Receiving the Evcharist is our weekly feature where we pair choice albums with our favorite libations. Drink from the cup of heresy. This week’s offering: Fós’ Rinne mé iarraidh and Brävery Brewing Company’s The Shroud.
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The Tunes: Fós’ Rinne mé iarraidh
One of my goals this year was to spend some more time in the unknown, getting out of my comfort zone and taking chances on some albums that I might have normally passed on for safer picks. In the spirit of this, I’m very excited to present to you Fós, an act from my ancestral home of Ireland, and one whose work stands out as something unique in my recent listening repertoire. Rinne mé iarraidh is an album of gentle contrasts, despite how heavy some of the instrumentation on it might lead you to believe. Built on the combination of the heavy drones of Sunn O))) or Boris with ritual psychedelic folk experimentation, this album is haunting and atmospheric, formless and tangible simultaneously, and all around engrossing. The way Orla Cadden Patel’s lilting vocals soar over the slow build of thick electric guitars, keyboards, and ritualistic percussion built by Fionn Murray creates something that feels like magic, literally; I can imagine listening to this album in a smoke filled room, sitting in front of an altar, deep in meditation as I cast my will to ascend to a higher plane. If you have the patience to let this album work its way over you, I know you’ll feel the same.
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The Booze: Brävery Brewing Company’s The Shroud
I told you last week we’d have more from this brewery to discuss. When I grabbed the Blackberry IPA, I couldn’t help myself from splurging on a leftover pack of a winter release to go along with it. I mean, it’s called The Shroud for god’s sake. And boy is this thing dark as one. This Russian imperial stout hits with the force of the boar depicted on its can, coming in hot with a big boozy bite that gives way to deep cacao nib and raisin notes. This is brash in all the ways I like an imperial stout to be; it’s no wonder The Shroud took silver in its category at 2018’s Great American Beer Festival. The perfect beer for when only the strongest drinks seem to do.
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Cheers, and for the love of all that is holy, be good to each other,
– Vincent
Nine Circles 