CYRM

In January 2021, Lankum’s Radie Peat and drone-folk artist Katie Kim hosted a livestream featuring heavy arrangements of traditional tales to celebrate Nollaig na mBan (‘Women’s Christmas’ in Ireland). The rhythm section was provided by Ellie Myler (drums) and John ‘Spud’ Murphy (bass), two-thirds of Irish experimentalists Percolator, and, in Murphy’s case, producer of both Lankum and Kim. Songs from that session appear now on CYRM, the debut of ØXN, the quartet’s formalised manifestation. Opener ‘Cruel Mother’ sees Peat’s distinct vocals enter a capella, invoking the story of a woman left pregnant and persecuted after a relationship with a married man, before Kim, Myler and Murphy gradually add their instruments and voices to the fray. ‘The Trees They Do Grow High’ sees Kim take the lead, with a haunting account of medieval child marriage, built against a swarm of drones and sinister strings. ‘The Wife of Michael Cleary’ is a doom-laden dirge of Maija Sofia’s 2019 telling of the unfortunate tale of Bridget Cleary, burned alive by her husband for fear of her being a fairy. Between the drones, drums and stories being sung, CYRM is a work of ferocious, gut-wrenching, obliterating power.