Irish alt-rockers Under Starling capture the distance-defying power of love on new single “Selkie,” which melds Irish folklore with a timeless narrative that captures a lover’s quest to reunite with their beloved. Representing the second release from their upcoming album Murmurations, out on October 25th, the track excels with an emotive, impactful sound. Glistening guitar trickles aptly complement the aquatic-minded and “bodies of water,” references — “behold the ocean,” the vocals let out amidst the trickling guitars, sending chills.
“Selkies” themselves are in references to mythological creatures, with the ability to shapeshift between seal and human. All the track’s proceeds will go to Seal Rescue Ireland, who help preserve the native seal population in Ireland; the band’s partnership there is strongly commendable, and especially admirable in the context of the track’s narrative — which kickstarts a lover’s journey “upon receiving a seal skin from a Selkie.” Audible conveyances of calmer water introspection and more bustling storms, evident in the final percussive push, are grippingly complemented by serenely melodic vocals and overall atmospheric entrancement. “Selkie” is a clear winner from Under Starling.
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Emerging Singles’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
