A moment of Irish history tied up in a sea of musical artistry.
“My Grief on the Sea” takes the listener on a voyage back to the nineteenth century, brutally and honestly telling the tales of the sea, sea journeys and migration to and from Ireland. First released a year ago, a vinyl release of the project from Bring Your Own Hammer is acting as a reintroduction of the stories.
As vivid as an illustrated book, as accurate as a historical document, and as emotional as a fictitious novel, “My Grief on the Sea” is as much an exhibition of museum-quality moments as it is a musical release on vinyl. Looking at the work as an entire project, the consistency and cohesiveness bring it closer to being a concept album than that of a traditional release. The collection telling an overarching story, and each piece an alternative chapter.
It’s difficult to suggest there’s a standout track on “My Grief on the Sea” because these aren’t exactly just “tracks”. With contributions coming from both Irish and international composers, musicians and singers, a transatlantic trail runs through the album – one of movement, progress, hope and struggle. Moments such as ‘The Female Cabin Boy’ – a sea-set story of disguise – exemplify the power of a moving duet as Eileen Gogan is joined by Neil Farrell. ‘The Man With Open Arms’ contains enough glimpses of reality to act almost like a biographical account of historical events, its intricacies and intent telling the tale of a life during the 1932 cholera epidemic.
‘Over the Ghosts’ sits as the most modern sounding piece, Mike Smalle and Wally Nkikita explore the history of the domestic slave trade in the United States, tracing a journey from Virginia to Baltimore – the use of brass instrumentation, strings and steady percussion bringing up sonic comparisons to contemporary works from groups such as The National.
Closing the collection with ‘The Weight Of Water’, featuring Michael J Sheehy, encapsulates all the time, memory, answers, despair, and grief that the sea has seen and held. The starkly stunning love story set in the midst of the Famine leaves the listener with a devastation as we hear of a pair heading away from the land and towards the sea, “close your eyes, let the weight of the water hold you, and dream yourself far from here” Sheely sings, seamlessly dropping into a moment of silent reflection as “My Grief on the Sea” comes to an end.
“My Grief on the Sea” is rooted in collaboration, in storytelling and in heritage – it knows its identity, and perhaps that’s all that can be asked for in contemporary music. This is a masterful collection of moments of the past, a capture of emigration and immigration of Ireland, and a work of sheer passion and understanding. Whilst this isn’t a casual listen, or something you’d imagine people will frequently revisit, it does not mean that it’s not an impressive contribution to the ever-growing world of contemporary music – one that draws on the past in a respectful, unique and striking way.
