An enchanting, beautiful folk sound flows through “The Song of Wandering Aengus,” a track from Stiofán Ó Treabhair that draws from the W. B. Yeats poem of the same name. Yeats’ gorgeous, image-rich balladry combines with riveting arrangements that span from quaint acoustic trickling to heartrending viola and gentle harmonium. Arising from the Yorkshire folk scene, Treabhair enthralls in pairing Yeats’ inimitable lyrical writing with a folk-forward production that injects a similar sort of gorgeousness.
“I hope this arrangement breathes new life into its mysticism,” Treabhair says of the release. “Aengus is an Irish mythological figure associated with youth, love, summer and poetic inspiration. The sound world of the track benefits greatly from ambient guitarist Tim Hay and violist Robin Timmis’ textural contributions.”
Frolicking acoustics mimic the rush of emotions conveyed in the opening lyrics: “I went out to the hazel wood / Because a fire was in my head.” Timmis’ viola incorporation is spine-tingling around mid-point, as the “had become a glimmering girl” accounts come into view. The viola, acoustics, and ambient elements then conjoin with harmonious ease as the track reaches its gentle close, as a final acoustic strums adorns into the “golden apples of the sun.” “The Song of Wandering Aengus” is an enveloping folk success from Stiofán Ó Treabhair.
—
The track is also featured in the genre-based, best-of Spotify compilation Emerging Indie Folk.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
