“John Blek is Ireland’s best kept secret” The Irish Times
“A master of subtlety in realms of folk-informed pop.” – The Thin Air
“John’s most ambitious and creative record yet.” FOLK RADIO UK
“It’s a perfect slice of lush alternative folk rock.” Folk/tumble
The Midnight Ache is a staggeringly beautiful and perfectly formed piece of alternative folk with a lo-fi heart and touches of modest grandeur delivered by an artist with a voice that could break a heart in two and songs that could heal the most weary of souls. Known for being one of Ireland’s most creative and independent artists, John Blek brings us another beautiful record of 11 new songs. This time around John has taken his DIY spirit one step further. Not only did he self record and produce the majority of the album he went so far as to build the recording studio with his own bare hands. A labour of love but labour all the same. In April 2024 Blek finished building his new creative home, Bigger River Recording Co.,
and set about working on what would become The Midnight Ache. Echos of Sea Change era Beck and Sparklehorse give this record a lo-fi intimacy while the string arrangements balance the sound with an element of grandeur and sophistication. Home is very much at the heart of this new album, it features vocal performances by John’s wife and even the cover is adorned with pressed flowers from their garden. Additional production and mixing was done by regular collaborator Brian Casey at Wavefield Recordings. “This album took me by surprise. I was slowly writing and using the songs to try to get to know the new studio space. Sonically feeling my way around and seeing what I could
achieve when all of a sudden I realised I was looking at a new record.” The Midnight Ache will be released on the 16th of January on John’s own label Bigger River Recording Co