The Gloaming cover

The Gloaming

The Gloaming · 2014

59 min · 10 tracks

A haunting blend of traditional Irish folk and contemporary influences, woven together with intricate instrumentation and emotive melodies.

Top tracks — play these first

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    Song 44 — This opening track encapsulates the group's ethereal sound, combining minimalistic melodies with a rich atmospheric backdrop that sets the tone for the album.
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    Allistrum’s March — The track showcases expert instrumental interplay and rhythm, highlighting the ensemble's ability to blend traditional forms with modern sensibilities effectively.
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    Freedom / Saoirse — With its poignant melodies and layered harmonies, this piece reflects the emotional depth that permeates the album, drawing listeners into its narrative arc.
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    Opening Set: An Chúil Daigh Ré / Elizabeth Kelly's Delight / Billy O'Rourke Is the Boy / The Millstream / Rolling in the Barrel / The Tap Room / Tom Doherty's Reel — This extensive medley showcases the group's virtuosity and their ability to weave together various traditional tunes into an engaging journey, emphasizing communal celebration.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100
Treeline
Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The Gloaming blends traditional and contemporary styles with intricate arrangements, creating a distinctive sound.

What we noticed

  • The use of vocal harmonies is prominent, with melodies often intertwining rather than following a standard verse-chorus structure.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
8/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
7/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Song 44 6:45
  • 2 Allistrum’s March 4:13
  • 3 The Necklace of Wrens / An Muince Dreoilíní 3:47
  • 4 The Girl Who Broke My Heart 2:18
  • 5 Freedom / Saoirse 5:04
  • 6 The Sailor’s Bonnet 4:15
  • 7 The Old Bush 7:36
  • 8 Opening Set: An Chúil Daigh Ré / Elizabeth Kelly's Delight / Billy O'Rourke Is the Boy / The Millstream / Rolling in the Barrel / The Tap Room / Tom Doherty's Reel 16:39
  • 9 Hunting the Squirrel 3:22
  • 10 Samhradh Samhradh 5:56

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata