I’ve known Barney Murray since their second U.S. tour of Blood or Whiskey (Celtic-Punk band founded by Barney and the late Paul Walsh). Read the London Celtic Punks review. Blood or Whiskey was staying at our house when the 9-11 attacks took place, so a memorable visit was underscored by an unforgettable event. wfw
Artist: The Winter Codes
Title: Set The Darkness Reeling
Lead Single: Too Sly to Die
Release: 13/05/22
F.F.O: Richard Thompson, The Undertones, Bob Dylan
Irish folk duo The Winter Codes (David Walshe and Barney Murray) are back with their upcoming LP Set The Darkness Reeling and its lead single Too Sly To Die. Fuelled by classic Irish folk influences, this album showcases the band’s pure love and devotion for their country with a thrashy and attitude filled flair balanced with an emotional tribute to their fallen band member…
Set The Darkness Reeling is a credit to the band’s wealth of experience as musicians. Infused with classic Irish folk that can be heard in the strings and the percussive elements, The Winter Codes embody a unique spirit that make them an indie rock band quite unlike any other…
“We got the idea to record an EP of five of our songs which then became the Set The Darkness Reeling album.”
The EP itself saw the duo travel out to the famous Grouse Lodge recording studio. The studio, which housed Michael Jackson as he recorded and lived there, has since been the backdrop to a lot of the recording of the emotionally charged and energetic LP Set the Darkness Reeling.
The first single off the album is Too Sly To Die where the band stick to their roots of traditional Irish folk with an uplifting and positive twist. Capturing this patriotic spirit, the band opted to shoot the single’s accompanying video in Dublin landmark pub The Cobblestone. Having hosted traditional Irish music for decades in one of Dublin’s oldest neighbourhoods, the bar is synonymous with music from the regionand with Too Sly to Die, The Winter Codes join the annuls of such musical greats.
The collaborations on this album span across many great minds including Daithi Meila from the Irish/Bluegrass band Jig Jam, folk singer Lisa Loughrey, and engineer Sean Montgomery – Dietz.
Running throughout Set the Darkness Rising is the emotional tribute to band member Paul Walshe who tragically passed away ten years ago. With this release, he is immortalised on the incredible LP, in memory and with his expert musicianship gracing some of the tracks.
Set the Darkness Reeling is a must listen for fans of Irish folk, rock, and everything in between! Audiences can look forward to hearing the LP upon its release 01/08/22 with lead single Too Sly to Die available across all platforms now.
For What It's Worth 