21/12/2023
Wishing you, and those close to you, a very happy Christmas and best wishes for the new year. Thank you to Niamh, Kealan, Emma and Alan for participating in the making of the album, and a very special thanks to Bryan Quinn for enthusiastically supporting the release with some stellar social media work which resulted in radio plays, including from our new friends at Nova FM.
I am currently finalising the track listing for the ‘Best Of’ collection, which is coming in early 2024.
1/9/2023
Today, the 1st of September 2023, I have released my sixth album of original songs since 2019. During that period, I have recorded a whole lot of old music, written tons of new material and I have loved every minute of it. Now, it’s done. I’ve said all I need to say.
I have done justice, and brought to fruition, every musical and creative idea I have pretty much ever had. I can hardly be accused of wasting any talent I might have. I have put it all to use. And I have loved the process of doing that. And I, very mostly, still love listening back. It was just meant to be.
I have trusted my inner voice all the way and now we are at the end of the journey. I was right to follow that inner voice despite the silence. It’s just one of those things you know. Maybe you are also lucky enough to have a passion in life that leads you forward and which you never question. That’s me and music. It has been a joy.
Keep an eye out for a ‘Best Of’ collection in the next few months, and who knows maybe there will be the occasional single if a special enough chord progression comes my way, but in the end, thank you to the music, you remain one of my very favourite things.
YOu can stream the album here: https://songwhip.com/mywoollyhat/multiplanet-species
New Single & Album from My Woolly Hat
It’s great to be back with some Hat music releases!
On August 21st, we are releasing the first single, ‘Satellites’ from the upcoming album ‘Multi-planet Species’ (which follows on September 1st).
This track is taken from the forthcoming album ‘Multi-planet Species’ (released September 1st, 2023) and features the vocal talents of Kealan O’Reilly, the first time Kealan has recorded with My Woolly Hat since the pre-covid album ‘Tilting at Windmills’.
The new album also sees the return of Emma McGrane (who also last performed on the album ‘Tilting at Windmills’) and several tracks are led by new hat vocalist Niamh O’Reilly.
Long-time musical brother Alan Morgan plays 6 and 12 string accoustic guitars on the album track ‘Hummingbird’.
As always, we would be very grateful for all support and thank you for past support.
Classical Piano pieces – out 2/12/2022
Three albums of classical piano pieces released today under the name Pearse Burke. Pearse Burke are my middle names.
The three albums of classical piano pieces – ranging from well known favourites like Prelude 1 by Bach and Gymnopédie 1 by Satie – to lesser known works by Bartok, Ilynsky and Kuhlau are available on all the streaming platforms right now.
There is also the only recording of Irish composer Joseph Stanley’s ‘The Flag of Freedom’ on any streaming service in the world.
The three albums are:
Prelude 1:https://album.link/ie/i/1657019730
English Air: https://album.link/ie/i/1657024463
Autumn Leaf: https://album.link/ie/i/1657022206
Bare – out 21/11/2022
Bare by My Woolly Hat is released on all the streaming platforms on 21/11/2022. This album is an eight-track collection of stripped back recordings of My Woolly Hat songs from over the years. You can hear it here: [>>].
Empty Seats by Mharcais – out now
I release a lot of music under different names. A different name for every style, you could say. Here’s a My Woolly Hat track from years ago, re-born as Mharcais. It’s called Empty Seats and features the orange one [>].
Aesop’s Moon – out 12/8/2022
Aesop’s Moon by My Woolly Hat will be out on all the streaming platforms on the 12th of August. The cover art, designed by Gabriel Carbone, uses a stunning photography of the Super Moon from a couple of years back by Declan Tonge. I’m excited for you to hear these songs.
You can do that here: [>>]
Track listing:
1 – Aesop’s Moon
2 – Four-leaf clover
3 – Fortified
4 – What goes on in minds
5 – Dreamt too far
6 – Seeking time travellers
7 – Hollow-man
8 – The never-ending conspiracy
9 – Setting Son
10 – Surrender
Temper the Tide – new single, out now!
My Woolly Hat are thrilled to announce the release of new single ‘Temper the Tide’ on 24th of June, 2022.
‘Temper the Tide’ is a full on rhythmic and melodic joy to the ears, and a taster for what is to come as they finalise forthcoming album ‘Aesop’s Moon’.
You can listen to the song on all the streaming platforms from [here].
The AIchemist
January 2022: I write instrumental music, in fact I have written instrumental music ever since I first sat at a piano. During the pandemic, I took the opportunity to dig out some old tape recordings and work my way through them, picking some of my old favourites and recording them. That project grew and grew, and in the end there are ten volumes of short instrumentals, as well as a 19-track collection of my absolute favourites called ‘D’ALMAINE DAYS’. D’almaine is the type of upright piano we had in our home growing up. In fact, it’s that very same D’Almaine piano on the front cover of the album.
You can listen to this music on all the streaming services [here]. Please note it is a capital I at the start of the name, not an L. It’s AI, (as in artifical intelligence), not AL (as in Al Capone). Some elements of AI were incorporated into the release of this music. I hope you enjoy it.
