Lullahush – Ithaca (Future Classic, 2025)
Athens-based Dublin artist Lullahush is set to release Ithaca, his new album, on April 11, 2025. The record meshes together lovely traditional Irish music with edgy contemporary electronic production, offering a modern exploration of Irish identity through sound.
The album’s concept draws from themes of exile, belonging, and national identity, echoing the historical migrations of the Irish diaspora; from famine refugees to those displaced by economic hardship and the housing crisis. Now living abroad, McIntyre describes his complex relationship with Ireland: “I miss it, but I have a difficult relationship with it. My search for a sense of home has made me rethink what Ithaca means. Maybe it’s not a place, but a feeling; something internal, something carried.”
This theme is introduced with the cry of a curlew, leading into the alluring voice of Sean-nós singer Saileog Ní Cheannabháin on “An Droighneán Donn” (The Blackthorn Bush). Folk elements surface throughout: Maija Sofia’s vocals on “Jimmy An Chladaigh” (Jimmy of the Shore), the irresistible bodhrán frame beats in “Maija an Uisce” (Maija of the Water), and “Maddy na Farraige” (Maddy of the Sea), where a maritime ballad transforms into a contemporary garage beat.
The second half of the album takes a darker turn. ‘Kitty na Gaoithe” (Kitty of the Wind) deconstructs traditional Irish keening into spectral techno, while “Dónal na Gealaí” (Daniel of the Moon) layers fragmented samples with deep, industrial bass.
A hidden love story threads through the record, culminating in “Máire na Réiltíní” (Mary of the Little Stars), inspired by Odysseus Elytis’ Maria Nefeli. The album ends with “Raglan Road,” built around a WhatsApp voice note of McIntyre’s 97-year-old great uncle Jack singing Patrick Kavanagh’s poem; bridging generations in a moment of quiet reverence.
Beyond the album, Lullahush plans to expand the project with a live ensemble, using feedback loops, contact mics, and experimental arrangements to create immersive, unpredictable performances. “I’m interested in risk and chaos; something fragile and intimate that breathes in front of an audience,” McIntyre explains. Rather than recreating Ithaca live, each show will reinterpret its themes, evolving the music in real time to explore how electronic methods can enhance and honor tradition.
Buy Ithaca.
Author: Ryan Emmert
