Saint Sister - Shape of Silence (2018)

There was always something a little different about Saint Sister. When the Northern Irish duo first arrived on the scene in 2014, it wasn’t just Gemma Doherty’s electric harp that made them stand out from the crowd. She and bandmate Morgan MacIntyre soon hit upon a formula of otherworldly harmonies, and their distinctive musical style – dubbed “atmosfolk” – was unquestionably out of step with most of their peers.

Formed when both were students at Trinity College Dublin – MacIntyre, who had previously performed as a solo artist was studying history and politics, while Doherty was immersed in a composition degree – they hit it off as friends at the tail-end of their respective courses, forming Saint Sister after joining forces as members of the illustrious Trinity Orchestra.

On the back of several promising EPs and singles that have clocked up millions of Spotify plays (2015’s four-track EP Madrid was particularly successful on the streaming platform), the Belfast/Derry natives’ debut album is as accomplished as anything you’ll hear this year. Shape of Silence, produced by their fellow Trinity Orchestra alumnus (and current Hozier band leader) Alex Ryan, entwines eerie folk with minimalist electronica out in careful doses – the balance on these 12 songs not tipped too far in either direction at any point. While they have previously cited composers like Steve Reich and John Adams as influences on their early work, this collection nods to contemporary peers such as James Blake, evoking a similar late-night, listen-in-the-dark feel.