to tones at 110 Hz has been shown to affect brain activity, potentially inducing altered states of consciousness.
The album’s foundation lies in guitar drones tuned to 110 Hz, creating a deep, meditative soundscape. Each drone, tuned to different octaves, weaves together to counterbalance the shifting influences of the seasons. This musical choice anchors the listener in a specific auditory environment and mirrors the ancient practices of using sound to influence the mind and spirit.
The recording sessions at Faolán’s Lodge spanned the first two days of January and the seventh and eighth days of September 2023, encapsulating the essence of winter and autumn. Daithi Criptéir’s guitar drones and audio engineering, combined with Cormac Ó Síocháin’s multifaceted instrumental contributions, create a rich tapestry of sound. Mastering by Jack Conrow at Enormous Door captures every nuance with clarity.
Cormac Ó Síocháin told Decibel, “The initial day of recording between Daithí and I was a grueling yet joyous process; it fell upon the 1st of January, which those in the Northern Hemisphere associate with ice, cold, rebirth, new beginnings following the ritual death of the sun upon the solstice: Winter. Here in Naarm (AKA “Melbourne, Australia”), January and February occur during Biderap or the Dry Season. Harsh dry desert winds flay the land and skin as animals, both human and otherwise, seek shelter and shade until the cool change in the evening when the temperate drops from highs of 46 or 47°C (115 or 116°F) down to a more manageable 25-28°C (77-82°F). We lubricated the process with an excess of fermented beverages and the minimum of clothing; it was of crucial importance to me that my collaborator on this ritual was likewise an immigrant settler from the island of Ireland, one who could share my experience of being a “stranger in a strange land,” the exiled son of a colonial nightmare almost a millennia-long which we are fighting tooth and nail to awake from both in our native home and in this still-unliberated land.”
Preorder Fuil Na Seanchoille here, and listen to the full album premiere right here, right now, right below.
