Fáilte - DAGDA

'Fáilte' by DAGDA, cover art by @pizza_egg

And so, DAGDA is born.

A chimeric collective, their first track, Fáilte, was brought into being by several individuals, namely the spoken word artist, Leon Dunne; Italian cellist and singer, Matilde Lotti; the harpist and singer, Molly Donnery; musicians Jamie Maguire and Finn O'Reilly; as well as Simon Jones and Peter Salisbury, both formerly of the iconic rockband, The Verve.

The rise of spoken word albums in the last number of years has reinvigorated the medium. From former president, Michael D. Higgins' Against All Certainty, to Daragh Fleming and Throwing Snow's Welfare, one cannot help but feel that a poetic revolution is underway.

The Dagda (meaning "the Good God" or "the Great God") is the chief deity of the Tuatha Dé Danann in Irish mythology. A father-figure, king, and master druid, he embodies agriculture, fertility, wisdom, and magic. Inspired by a story relayed to him by his partner, Dunne felt that DAGDA would be an appropriate name for the collective. Given the title of the opening track ("fáilte" meaning "welcome" in Irish), it is not surprising that a band name with stong Celtic links was chosen. Its aptness was later reinforced when Dunne discovered that this chief deity also plays the harp - a nod to Donnery whose wonderful strings and voice feature on the track.

This track's novelty lies in its visionary fusion of psychedelic Celtic tones; fragile, ever-ascending soundscapes, and raw poetry. The track opens with Donnery's ethereal voice, which gradually carries the listener into Dunne's discursive monologue that is casually sprinkled with the occasional bit of Gaeilge, though at times one wonders if the musical style and the lyrics are at odds with each other.

"What do you wanna be when you're older? As the years pass by like a scamall in the sky..."

At its core, the theme of idealism versus realism is explored. "Fáilte" is a fitting name for a first track as the collective is inviting you to experience this new thing with them, just as life is experienced: possibilities appear endless at the outset, before the realisation slowly sets in: the inevitability of our dreams being challenged. The harsh realities that Dunne outlines are consistently diffused by the echoes of Donnery's mystical voice - a reminder that our dreams are never far from our minds.

Despite being unlike anything the former members of The Verve have produced, their influence is definitely felt. Dreamy acoustics occasionally give way to the obscured distortions of a grungy guitar, a toned down version of the likes heard in A Storm in Heaven.

Overall, this tune is a promising start to what is set to be an outstanding album. Check out the track here.