Tradition Now: David Murphy

David Murphy, pedal steel guitar
Ether Ensemble

David Murphy takes the pedal steel guitar outside the confines of its traditional roots with frequent ventures into a range of genres, spanning Americana and folk to ambient, experimental music and film soundtracks. His debut album Cuimhne Ghlinn: Explorations in Irish Music for Pedal Steel Guitar (Rollercoaster Records) takes it from the well-worn roads of the dusty American south to a new place in contemporary Irish music. Murphy’s live show presents these ancient Irish harp tunes and historic airs by O’Carolan, O’Riada et al in the 21st century, voiced by the mysterious and emotive sound of the pedal steel guitar and accompanied with his band Ether Ensemble. 

"Irish traditional rendered ghostly by washes of pedal steel and almost subliminal piano... widescreen and structured, like an early Celtic Ólafur Arnalds... 8/10"
UNCUT

Presented by NCH