Colm Mac Con Iomaire has shared the title track of his new album, The River Holds Its Breath: Tost ar an Abhainn. The project, produced by composer Bill Whelan, will be launched with a special performance at Dublin's Vicar St on May 18.

Colm has been an influential presence in Irish music for over two decades, through his work with The Frames and Kíla, as well as his successful solo career. This is his third solo album, following 2015's And Now The Weather and his debut The Hare's Corner, released in 2008.

He views The River Holds Its Breath as a collection of short stories. The album includes a song inspired by paintings in the National Gallery stored in darkness, a piece for the contemporary dancer Maureen Fleming, music from Colm's score for the Oscar-nominated short film Late Afternoon, and a piece for Nuala O’Connor’s documentary Keepers Of The Flame.

Much of the recording took place in a studio in writer Kate O'Brien's former house in Roundstone, Connemara. Relying largely on old school recording methods, Colm brought in musicians Lorcan and Cillian Byrne and the Con Tempo Quartet. A subsequent session with Colm Quearney, Bill Blackmore and Wyvern Lingo completed the picture.

Aside from his Vicar Street date, Colm will also play the Baltimore Fiddle Fair with John Sheehan on May 11.

Listen to 'The River Holds Its Breath: Tost Ar An Abhainn' below:

Tracklist:

1. Introduction : Réamhrá

2. Late Afternoon: Tráthnóna Beag Aréir

3. Una Canción Para Venezuéla  : Amhrán Venezuela

4. The River Holds Its Breath : Tost ar an Abhainn

5. Golden Hour : An Uair Órga

6. From the Mountain to the Sea : Ó Shliabh go Cuan

7. How To Catch a Star : Conas Breith ar Réalt 

8. The Shining : Solasta

9.  Old Walls : Sean Bhallaí

10. Keepers of the Flame: Caomhnóirí na Lasrach