If it were necessary to choose just two words to describe the new solo album from alternative pop artist Ronan Conroy, they would be “DARK REVERIE”. The NYC-based Dublin native may be no stranger to the world of independent music releases, but this is his first solo project pursuing dark pleasures and stradling such genres as ethereal wave, darkwave, electro/dance pop and post-punk. Yes, ‘The Slow Death of the LoveMyth’ offers all that, all of his work since 2013 culminating in this stunning album.
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Influenced both by the 80s/90s goth bands he grew up listening to and ethereal darkwave bands he discovered down the road, he also benefited from collaborations with a handful of very talented artists on this release. Highlight tracks include Dark Paradise, Double Helix, The Nightland, This Dream and Lovemyth. In terms of sounds, this long-player seems to combine love for the sounds of Depeche Mode and Cold Cave on the one hand and, on the other, more ethereal artists like Autumn’s Grey Solace, All About Eve and Cocteau Twins.
Growing up in a musical family, Conroy was exposed to music ranging from new wave and post-punk to David Bowie, Johnny Cash, Elvis and Abba. At 15, his mother loaned him her nylon string guitar and taught him a few chords, instantaneously unlocking a whole new world of songwriting. Years later, he would release two albums with Brooklyn’s The Listeners and go on to perform with gothic dreampop band Oh Halo.
This album reveals Conroy’s post-punk alter-ego, soaked in dark pop and dream wave richness, and drawing on ethereal and goth rock classics. While select tracks on this album are crowned with ethereal female vocals, Conroy also sings on this and two other tracks on this album.
This collection comes on the trail of the ‘Dark Paradise’ single, a clever goth-rock rendition of the Lana Del Rey classic, and lead track ‘Double Helix’, both accompanied by a fascinating videos by NYC-based artist Hypnodoll.
Produced, engineered and mastered by Charlie Nieland, known for his work with Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, Blondie and Scissors Sisters, this album involves contributions by drummer Justin Wierbonski (a.k.a. Demonic Sweaters) and vocalists Julie Dicterow (Oh Halo), LA-based Shannon Brown and Susan Hwang (Lusterlit).
“This whole album has been a source of inner conflict for me, with plenty of real or imagined reasons to delay releasing it. Upon thinking about this recently, I wonder if one of the bigger hesitations has been simply letting such directly open songs escape into the ether,” says Ronan Conroy.
“One of three songs on the album featuring my vocals, ‘Born in Conflict’ is perhaps one of the most raw and vulnerable songs on there. Situated in the dead center of the album, between the epic rolling freight train ‘This Dream’ and the darkly upbeat ‘LoveMyth’ title track, ‘Born In Conflict’ is the beating dead heart of the record.”
On October 21, the full album will be released digitally via Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where it is available for pre-order.
ALBUM CREDITS
Written by Ronan Conroy (ASCAP 3284024), except ‘Dark Paradise’ by Elizabeth Grant and Rick Nowels
Ronan Conroy – lead and rhythm guitar on all tracks, and vocals on ‘This Dream’, ‘Born in Conflict’ and ‘Dark Paradise’
Charlie Nieland – bass, synths, piano, drums, and backing guitar
Justin Wierbonski – drums
Julie Dicterow – vocals on ‘Double Helix’
Shannon Brown – vocals on ‘Passenger’ and ‘Nightland’
Susan Hwang – vocals on ‘Love Myth’ and ‘Demon’
Publisher: Rip My Heart Out And Eat It Music (ASCAP 4499980)
Produced, engineered and mastered by Charlie Nieland at Capture Sound Studios, Brooklyn
Album cover and artist photos by Shannon Brown
Videos by Hypnodoll
Get dark and enjoy and earful with Ronan Conroy
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