Album Review: The Line, Red Blood Cells and Righteousness

Brian Dillon is best known as part of experimental quintet, Meltybrains?, but he has also worked with a host of other artists, both musical and otherwise (including actors, choreographers and photographers).

This 13-track album sees Dillon co-operating with a host of fellow Irish musical creatives for an intriguing and often wonderful collection of tunes, each of which was co-written with a fellow musician, most of them vocalists.

Thus, Loah and Fehdah deliver some husky, soulful singing over a skittish backing track on 'Communion', before it turns into a complete banger that comes across like Ireland's answer to Massive Attack. Sarah Corcoran from Pillow Queens pops in for the unsettling electronica of 'Hero Of Coincidence', while two of the country's finest rappers, MuRli and Godknows, deliver a tour-de-force on the nervous energy of 'Patience Of Saints'.

The brooding electro of 'Light Work' features fellow Meltybrains? members Ben Bix and Micheál Quinn, while Wyvern Lingo's Caoi De Barra's vocal acrobatics on the gorgeous 'Fruit Peel Path' help it morph from gorgeous multi-layered pop to electronic adventure.

Sorcha Richardson helps out on the hauntingly beautiful lo-fi indie-pop of 'Collar Bone', and Eoin French of Talos contributes to the closing, piano-led 'A Crack Becomes a Crevice, A Foothold Becomes A Foundation'.

A hugely impressive collection.

Out Now.