Album Review: Kingfishr - 'Halcyon'
Fast-rising Irish group Kingfishr unveil their stunning debut album: ‘Halcyon’.
The group, who hail from Wexford, have drummed up a great deal of interest in recent times. Their recent, lengthy tour of Europe solidified just how well-loved the band are right now. They took their authentic, captivating music on the road with them and crowds from all over lapped it up.
Whilst their live shows have gone a long way in building the group’s reputation as one of the most talented outfits on the scene, their ability to capture their listeners’ imagination with their work in the studio is second to none.
In recent months, their track ‘Killeagh’ has taken social media platforms by storm, with many using the song in videos on Tiktok. It seems to have become an anthem of nostalgia, of pride and identity with locations that are important to listeners.
It has been beautiful to see people relating to that track, regardless of where they’re from- if it be Tipperary or Tipton, that song seems to have become the anthem of pride and love for our homes.
With the name Kingfishr spreading as the group reach new audiences all the time, the timing of the release of their debut album, ‘Halcyon’, is perfect.
The record kicks off with the stunning track: ‘Man On The Moon’. It begins with atmospheric, jangly sounds that swing the song into motion. A short opening verse builds the band up before they kick off with a truly anthemic chorus. Lead singer Eddie Keogh’s voice is striking, full of emotion and really leaves the signature Kingfishr stamp on the opening track. With that, the group’s debut album is in motion.
Straight from ‘Man On The Moon’, the album flows into ‘21’: another track which is full of dreamy riffs and stunning vocals. This one, lyrically, is scintillating. Keogh’s words are stunning as he sings: “How come the stars rise but the lights don’t shine behind those eyes, like they did when we were young, at the age of 21?”
Based on the band’s previous work, it was evident that we were always going to be treated to a body of work which brims with emotion when it came to their debut record. ‘Halcyon’ surpasses all prior expectations: it shows off all the very best things about Kingfishr. The opening two tracks are home to dreamy, indie-sounding riffs that sound so fresh and exciting.
Within the record are some classic Kingfishr tracks, where the band are at their most raw and stripped back. One of the tracks where we hear this is ‘Diamonds & Roses’. The song has become a fan favourite since it was released as a single. When heard in its place on ‘Halcyon’, the song sounds as fresh and exciting as it did when it was initially put out.
The band seem to have revitalised traditional folk music. Their authenticity is clear for all to see, they utilise beautiful traditional music and put their own spin on it. Their love of the folk genre, and their admiration for their instruments is evident throughout the record.
One track which shows off this love of folk and their home is ‘Caroline- rework’. The opening section of the track shows off a beautiful arrangement of banjo and guitar, with the two instruments singing their own song to each other before Keogh’s voice takes control. He describes a beautiful affair of love and admiration for a person with his words. As he does so, the band build up to create a euphoric sound, flooded with those traditional sounds of banjo riffs and guitar chords. It’s stunning. The track is beautiful and is sure to be a big hit with listeners.
Following ‘Caroline- rework’ comes ‘Killeagh’. As mentioned previously, the track has seen a great deal of love since its release. When listened to amid Kingfishr’s debut album, though, those feelings of pride and love for one’s home seem to shine even brighter. ‘Killeagh’ feels like a real marker of remembering where we all come from, appreciating our homes and our backgrounds. It’s like the band are looking back at where they’ve come from as they unveil their biggest project to date.
The tail end of the album is wowing. Songs like ‘Blue Skies’ and ‘Eyes Don’t Lie’ are some of the very best on the record.
The final two tracks, though, are truly something special. ‘Someday’ is one which will have the attention of listeners from start to finish. It begins with what sounds like a mandolin and guitar coming together, with Keogh’s vocals on top of them, creating a stunning sound. The track builds through its verses and then erupts into sheer euphoria. Keogh belts out some really important words as he sings: “Someday, well the guns won’t ring. We’ll all wonder where the world went wrong, someday.”
The words are so important in the world that we live in, and it feels like the band are using their platform to spread positivity, reminding us with their beautiful music that the world can be a great place.
The record closes out with ‘Schooldays’, where it feels like the group are reflecting on their early lives. The largely acoustic-guitar-driven number is one which feels like it’s made to be sung back to the band by crowds. You can imagine crowds belting out the words: “Run away from everything you thought you ever loved”, as the band play through the stunning piece of music.”
With the end of ‘Schooldays’ comes the end of ‘Halcyon’.
Kingfishr have achieved an incredible debut album. The body of work has it all. It shows off the group’s love for their traditional roots and folk music as a genre. It also shows off how they have so much to add to the scene. Kingfishr are certainly ones to watch going forward.
Words by Matthew Caslin
