New Album from Beoga – Before We Change Our Mind
Ed Sheeran recently disclosed that Irish band Beoga lived and jammed with him whilst working on his upcoming third album. Whilst working with Sheeran, the band was also finalizing their 5th studio album, Before We Change Our Mind, which has been released to great critical acclaim. Speaking on BBC Radio1, Sheeran announced, “I’ve always wanted to do this and they are really, really talented”.
The Beoga sound lies firmly within the Irish tradition. However, they are not afraid to incorporate other genres into their music but always return to their wonderful Irish roots. This newest record has surely positioned them at the arc of Irish traditional music’s new wave. Under the stewardship of producer Michael Keeney (Foy Vance & Ed Sheeran, Lisa Hannigan & Bonnie Raitt), recording was undertaken with live takes where possible, resulting in a refreshing and cheerful feel, while losing none of the polish or veracity.
All seven instrumentals on the album are original compositions from the band. Departing from previous recordings the songs draw more on the folk song tradition with The Bonny Ship the Diamond drawn from the vast repository of the godfather of folk Ewan McColl, alongside the Tommy Makem classic Farewell to Carlingford and Wexford Town, a song, long associated with the travelling singer Pecker Dunne. With guest appearances from Stephen McCartney & Rachel Coulter (Farriers) and The Arco String Quartet it’s no surprise that the sound achieved is tuneful, even symphonic at times, yet it never loses that unique Beoga voice.
“The best new traditional band to emerge from Ireland this century”
- Wall Street Journal.
Available throughout North America through New Folk Records.
Distributed by MVD Entertainment Group.
For further information www.beogamusic.com
