The Spook of The Thirteenth Lock release a new album The Brutal Here and Now on Friday 13th April on Transduction Records. The follow-up to their self-titled debut was produced and recorded by veteran producer Stephen Shannon and spook multi-instrumentalist Enda Bates.

The new album expands on the band’s fusion of Irish folk and experimental rock, absorbing the influence of traditional Indian and Italian music with a significantly broader palette of sounds, aided by guest musicians Adrian Harte (violin) and Kim Porcelli (cello). With songs written in English, Irish and Italian, The Brutal Here and Now finds lyricist Allen Blighe exploring the malleability of memory and history. From the frenzy of the opening track “The Tarantella” through to the captivating title track and the rousing closer “The Rattling Hell”, The Brutal Here and Now captures The Spook at the height of their powers.

Since their well-received debut album, The Spook have played the length and breadth of the country, shared the stage with Donal Lunny and Andy Irvine and even toured Japan. More recently, guitarist Donnchadh toured as part of acclaimed vocalist Iarla O’Lionaird’s backing band, while Enda has received various international awards and commissions for his work as a composer and completed a doctorate in composition at Trinity College Dublin.

The band, whose line-up has expanded to include Ronan Hayes on bass, are currently preparing for an Irish tour to coincide with the album’s release, kicking off at the Triskel Arts Centre in Cork on April 12th.

Tracklist:

1. The Tarantella
2. Suffer the Wait
3. Heave the Bellows
4. Sweeney’s Frenzy
5. Black Diaries
6. Bóthar Crua Iarthar
7. Ríleanna na hIfrinn
8. Mearchuimhneas
9. The Brutal Here and Now (Part I)
10. The Brutal Here and Now (Part II)
11. Shudder in the West
12. The Rattling Hell

The song “The Brutal Here and Now Part I” will be released as video and free mp3 download March 29th in advance of the album.

Tour dates:
Apr 12 – Triskel Arts Centre, Cork
Apr 13 – Whelans, Dublin
Apr 14 – The Bridgebrook Arms, Thomastown
Apr 19 – 2UIBestow/Boyle’s, Slane
Apr 21 – Brandon’s, Ennis
Apr 22 – Kinsale (venue TBC)
Apr 26 – Roisin Dubh, Galway
Apr 27 – Joe Lee’s Tullamore
May 03 – The Menagerie, Belfast
May 06 – Vantastival Festival

The new LITE album “For All The Innocence” is available now on the iTunes Music Store. In October, the band will embark on their first European tour in three years:

Oct 14 – UK – GLASGOW, Stereo
Oct 15 – UK – LEEDS, Brudenell Social Club
Oct 16 – UK – BIRMINGHAM, Flapper
Oct 17 – UK – PLYMOUTH, White Rabbit
Oct 18 – UK – BRISTOL, Fleece
Oct 19 – UK – MANCHESTER, Moho Live
Oct 20 – NI – BELFAST, Spring & Airbrake
Oct 21 – IE – GALWAY, Roisin Dubh
Oct 22 – IE – DUBLIN, Whelan’s
Oct 23 – IE – CORK, Crane Lane Theatre
Oct 24 – UK – LONDON, Borderline
Oct 25 – FR – PARIS, Glaz’Art
Oct 26 – LU – LUXEMBOURG, venue tbc
Oct 27 – BE – BRUSSELS, Magasin 4
Oct 28 – BE – HASSELT, Carpe Diem
Oct 29 – NL – MAASTRICHT, Muziekgieterij
Oct 30 – NL – UTRECHT, Ekko

Mar 16 – The Loft, Dallas, Texas
Mar 17 – The Backroom, Houston, Texas
Mar 18 – The Ginger Man, Austin, Texas (SXSW)
Mar 19 – The Spanish Moon, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Mar 20 – One Eyed Jacks, New Orleans, Louisiana
Mar 21 – The Handlebar, Pensacola, Florida
Mar 22 – Common Grounds, Gainesville, Florida
Mar 23 – The Social, Orlando, Florida
Mar 24 – Jack Rabbits, Jacksonville, Florida
Mar 25 – The Earl, Atlanta, Georgia

The Dinah Brand’s album “I Can Walk Through” is released today and available to order online from the shop. The album is also available at iTunes, Emusic, Amazon and at all good record stores.

Check out another mp3 from the album:

The Dinah Brand – “What’s Required of a Person” (mp3, 5.4mb)

The band will play Whelan’s on November 3rd as support to Willard Grant Conspiracy and will then headline their own show upstairs at the same venue on November 12th with guests to be confirmed.

Recorded live at Taicoclub ’10, Kodamanomori, Tokyo on June 5th, 2010.

The Dinah Brand – “Reunion” (mp3, 5mb)

The Dinah Brand will release their long-awaited second album “I Can Walk Through” on October 4th. The album contains nine songs and was produced by the band with Stephen Shannon. The track listing is:

1. Reunion
2. What’s Required of a Person
3. Constantly Watching
4. Team of Fast Detectives
5. Vampires Trapped in Time
6. Go Inside
7. Pete
8. Bands
9. Seacat

The Spook of the Thirteenth Lock have been added to the bill for the Electric Picnic. They’ll perform a folk set at the Body & Soul Love Letters Stage on Sunday, September 5th at 5pm. The band are currently recording their second album, scheduled for early 2011 release.

Photo below from LITE”s performance at Fuji Rock Festival.