Completed six years ago, The Blood Of The Innocents by Robyn G Shiels has become something of an urban legend in Belfast (“Have you heard the tale about the troubled troubadour and the original Therapy? tub-thumper making an album together...?”). Hailed as a holy grail by the singer/songwriter’s co-conspirators, the 11 track opus has finally been officially released recently. We are happy to confirm that it is well worth the wait.
Inspired by spirits in all senses of the word, the record is a bruised, at times bleak and regularly beautiful effort. Fans of Mark Lanegan’s Field Songs will especially adore the haunting ‘Hello Death’: a frankly phenomenal, gloom-laden lullaby, it almost single-handedly justifies all the critical praise. But there are other stand-outs on an alt country and folk-infused musical journey, including the brooding, bluesy rocker ‘When Love It Starts Leaving’, the acoustic guitar and piano-based ‘The First To Know’ and the wistful, whistling ‘This Deathly Charm’, which finds Shiels – and that inimitable heavy croon of his – in vintage form. All Robyn needs now is some record company Batman to turn this into a big hit...
OUT NOW.