Words: Dylan Murphy
The group have revealed their new record False Lankum lands on March 24 and have celebrated with their new single ‘Go Dig My Grave’.
Lankum‘s The Livelong Day is still in our rotation til this day. The RTÉ Choice Prize winning album is the last full length record to drop from the quartet. However, today they’ve announced that their next album False Lankum will be arriving on March 24 via Rough Trade.
Alongside that news, they’ve revealed a new single ‘Go Dig My Grave’ and an accompanying video. Directed by Peadar Gill, the visuals see Radie Peat surrounded by the rest of the group and a number of cloaked individuals.
The song was discovered by Radie, who became familiar with the version from the singing of Jean Ritchie on a 1963 album.
Speaking on the single, Lankum says, “Our interpretation of the traditional song ‘Go Dig My Grave‘ is one that centres around the emotion of grief – all-consuming, unbearable and absolute… A visceral physical reaction to something that the body and mind are almost incapable of processing. The second part of the song is inspired by the Irish tradition of keening (from the Irish caoineadh) – a traditional form of lament for the deceased. Regarded by some as opening up ‘perilous channels of communication with the dead’, the practice came under severe censure from the catholic church in Ireland from the 17th century on.”
Speaking on their forthcoming forth album, the group says, “We wanted to create more contrast on the record so the light parts would be almost spiritual and the dark parts would be incredibly dark, even horror inducing.”
Live shows:
19 May – Mandela Hall, Belfast
20 May – Cork Opera House, Cork
30 May – Vicar Street, Dublin
31 May – Vicar Street, Dublin
4 August – All Together Now Festival, Co Waterford
Tickets start at 35 euro and go on sale Friday.
Watch the video for ‘Go Dig My Grave’ below:
Elsewhere on District: How a fan convinced Loyle Carner to keep making music.