Cork based band elbé is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Seamus Allen, a writer of metaphorical indie songs with folk, trad and pop elements. He is joined in elbé by Nora Frederich on drums, Kieran Fitzgerald on bass and Emily Naughton on keys.
The title for the band’s latest release, Sonder, is taken from from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows meaning “the realisation that each random passer-by is living a life as vivid and complex as your own”. The songs on the EP are reflective of this idea, attempting to capture a range of emotions and memories, making for an evocative collection that gets into the chest and draws out the hurt. Allen’s vocals are heartfelt in the best way, displaying an impressive range and an often nuanced delivery. Musically, the EP benefits enormously from clever arrangements and sparkling production with the band finding an enviable groove throughout. Frederich and Fitzgerald’s rhythm section feels intuitive while Allen’s guitar and Naughton’s keys seem more than the sum of their parts, a testament both to band and producer Christian Best.
Sonder is a moving and cohesive EP, both musically and emotionally, and the perfect accompaniment to darkening days… a lockdown triumph.
Sonder is the result of our collaboration with Christian Best (Monique Recording Studios & drummer for Mick Flannery) and is a taster of what is yet to come. This EP is yet another product of the pandemic and we were so lucky that we had booked time in the studio when we were not in lockdown. The topics of the EP felt very real to us after coming out of a lockdown, especially appreciating friends and family and being able to play music again with your friends.
Seamus Allen
Buy on Bandcamp: https://elbeofficialmusic.bandcamp.com
