Moon Looks On – The West Wind Blows (2024)
The brainchild of singer-songwriter Stephen Gormley, Moon Looks On blends the complexities of life with the intricacies of folk music, creating a sound that is entertaining, engaging and deeply intimate. Over the past few years, Gormley has quickly gained a reputation for bold, confident shows performing at notable festivals like Glastonbury and Electric Picnic; however, his reach is heading far beyond his Irish borders with features on international blogs, publications, radios and playlists. With bold yet subdued melodies, powerful lyricism, and a lovely smile to go along, Moon Looks On is an intriguing new find for us. The latest addition to his discography is ‘The West Wind Blows’.
Taken from his 2024 album, Way Out West, ‘The West Wind Blows’ brings together old-school folk with modern-day indie-folk influences; simultaneously, he fuses traditional Irish folk tunes as a slice of indie-rock peeps in with an interspersed electric guitar. Soothing, calm and gentle, the mellifluous tone quickly soothes your soul with its acoustic flair.
For me, however, while Gormley’s guitar has true charm, it is the twinkling fiddle that captures the fresh innocence of the sound. The thing is, just as there is a hint of naivety in the track, its overall message is that of mature reflection. Not necessarily a juxtaposition in tone and theme, but a peak into the poignant vulnerability and old-age Irish wisdom encased in a flowing folk song. Stephen Gormley explains:
“I was dreaming of the west of Ireland when I wrote this story. It’s a song about looking back over your life and holding on to optimism for things to come. It’s a tip of the hat to the past, the present, and the future in equal measure.”
Find out more about Moon Looks On via his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
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