Kingfishr – Shadows

Although only two years old, Irish folk group Kingfishr has accomplished great heights. With many popular singles to their name and a headline tour across the UK and Ireland under their belts, the future of Eddie Keogh, Eoghan “McGoo” McGrath and Eoin “Fitz” Fitzgibbon is bright; it also includes an EP titled Shadow that will grace streaming platforms on 8^th March 2024. Now, listeners can bask in some of their pre-loved songs whilst welcoming in some new work of theirs. 

The Shadow EP has a particular theme in mind: the trio dives into darkness, introspection and love of all forms. The never-heard-before title track opens the project by introducing these concepts in full. Keogh’s lead grows stronger as the track progresses; the three harmonise beautifully alongside McGrath’s beloved banjo plucks. The fast-paced tune is fun and free, but the soul-searching, metaphorical lyricism is contradictory, thus making for an interesting listen.

Coward follows with a sombre aura. The percussion-heavy track addresses love from Keogh’s perspective: his singled-out vocals through each verse are filled with raw emotion and will surely resonate with listeners. Combined with Shadow, the two complement one another both thematically and sonically. This same energy continues with the next song, Leave.

Leave has a quicker pace similar to Shadow that is led by McGrath’s banjo. The song showcases Keogh’s impressive vocals once again as he revisits a heated past relationship. All in all, Shadow, Coward and Leave provide a deep look into the minds of the lyricists during their hardest relationships. The heartfelt thoughts of the band are expressed not only via their emotional vocal performance, but also through their meticulous instrumentation.

Shot in the Dark suggests a different kind of love: rather than romance, the band taps into their love for one another and for music. They discuss their past and how a transition from University student to rockstar is a difficult path to follow, but it is worth it. If the first three tracks were not melancholy enough, Shot in the Dark’s sound holds unique, yet standard folk qualities that add to its depth, such as the introduction of a harmonica, soft banjo work and Keogh’s rough yet warm voice.

The EP concludes with Kingfishr’s first-ever release, flowers-fire. This version is a rework of the original from 2022: it is cleaner and fits the flow of the previous tracks well. Out of Kingfishr’s current discography, this number acts as a perfect closer to an excellent collection.

Overall, Kingfishr’s roots in Irish folk are ingrained through this cohesive project. Shadow is an excellent compilation of what the three have accomplished as well as their strength despite their status as a young band. 

Taryn Crowley

Shadows is released on 8^th March 2024. For further information or to order the album visit Kingfishr’s website here.

Watch the video for the single flowers-fire here: