Another Way of Being There



Halfset are an electronic quartet from Dublin, Ireland. They employ an unusual combination of electronics and live instruments - including vocals, drums/persussion, guitars, glockenspiel, harp, trumpet, mandola and old analog synths. Halfset released their critically acclaimed debut album Dramanalog in April 2005 in september 2008 Halfset re-emerged with their long-awaited second album, Another Way of Being There. In many ways, it has been a metamorphosis of sorts and not just down to the evolving line-up. Three became four with one departure and the arrival of Cillian McDonnell (drums) and Sinéad Nic Gearailt (harp & rhodes), apart from offering fresh legs, it signposted a new direction. Another Way of Being There discards the memorable samples and constructed loops that littered Dramanalog, relying completely on the sound this foursome makes when they get into a room together. Gone are the samples and found sounds and instead there is a sense of taking a musical line for a walk; of democratic improv; of starting with a structure but allowing it room to expand and compress. The bulk of the record was written in a small cottage in Co. Leitrim, then recorded and produced over three years by Stephen Shannon at his Experimental Audio Studio in Dublin . Crafted and re-drafted, Another Way of Being There is an album heaving with melody, awash with layers and multiple tones. Accompanying the CD release of Another Way of Being There is a bonus DVD featuring a number of live performances and 10 visual pieces to accompany each album track. These visuals also serve as the backdrop to Halfset’s live shows. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.