We make acoustic/folk/pop/rock music with an electronic twist and we put a strong emphasis on harmonies and melody.
If that sounds like your kind of thing, please explore our albums on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify or on whatever your favourite streaming platform happens to be.
Goldenrods [>>]
In The Evening [>>]
Calm before the Storm [>>]
A thousand ways to wait [>>]
My Woolly Hat are delighted to announce the release of ‘Ferris Wheel’ on June 4th, 2021. Written, recorded and produced by Marcus MacDonald. Mixed and Mastered by Declan Quinn (Republic of Loose). With Elizabeth Mac Donald on backing vocals, this album is now ready to break social distance rules with your ears.
‘Ferris Wheel’ follows the release of ‘Wolf at the Door’ (2018), ‘Tilting at Windmills’ (2019) and ‘Goldenrods’ (2021). Some other notable releases include compilations and re-mastered versions of these tracks plus some additional recordings on the collections; ‘Calm before the storm’ (2021), ‘In the evening’ (2021) and ‘A thousand ways to wait’ (2021). Lockdown has, indeed, been a very creative and fruitful time for My Woolly Hat.
Track listing for ‘Ferris Wheel’:
1 – Ferris Wheel
2 – Out of the cage (and into the night)
3 – Desert Sun
4 – Hysterical Love
5 – Ember
6 – Chosen for broken
7 – Winning Streak
8 – Normal People
9 – We can catch a thought
10 – Overcome
Please take a stroll around the site and if you like what we do, we would love to hear from you!
Here is what people said about our last release; 2020’s two-track single ‘The Boxer who never fought / Secret Societies’;
“Tougher in tone these tunes may be, but My Woolly Hat’s innate sense of melody remains fully intact.” Tony Clayton-Lea
“Wow. My Woolly Hat bring their deep complicated sound and add some beef and crunch without losing melody. Beautifully produced and completely original. In a world of bland and formulaic songs, be more My Woolly Hat.” Lilian Smith – Rising time RTÉ Radio One
“Brilliant guitar sound. A total contrast to the previous two albums. A marvellous departure.” Roddie Cleere, Irish Music Show, KCLR
“To move in a new direction is exciting. To move in the right direction is difficult. ‘My Woolly Hat’ has made both the exciting, and right choice with ‘The Boxer Who Never Fought’.” Adam Hogan, Broadcast Coordinator, RTÉ 2fm
Here is what people said about 2019’s ‘Tilting at Windmills’ :
“An emotional, free floating, genre defying masterpiece.”
Declan Murphy (The Four of Us)
“This album is bewitching, assured, polished and on repeat. “ Jim Lockhart
“I’ve been listening to ‘Tilting at Windmills’ all week – it is a thing of beauty” Lilian Smith (RTE Radio 1)
“There is a wonderfully smart cross-section of classic pop and blissed-out rock on Tilting At Windmills, the second album from My Woolly Hat. With influences ranging from the likes of Mamas & Papas to Talk Talk, from post-psych Pink Floyd to a beefed-up Fleet Foxes, the songs on this vastly underrated album deserve (actually, strike that – need) to be heard. Seek out, listen, learn to love it.“ Tony Clayton-Lea
“…an utterly luxurious album of rich textures, sticky melodies, sharp lyrics and great vocals. Deserves the widest audience possible.” Michael O’Shea (Lir, Pugwash, Velo Records)
“Beautiful sound, beautiful album. I just wanted to jump in a camper van and head off on a road trip listening to them over and over again.” Garry Kelly, Galway Bay FM
“Especially in ‘I can be the battlefield’ and ‘Tilting at Windmills’ – the trademark emotional punch that I find so often in the work of My Woolly Hat” Roger Doyle
“Powerful vocals, most enjoyable and engaging original music and lyrics. A great album by a great trio of Irish Musicians. 5 stars.” Pat Coldrick
“…early Coldplay, U2, Villagers, Fleet Foxes…even Bowie with the fun and darkness. This album is a beautiful thing.” Adam Hogan, The Eoghan McDermott Show [RTE]
“My Woolly Hat are skilled songwriters and musicians of quality and ‘Tilting at Windmills’ should garner major radio playlist action.” Pete Holidai
“I love the breeze that comes into the room when I put it on. Very refreshing! Compares to some of the finer moments from Prefab Sprout.” Dermot Lambert (RTE 2XM)
“Fragments of Pink Floyd and Daniel Lanois float around matured lyrical concepts” Film, Music & Art producer David Bickley of Alchemy Electronic Arts (Celtic Songlines)
“Great songs, great riffs, great production. What else could you want from an album.” Ger Griffin (Rollerskate Skinny)
“An expansive cinematic sound…beautifully structured melodies deserving of a large festival audience.” John O’Donnell (Straydog Films)
“Contemporary acoustic music with sharp lyrics, imaginative instrumental arrangements and a lovely attractive vocal style.” ÁINE HENSEY (RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta)
“Crosby, Stills and Nash meet up with The Blue Nile.” Michael Garland (Grand Pictures)
“Do your ears a favour and get this album!” Roddie Cleere (KCLR FM)