Name: False Lankum
Brand: Lankum

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

RT0392LPE2

Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

[r29127112]

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: Yes

Extended format

Extended format: Yes

Format detail

Exclusive Mirriboard Sleeve.

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2023-12-01

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Beggars

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

191402039238

Total Cap

Black LPx2 | Rough Trade Exclusive

RT0392CD

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format: No

2023-03-24

PIAS

0191402039221

RT0392LP

0191402039214

Black LPx2

Artist

Lankum

Genre GB

Folk

Label GB

Rough Trade

Rough Trade is a multinational label that was started by Geoff Travis in 1976 as a London record-shop. It quickly grew into an independent label and distributor, collaborating with notable labels such as 4AD, Factory Records, and One Little Indian. The label's catalogue numbering system for singles/EPs included prefixes like RT### and RTT###CD for different formats. Albums were numbered sequentially as ROUGH### with extensions for different formats.In the early 1990s, Rough Trade faced financial difficulties after expanding into the US market. The US branch was shut down and the German branch ended up in the Zomba Music Group. One Little Indian provided financing and took over the label in the UK, retaining ownership of key releases like A.R. Kane albums. Geoff Travis eventually regained control of Rough Trade around 1999–2000 and re-launched it alongside Tugboat Records.

Lankum is an Irish quartet comprising Ian Lynch, Daragh Lynch, Radie Peat and Cormac MacDiarmada. The band have consolidated their reputation as one of Ireland’s most important voices following the release of their 4th, Mercury-nominated, album False Lankum (Rough Trade, 2023), which has garnered critical acclaim and brought their music to legions of devoted new fans.&nbsp;False Lankum is conceived as a single piece of music, comprising 12 inter-connected songs unfolding across an epic 70 minute duration. Drawing on traditional songs and primitive techniques, the band have created an immersive, psychedelic listening experience incorporating experimental overtones and rumbling drones wedded with classic songwriting, close vocal harmonies and timeless narratives.

See the full list of our favourite albums from the first half of 2023 here.

Albums of the Year So Far 2023

Mercury Prize Shortlist 2023

Newest Listed Items

The 100 best albums from 2023 based on a year of listening, months of consideration, weeks of discussion and days of compiling. Every one of these albums has made an impact on us this year but to learn more about the ones that made the top 20, please <a href="http://blog.roughtrade.com/uk-albums-of-the-year-2023/">click here for the UK</a> and here <a href="http://blog.roughtrade.com/vinyl-albums-of-the-year-2023-rough-trade-us/">for the US</a>. To see all our the Rough Trade Exclusive editions from our top 20, released to celebrate our Albums of the Year, <a href="https://www.roughtrade.com/en-gb/collection/albums-of-the-year-exclusives-2023">click here for the UK</a>, <a href="https://www.roughtrade.com/en-us/collection/albums-of-the-year-exclusives-2023">here for the US</a> and <a href="https://www.roughtrade.com/en-de/collection/albums-of-the-year-exclusives-2023">here for Europe</a>.

Albums of the Year 2023

Celebrate our favourite albums of the year with these one of a kind, limited edition Rough Trade Exclusive editions but don't delay as they won't hang around for long. See the top 100 for <a href="https://www.roughtrade.com/en-gb/collection/albums-of-the-year-2023">UK</a>, <a href="https://www.roughtrade.com/en-us/collection/albums-of-the-year-2023">US</a> and <a href="https://www.roughtrade.com/en-de/collection/albums-of-the-year-2023">Europe</a>.

Albums of the Year Exclusives 2023

Highlighting their best musical memories, tracks and most importantly, albums which defined the past 12 months, we once again invite our staff (an ever-growing team of music aficionados) to share their personal album picks of 2023. An introduction to some real gems you most certainly won't regret discovering, highly complementary to our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.roughtrade.com/en-gb/collection/albums-of-the-year-2023">Albums of the Year list&nbsp;</a>with their varied styles and adventurous nature.

Staff Picks of the Year 2023

Rough Trade Albums of the Year 2023 (UK)

Rank: #4 (<a href="https://www.roughtrade.com/en-gb/collection/albums-of-the-year-2023">See full list here</a>).

False Lankum&nbsp;follows their 2019 breakthrough album&nbsp;The Livelong Day, which paved the way for critical and commercial success, earning them that year’s RTE Choice Music Prize (the Irish equivalent of the Album of the Year Grammy) and the #8 spot on NPR Music’s Best Albums of the Year list. Drawing on traditional folk songs, Lankum put their own dark, distinctive mark onto each, leaning into heavy drones and sonic distortion that imparts new intensity and beauty into each track. This record sees the band cement their breakout from the folk genre, creating bold, contemporary music that may be fashioned from traditional elements but is firmly new, sitting comfortably alongside Rough Trade labelmates like black midi and Gilla Band.&nbsp;False Lankum&nbsp;also features two original tracks, ‘Netta Perseus’ and ‘The Turn’, both penned by the group’s Daragh Lynch.

‘Go Dig My Grave’ was discovered by Lankum’s Radie Peat who learned the particular version on the album from the singing of Jean Ritchie, who recorded it in 1963 on the album&nbsp;Jean Ritchie and Doc Watson at Folk City. It is a member of a family of songs which seem to be largely made up of what are known as ‘floating verses’, originally composed as stanzas of various different ballads, some of which date back as far as the 17th century.&nbsp;

“'Our interpretation of the traditional song Go Dig My Grave is one that centres around the emotion of grief – all-consuming, unbearable and absolute” explain Lankum, “A visceral physical reaction to something that the body and mind are almost incapable of processing. The second part of the song is inspired by the Irish tradition of keening (from the Irish caoineadh) – a traditional form of lament for the deceased.&nbsp;Regarded by some as opening up ‘perilous channels of communication with the dead’, the practice came under severe censure from the catholic church in Ireland from the 17th century on.”

From the start, Dublin’s Lankum planned for&nbsp;False Lankum, their fourth record and third for Rough Trade, to feel like a complete piece – a progression and a journey for the listener. “We wanted to create more contrast on the record so the light parts would be almost spiritual and the dark parts would be incredibly dark, even horror inducing,” they explain. The album’s 12 tracks, composed of 10 traditional songs and two originals, show the four-piece using a new palate to colour their sound in an increasingly experimental way, alongside longtime producer John ‘Spud’ Murphy.

False Lankum

Music GB

Discover False Lankum by Lankum. Limited edition vinyl and CD formats available. Experience their dark, distinctive take on traditional folk music. Released by Rough Trade.