The Swell Season, the Oscar-winning duo of Frames frontman Glen Hansard and Czech ingénue Marketa Irglova, released their new album Strict Joy last Friday, with the first single of the album “Low Rising” also out now. To coincide with this the band are playing Live in Vicar St. this December.
It is, of course, the follow-up to their self-titled debut which expanded into the gold-certified soundtrack for the hit film Once. The twelve new, original songs on Strict Joy were recorded last year and document a time of great change, tumult and progression.
Strict Joy, whose title was inspired by a work of the same name by Irish poet James Stephens, was co-produced by Hansard and Peter Katis (The National, Interpol), and recorded mostly at Katis’ Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, Connecticut. In addition to Hansard and Irglova, the album features Frames members Colm Mac Con Iomaire (violin), Joe Doyle (bass), Rob Bochnik (guitar) and Graham Hopkins (drums) plus guitarist Javier Mas (Leonard Cohen), pianist Thomas Bartlett (Doveman), percussionist Chad Taylor (Chicago Underground Duo), horn players Steven Bernstein and Clark Gayton from Levon Helm’s band, amongst other guests.
The success of their Oscar winning song Once also led to a sold out world tour which was filmed for an upcoming documentary. Hansard and Irglova will tour the world once again in support of the album. The Swell Season play Vicar Street on December 15th. Tickets are €33.60 on sale Thursday Oct. 29th.
