Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MALOJIAN JOINS THE LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY
Ernest singer songwriters are ten a penny in Northern Ireland. There’s a mess of them everywhere you look, each with a story to tell and a song with which to tell it. But that’ll only go so far and these guys need something very special indeed, if they’re to stand out. Someone like Ciaran Lavery has his unique voice – which is a good start. Jealous of the Birds is clearly a poet dressed up as a singer. Susie Blue has written ‘People Like Us’ – an anthem for pride – full of wonderful defiance. There’s a handful of others who rise to the top, with a USP of sorts.
What of Stevie Scullion then, the Lurgan native who releases music under the name Malojian? Well – in a nutshell – nothing he does is normal.
Take ‘This is Nowhere’ – that majestic third album. It was recorded in Chicago, with Shellac frontman and onetime Nirvana, Pixies and PJ Harvey collaborator, Steve Albini. The record’s creation was documented in a beautifully shot and notably candid full length feature released last year. That’s pretty cool, right?
And less than a year later – album number four. What’s the angle there? Well – ‘Let Your Weirdness Carry You Home’ began life as a pitch from the British Film Institute and NI Screen – who tickled Stevie with a simple idea. They thought he’d like to play a gig in a coastal location, with coastal themed archive visuals as a backdrop. Always one to run with something interesting, next thing you know an entire album was recorded…. in a lighthouse. Another documentary followed – this time a short film directed by Colm Laverty in which glorious shots of the sea, the lighthouse, some heavy coats, a lot of wolly hats and some seagulls – help capture the remote, rugged nature of this most unusual location in which to make a record.
None of this matters that much, really. It’s a nice angle for interviews and something interesting to include in an article (like this one). But if the music isn’t up to scratch – who will really care? What’s the point of going to a lighthouse, or Chicago, or working with interesting people or doing anything like that – if the tunes are rubbish?
Fear not – everything Stevie has within him is gold. This new album is subtle, strange and utterly spellbinding. It’s zonks you out, reels you in and alters your mindset. The production is raw and welcoming, the melodies hypnotic. Opener ‘Some New Bones’ is simultaneously intimate and vast, ‘Hanging on the Glow’ washes over you with gorgeous strings while ‘Beard Song’ comes with this helpful tip – ‘just because Wonky electro and utterly bonkers lyrics. The video is properly disturbing – and was featured in Trainspotting T2. you grow a beard, it doesn’t make you cool – anyone can do it…’
‘Ambulance Song’ is a cute little banger, a proper highlight while ‘Weirdness’ is just that – a convincing little ballad presented over lofi scuzz.
Less than a year from his last record – nominated for NI album of the year, no less – and Stevie’s done it again. From the windy city to the windy north coast – wherever he goes, greatness follows.