Mumblin' Deaf Ro is a Dublin-based songwriter who has released two albums to date. 'Senor, My Friend . . .' (2003) was called 'a rare thing: a genuine cult classic' (Irish Times) and 'one of the lost classics of Irish indie pop (Mongrel). 'The Herring and the Brine' (2007) was voted one of the best Irish albums of the decade on Nialler9, AU and Cluas.
Ro has played live with a wide range of Irish and international artists including Lisa Hannigan, Andy Irvine, William E Whitmore, Diana Jones and Chatham County Line.
'Dictionary Crimes' is Ro's third album and is being released with the kind support of the Popical island music collective. The album tries to explain what it's like to be part of a family. Unlike the previous two storytelling albums, 'Dictionary Crimes' is largely autobiographical. The songs deal with parenthood ('Cheer Up Charlie Brown', 'Being Bill Cosby') miscarriage ('Little Mite'), filial grief ('Cade Calf Call'), lung cancer ('The Harm', 'The Birdcage') and the shared experiences that make up family life ('Sister Ill, Better Now', 'St Christopher's Water').
The music centres around interlocking guitar parts with sensitive backing on bass and drums. The musicians who worked on the album are Donnchadh Hoey (Spook of the Thirteenth Lock, Iarla Ó'Lionáird), Conor Rapple (Steerage, Alien Items) and Joss Moorkens (Dudley Corporation, Si Schroeder). The album was recorded by Jimmy Eadie (previous work with David Kitt, Jape, Crash Ensemble) and produced by contemporary composer Enda Bates. The album took five years to write but was recorded more or less live in just four days.
Dictionary Crimes is being released by Popical Island.
Popical Island is a small, hard-working collective of bands and like minded souls who work together to organise events and releases. Popical Island is not a record label; the bands own their recordings and copyright 100%.
Popical Island is based in Dublin. Formed by the bands Land Lovers, Yeh Deadlies and Groom in 2010, it also is home to some of Ireland's most exciting pop bands, including Tieranniesaur, Squarehead, Pantone 247 and Grand Pocket Orchestra. Popical has released 3 compilations, Popical Island #1, #2 and #3. These compilations introduced the world to many's the poptastic upstart, like Rhino Magic, Goodly Thousands and Feed the Bears, while featuring gems from the catchiest indie tune-slingers from across the country - your So Cows and your No Monster Clubs.
The collective also curates a monthly club night, Popicalia, where attendees typically wear their best cardigans and slacks and sometimes have sex in the jacks. Popical Island has put out new releases by Yeh Deadlies, Groom, Tieranniesaur, Walpurgis Family, Land Lovers, Patrick Kelleher & Squarehead, Grand Pocket Orchestra, Big Monster Love and Jonny Fun and the …Hesitations.
Email: popicalisland at gmail dot com
