A rather longstanding project, Stoat has been a feature of the Dublin music scene since the late 80s. That’s quite impressive for an artistic project; usually, people tend to have disagreements after a while. Not Stoat: focused on their brand of tongue-in-cheek, playful pop-rock goodness, the band continues to deliver material that’s lyrically engaging and sonically daring. They might not be reinventing the wheel, but they are firmly driving it.
‘I Contain Multitudes’ is the Irish band’s latest effort, a 10-track album that’s greatly eclectic and anthemic. Its identity and attitude shift in various directions. Take, for instance, opener ‘Sing Myself’, drenched in theatrical, musical-esque melodies and folk-inspired rhythms. Follow-up ‘Plan B’ takes the focus back on slick, uplifting indie rock territories, only to then scramble it all again with ‘The Thrill of the Thing’.
Recorded in DIY fashion and mixed by Grammy nominees Chris O’Brien and Graham Murphy, ‘I Contain Multitudes’ feels contemporary yet also timeless and nostalgic. It’s a great insight into Stoat’s nuanced and wisdom-packed musicianship. Speaking about the inspiration behind the album, the group explains: “It is about seeing the world as it truly is – the absurdity, the mundanity, the whimsy, the dread, the disappointments and the delights – and still managing to love it.”
Recommended! Discover ‘I Contain Multitudes’ on Spotify:
