Irish traditional group Réalta are set to release their new arrangement of the classic ballad
The Wind That Shakes The Barley,featuring talented vocalist and guitarist Myles McCormack and legendary singer Cathy Jordan,on Friday 14th July 2023.
The first single from their upcoming third album, The Wind That Shakes The Barley is a powerful traditional ballad with lyrics crafted by Limerick poet Robert Dwyer Joyce. First published in 1861, the resulting song has since become well known and loved across Ireland and beyond.
Réalta features Deirdre Galway on guitar, Conor Lamb on uilleann pipes and whistles, Dermot Mulholland on double bass, Dermot Moynagh on bodhrán, and for the first time on a Réalta recording, Loïc Bléjean on uilleann pipes and whistles.
Myles McCormack, who has toured with the band in recent years, opens the track with his distinctive guitar and vocals. Myles is a guest artist across all tracks on Réalta’s third album,
Thing of the Earth, due for release this October. Réalta are also joined on this single by guest vocalist Cathy Jordan. Cathy is best known as the lead singer and percussionist of the trad supergroup Dervish, who have long been an inspiration to the members of Réalta, and her stunning vocals perfectly compliment and elevate the overall arrangement. The result is a unique, exciting and moving rendition of this beautiful song.
The Wind That Shakes The Barley marks the band’s first ever collaborative release. They worked with Myles and Cathy to create a new setting for this popular piece, striving to remain true to its original essence while building their own fresh arrangement around it. The resulting sound is enchanting, building in intensity with each verse, with a humming refrain from Myles evoking the emotion of the lyrics and conjuring an image of wind gently sweeping through a field of barley.
The arrangement is built around a finger-style nylon-string guitar riff which, as the song progresses, is joined by Réalta’s signature dual uilleann pipes, whistles, guitar, double bass and bodhrán, combining to create passionate swells of melody, counter-melody, harmony and accompaniment, all weaving around Myles’ and Cathy’s emotive vocals.
Deirdre Galway said: “This single is a cross-genre track, blending elements of Irish traditional music with indie and folk. It has given us the opportunity to showcase our style of collaboration, blending the approaches of all artists involved to create a powerful, empathetic and cohesive sound.”
“The Wind That Shakes The Barley should feel both familiar and fresh to Réalta fans. We have taken our core sound of reeds, wind, strings and drum and developed it, leveraging the broader experience and influences of the band members, as well as introducing two new voices into the mix. We are very excited by the result!”
Formed in Belfast in 2012, dynamic trad group Réalta quickly established themselves as an exciting act on the Irish music scene, earning stellar reviews for their live performances and innovative approach to traditional melodies. They have toured extensively throughout Europe, the UK, Asia and North America, and their energetic approach to the genre have made them firm festival favourites.
The Wind That Shakes The Barley will be accompanied by an animated video drawn by artist Peter Crann as part of his and Cathy Jordan’s Crankie Island Song Project. A song for each of Ireland’s counties will be recorded with an accompanying Crankie video to create a musical atlas of the country. This trackwill represent County Wexford where the story of the song is set, and a hand-drawn scroll will unravel as the song progresses to create an evocative story-telling music video.
The singlewas recorded by Ben McAuley at Start Together Studios, Belfast, and Seán Óg Graham at Bannview Studios in Portglenone, County Antrim. The Wind That Shakes The Barley will be available to stream and dow
