Flannery shows his hand with stunning double album
It’s never a gamble when uncompromising Cork icon Mick Flannery releases new music, even when he doubles down on it.
The Blarney native has just announced ‘The House Must Win’, his first ever double record and his ninth studio album overall, dropping on 8 May via One Riot Records.
Recorded entirely in Cork city, the 20 track album spans the full story of his forthcoming stage production of same name which debuts at the Pavilion Theatre in Dublin from 16 April-3 May. It features songs that have been in the works for over 20 years, as well as reimaginings of songs from his 2005 debut album, ‘Evening Train’, and ten new songs and orchestrations to boot.
Speaking of the recording process Mick says: “The band on this record have been working on these arrangements with us for the past few years. It’s been a great experience to capture the recording ahead of the stage production and to be able to share the story and the songs in this format.”
The album was recorded with long-time collaborator Christian Best and American producer and arranger Liam Robinson and featuring special guest collaborations including Grammy award winning artist Anaïs Mitchell and Canadian multiple Juno award nominee Jenn Grant.
Sonically, the record moves between dark, swampy bar room and heart stomping compositions, weaved between delicate ballads. The songs carry a tension both lyrically and musically that can feel almost unsettling as though something inside the heart has momentarily fractured.
‘The House Must Win’ is a collection of 20 songs that, through Flannery’s signature storytelling lyrics, build out a world where tension becomes part of the landscape. As the story unfolds in its ebbs and flows, it ultimately carries the listener toward a shoreline of deeply human stories of love, regret, pride, and longing. It is perhaps more music than Flannery might typically release in a single outing were it not tied to such a bold and ambitious stage production, yet every song earns its place. It’s a world Flannery has been carefully building for over two decades, one that feels certain to stand the test of time.
The album features an array of special guest artists invited to join on the many duets and ensemble pieces. Among them are Anaïs Mitchell, Jeffrey Martin, Jenn Grant, Lisa Hannigan, and Susan O’Neill, together with West Cork folk singer Marybeth O’Mahony, longtime collaborator Yvonne Daly, Belfast artist Tabitha Smyth, and Mick’s brothers Brian, David, and Eamonn Flannery.
The band assembled by Flannery for the album and his upcoming stage production is made up of some of Ireland’s finest musicians: Matthew Berrill (reeds), Killian Browne (piano, banjo, harmonium), Niamh Varian-Barry (violin/viola), Dan Bodwell (double bass), and Dominic Mullan (drums) - Liam Robinson arranged all the pieces new and old, and also plays and sings on the record too.
Mick Flannery’s new double album ‘The House Must Win’ will be available to buy and stream from 8 May. The current single from the album, ‘Rising Tide’ is available to stream now.