David Murphy & The Ether Ensemble

Murphy’s live show presents these ancient Irish harp tunes and historic airs by O’Carolan, O’Riada et al in the 21st century, voiced by the mysterious and emotive sound of the pedal steel guitar and accompanied with his band Ether Ensemble: all-star musicians from across contemporary, modern classical and traditional/folk worlds. Here the pedal steel ably takes its place alongside cello, violin, piano, harp and lush electronic textures and synths. Murphy and his band conjure a palette of sparse, dreamlike, atmospheric soundscapes and stirring, cinematic takes of these culturally significant compositions and melodies from Ireland’s great harpists, composers, and song collectors. Recent appearances include Kilkenny Arts Festival, Electric Picnic, Another Love Story, Cork Opera House, Galway and Doolin Folk Festivals, Celtic Connections (Glasgow), Quiet Lights Festival and national television appearances at TG4’s Fleadh Cheoil and RTE’s Other Voices.

“Irish traditional rendered ghostly by washes of pedal steel and almost subliminal piano… widescreen  and structured, like an early Celtic Ólafur Arnalds… 8/10” UNCUT 

“…a sonic experiment of narcotic enchantment… blossoming with old world charm in luminous  modernity.” ***** SONGLINES – ALBUM OF THE MONTH 

“…an intriguing proposition… very moving, at times oddly Balearic, the Hawaiian roots of his warm  pitch-shifting instrument spangling through.” THE GUARDIAN 

“an incredibly confident debut album. Balanced against its elegance and the dreamlike sound of his  pedal steel is a quietly adventurous spirit that is beautifully judged and unpretentious – an  extraordinarily great album.” KLOF MAGAZINE 

“A brave and pioneering undertaking… a landmark in ambient Irish traditional music” LONESOME HIGHWAY 

“sensational… deliciously sun-drenched and weary” BBC NIGHT TRACKS 

“gives a unique and new life to traditional Irish melodies, with ethereal effect ” IRISH EXAMINER 

“contemporary classical compositions that bask in the pedal steel’s humming glow and bridge it  comfortably into the Irish canon… totally at home in its expansion of traditional forms.” ANOIS, OS ARD