Lankum
Formed: 2002
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Genre: Folk, Irish Folk
Years Active: 2003 -
Meaning of the Name: Taken from the folk song 'False Lankum', about a man who kills a mother and her child. Lankum is the name of the murderer.
A.K.A.: Lynched
Core Members: Ian Lynch, Daragh Lynch, Radie Peat, Cormac MacDiarmada
Way of Working: Collaborative
Associated: ØXN
Essential Releases
The Livelong
Day (2019)
Brooding, dark, menacing Irish folk
False Lankum (2023)
Years of experimentation led to this high point. Masterpiece.
During the 2023 ceremony for the Mercury prize, for which Lankum were nominated, Daragh Lynch saw place settings for Sony, Universal, Live Nation and other music corporations only to remark "Fucking hell, that’s a list of people who are all going to Hell."
Daragh had always been rebellious; growing up poor in Dublin will do that to a person. Ian Lynch, his brother, refers to himself as an anarchist. To channel their frustration, the pair formed a band, then known as Lynched, playing "puerile half-joke, anti-authoritarian punk songs" and found minor success in 2003.
After many years and prolonged periods of unemployment, the brothers were drawn to playing traditional Irish folk songs in local pubs for a couple of quid or a few pints. They were surprised at their developing love for the music, and it's unusual similarities to punk, which included a DIY ethic. But from the pursuit of this new passion came an opportunity to turn their hobby into a career.
During their free-flowing performances, that would incorporate improvisation and last for multiple hours, they would meet like-minded people, such as Radie Peat and Cormac MacDiarmada, who joined the group in 2014. Together, they released four albums over the next nine years, whereas Lynched managed only one in the previous eleven.
This surge of creativity interweaved folk with a portentous, unrelenting drone often created by Irish uilleann pipes. The result is a dense atmosphere of impending doom, or continuation, like the past chasing after itself in a series of ever decreasing loops. The familiar songs, such as 'Lord Abore and Mary Flynn', descend into long instrumental sections featuring accordions and harps distorted by effects pedals to startling effect.
The band re-tell old tales using experimental techniques, such as dissonance, borrowed from metal and punk to accentuate the bleak lyrical themes of folk, which include murder, betrayal, and grief. Lankum effectively re-imagine folk as metal, or rather, they conjure forth the brutal "metal" themes already present in the songs and infuse their work with elements of both genres.
Lankum are normal people, a far cry from the stereotypical 'stars' of the music industry. Their success wasn't born from bowing to industry trends, but from a relentless fidelity to their art, which is a truth that demands an honest listen. I couldn't recommend them more.
Skills
*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.Emotional Impact
85
Mental Impact
55
Originality
90
Artistry
35
Authenticity
45
Live
90
Production
75
Musicianship
85
Singing
80
Songwriting
80
Danceability
25
Fun
25
Consistency
60
Range
30
Cool
70
Charisma
40
Commercial & Critical Success
Awards >>>
- Mercury Prize Nominee 2023: False Lankum
Certifications
Charts >>>
- The Livelong Day: #8 in Ireland
- False Lankum: #2 in Ireland
Critics >>>
- Guardian: False Lankum - Best Albums of 2023: #1
- The Quietus: False Lankum - Best Albums of 2023: #1
- Uncut: False Lankum - Best Albums of 2023: #1
