We have exciting news – our new Agent Starling album, Clandestine, is released! You can get it from today, November 4th 2022.
The album is a celebration of ten tunes, eight composed by contemporary international hurdy-gurdy players together with two new arrangements of traditional tunes – all given the Agent Starling re-imagining by Lou and Quentin.
Many of the tunes featured on this album are drawn from musical friendships and Quentin’s year long quest travelling across Europe learning from master Hurdy-Gurdy players and folk musicians from different musical traditions. His travels took him to France, Spain, Crete, Germany, Holland and Preston, Lancashire.
Clandestine will be available on all the usual digital platforms from November 18th, but you can get it on Bandcamp from Friday 4th November as either a download, or special edition CD. If you would like the album, Friday 4th November is the best day to get it as it’s Bandcamp Friday when they waive their fees.
Here is the Bandcamp link: https://loudhaileruk.bandcamp.com/album/clandestine
Agent Starling are Quentin Budworth hurdy-gurdy and vocals and Lou Duffy-Howard vocals, bass guitar and all other instruments and programming. The album also features special guest Dexter Duffy-Howard on violin, cello and harmonium. Recorded in Yorkshire UK by Agent Starling and was mastered in Oregon by Kevin Carafa.
Here is the single from the album, it’s a fabulous tune, Hellebore, composed by Toon van Mierlo.
What to expect …
“Experimental hurdy-gurdy on duo’s impressive debut. European Howl is a complex, immersive and at times disorienting listening experience.” (Tony Gillam, SONGLINES July 2021)
“Sounding like the musical offspring of Sufjan Stevens and Steve Reich” (Tom Robinson BBC 6 Music August 2022)
“(Constellation of Birds) is compelling, demanding, progressive, and fuses a range of cross-cultural folk-based sounds and moods. The album challenges and stretches boundaries, and occasionally – in a good way – feels slightly unhinged, but I absolutely love it when musicians dare to tread forth where many would turn on their heels and run.” (John Reed Fatea Magazine)
“I doubt very much that you will hear anything quite like this anywhere else in current music… Truly wondrous.” (Neil March Trust the Doc Issue 62)
We hope you enjoy it!