United Bible Studies - Black Colcannon

As a musical collective in the truest sense of the word, United Bible Studies are not quite like any other band on the local alternative music scene. Members come and go, the music is fluid and freeform, the results are beguiling and enchanting. Black Colcannon, released in February of this year on Deserted Village, captures three such sessions by the band on one limited edition release.

Dealing with the release in three live takes, the highlight of the first is undoubtedly the forlorn folk bereftness exuded in Who Will Put Me In My Grave, warm and captivating folk and perhaps as together as the material gets. Though the making of the release lies elsewhere. Candles For Albert recorded at the now disappeared Boat Club of Limerick epitomes a haunting, enough to make the hair on the back of ones neck stand on end, as if resurrecting the ghosts of the Shannon to capture the audience in a hypnotic four minute seance. The third and final session is a 30 minute medley from The Boom Boom Room in Dublin, reaching in mid-flight a noise that screeches through a freeform psychedelic racket as it rises to bewitching intensity for the best part of 10 minutes before sinking into a sublime lullaby with Christ Is Nailed To Many Crosses. The session closes with the title track from their 2006 album, The Shore That Fears The Sea, and one wonders where the time went. Sublime, even if more than a bit directionless. 7/10.

Related Links:

http://www.myspace.com/unitedbiblestudies

http://www.last.fm/music/United+Bible+Studies

http://www.desertedvillage.com/