Deathbed Convert – Inverse Field Vol. 1 Inishowen – Album Review
by Killian Laher

Belfast musician Connor Dougan releases music under various aliases depending on the type of music he’s creating.  This one is under the name Deathbed Convert and is an album of ambient music recorded outdoors in Inishowen, Co Donegal.  The album is something of an escape. Opening up with the sounds of the sea on Tullagh Bay with ringing, treated guitar lines.  Carrickabraghy Castle has haunting voices, and pulsing keyboards while Lenan Head Fort is a slice of sparse, haunting electronica.

It’s not all downtempo, the brief Tullagh Dunes Campfire has vaguely dancey beats while Fort Dunree has more dominant, almost abrasive percussion.  Kinnagoe Bay feels like a centrepiece with eerie-sounding keyboards and a snappy beat, finishing up with the sound of the sea.  The longest track, Malin Head, is five minutes of swirling electronica plus two minutes of gorgeous guitar noodling, with a little description at the end of how Dougan works.  The final keyboard piece, Grianan of Aileach, is slightly reminiscent of Carl Orff’s theme tune from the movie Badlands.

As a response to the landscape of Inishowen, it’s pretty intriguing and a fine piece of Irish ambient music.  It’s available here.