Pearse McGloughlin
Pearse McGloughlin is an artist and songwriter from Sligo, Ireland. He has released six albums to critical acclaim: Busy Whisper (2009), In Movement (2012) Idiot Songs (2013) in collaboration with composer Justin Grounds and most recently The Soft Animal (2016) and 'The Rest' (2020) with his band Nocturnes. Similar in style to Sufjan Stevens or Mercury Rev, Pearse's work often reworks writers such as John Keats or Fyodor Dostoevsky. His music has been described as captivating, elegant and nuanced and has featured in The Irish Times, BBC Northern Ireland, RTE 2FM, Lyric FM, Radio1 and KCRW as well as at festivals such as Body and Soul, Electric Picnic and Other Voices. Atmospheric in nature, Pearse's music has featured in film ('Around Here' 2018), sound designs (with his brothers noted animators Kevin and Páraic McGloughlin) and commercial advertising.
His sixth album 'Keg' was recorded with Julie McLarnon (The Vaselines, Jeffrey Lewis) to tape in Analogue Catalogue and was featured by Steve Lamacq on BBC6 Music amongst others.
KEG (2023)
a musical artist and wordsmith who crafts songs of exquisite beauty and depth … Nenesbutler
this is pop-folk goldsmithery of the highest order ... Between strings as precise as they are loose and vocals as inhabited as they are celestial, the journey is overwhelming... This songwriting is both deeply rooted and profoundly singular, giving it that long-lasting breadth that is so precious…. Le Village Pop
Six will knock them for the same number in fact and for me it shows a songwriter who is in love with what he does and having the sufficient talent to make others do likewise. Twee pop like the Apples in Stereo and I've always had a gra for that act….. MP3 Hugger
The Rest (2020)
‘softly embellished folk songs, often with a softly sweeping cinematic bent, the faint burble of electronics and a sense of the avant garde’…. Lauren Murphy, The Irish Times
'songs of autumnal ambience, bringing shades of a serene Sigur Ros or Beach House in their better moments' Steve Cummins, The Sunday Times
memories whirl with the mediative instrumentals and beautiful bilingual vocals….a dreamlike soundscape..full of heart and hope… Rachael Crabtree, Spiral Magazine
The Soft Animal
‘flits between folk, ambient, orchestral and singer-songwriter styles, underscoring
an inquisitiveness and search for something greater within’… Nialler9
‘The time has come for Pearse McGloughlin's ever-evolving cosmic groove merchants. Their recent album 'The Soft Animal' is our favourite Irish record of the year - do yourself a favour and get it immediately’ .... RTE Culture
'It has almost magical powers in the way that it pulls you in, creating something that’s utterly captivating and just so damn beautiful'... Record of The Day
‘subtle elements of the fantastical’ - The Irish Times
‘flits between folk, ambient, orchestral and singer-songwriter styles, underscoring
an inquisitiveness and search for something greater within’… Nialler9
‘Release of The Week’ ….. The Irish Times Culture
‘beautiful harmonies’ - BBC Radio Ulster Across the Line
"a rewarding listen, 'The Soft Animal' is a true album " - The Last Mixtape
Album of The Week - Dan Hegarty, 2FM
