NCH Landmarks: Jape

NCH Landmarks

In this new occasional series, leading Irish artists perform their landmark album and music from their career.

NCH Landmarks sees Jape revisit two defining chapters of his musical journey with a live performance of The Monkeys In The Zoo Have More Fun Than Me (2004) and Ritual (2008).  The former, Jape’s second album, is a lo-fi, experimental folktronica work with raw, DIY charm, blending acoustic instruments and electronics in an intimate, introspective style.  In contrast, Ritual — widely regarded as Jape’s most critically acclaimed album — erupts with energy and confidence. A winner of the Choice Music Prize, Ritual cemented Jape as a major force in Irish indie and electronic music.

Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, and now calling Sweden home; Jape began as the solo moniker of Richie Egan – formerly of Redneck Manifesto - and has evolved over the past 6 years into one of the most exciting live acts in Europe.

The band broke into global consciousness in 2008 when The Raconteurs’ Brendan Benson encountered Jape’s track “Floating” while on a trip to Ireland. Benson loved it so much he would soon begin incorporating a cover of it into live sets. Jape found themselves supporting the Jack White-fronted supergroup on stages around the world, and having their track reinterpreted by the likes of Soulwax.

Egan has been part of many bands from an early age and spent his youth experimenting with four-track tape recorders and sounds. This experimentation provides the foundation of latest album ‘Ocean Of Frequency’, which knits together an eclectic blend of meticulously crafted lyrics and electronic rhythms; with influences ranging from Brian Eno to Caribou.

“….blending guitars and synthetic beats to great effect. He’s probably bored of being called the Irish Beck, so we won’t. Instead, let’s just say no-one has done this type of thing as well since… well, you get the picture” **** NME

Jape’s regard within Ireland has reached levels unprecedented by musical peers, becoming the first act ever to win the regarded Choice Music Prize for Best Irish Album twice: first for 2008’s ‘Ritual’ and in 2012 for ‘Ocean Of Frequency’. The award has long been regarded as a launching pad for Ireland’s finest, with previous winners including Two Door Cinema Club and Villagers. 

Lauded by European critics, the album is a boundless, genre-defying exploration of sound, ideas and possibilities. “The idea for the title, Ocean of Frequency came from an interview I saw with Michael Talbot,” says Egan. “He was an American author who wrote some books linking science with mysticism. I feel the answer to religion lies somewhere in science and I like to think that we all float about in an ocean of frequency that we can't understand. People always go on about the difference between science and religion, in my opinion there is an unending spiritual beauty in the order of science.”

JAPE are currently finishing their 4th studio album in Sweden and are taking a break to play Body and Soul this year. 

Presented by NCH