MERYL STREEK - Songs For The Deceased

Arriving in 2022, Irish artist Meryl Streek was unaware of the impact his clash of experimental electronica and explosive punk would have on the music scene around him. Armed with just a microphone and a laptop, in less than a year the Dublin based producer went from playing his first show in a local squat to performing live at Kentish Town Forum, London, supporting post-punk legends Public Image Ltd. 

Meryl Streek’s debut album 796 (2022) cemented itself as one of the most visceral, important political records of the decade so far, with critic Paul Brannigan of Louder praising it as “the most incendiary and important punk rock album of the year." Though rooted in Irish socio-political commentary, the album’s themes resonated with people around the world, leading to live performances across Europe.

Songs For The Deceased album once again saw the Irish artist enter Darklands Audio with producer Dan Doherty, Fontaines D.C.. The outcome is a kaleidoscopic fusion of news samples, distorted guitars, electronic beats, and traditional Irish music, all laying the foundation for Streek’s impassioned spoken word performance. 

To push the music into new spaces, Meryl Streek invited guest musicians to collaborate. Benefits’ Kingsley Hall provides spoken word to the album’s Interlude, Cal Graham from The Chisel appears on Dogs and influential guitarist Oliver Ackermann (A Place to Bury Strangers) delivers a feedback soaked outro for the song Murder.

Lyrically the songs veer from the deeply personal, such as Paddy, a tribute to his uncle Paddy, a unique individual who chose to live life by his own terms. Historic tragedies feature also with Stardust remembering the victims of the fire that took place at the Stardust venue on 14 February 1981. 48 young people were killed, leaving families begging for answers as to why the disaster happened in the first place.

“This is a collection of stories about betrayal, murder, injustice and corruption around my hometown of Dublin.” explains Meryl Streek. “It’s not just happening in Ireland, it’s happening around the world and we’re supposed to just take it lying down?”.

Politically charged and sonically vibrant, Songs For The Deceased isn’t just a statement about Ireland, it’s a call to arms around the world.

Format: 1. Solar flare red and yellow marble vinyl, limited to 600 copies;  2. Red vinyl, limited to 100 copies;  3. CD

Label: Venn Records
Release date: 25 October 2024

Tracklist:

1. Welcome
2. Fine Jail
3. If This Is Life
4. Bertie
5. Counting Sheet
6. Dogs
7. By One's Own Hand
8. Paddy
9. Interlude
10. Gambling Death
11. Terence
12. The Industry
13. Murder
14. The Stardust