Father Murphy

Father Murphy are an Italian experimental act from near Venice, centred on Rev. Freddie Murphy, who sings and plays guitar, and Chiara Lee, who sings and plays keyboards and percussion. Their work is associated with psychedelic, folk, avant-folk and post-rock, and they are linked to the strain of Italian occult psychedelia described by Simon Reynolds.

Background and sound

Their early releases move from twisted psychedelic pop into darker, more extreme material. The music draws on mysticism, theology and religious imagery, alongside noise and pop elements. Across their catalogue they use chanting, toy-keyboard drones, bells, orchestral stabs and tortured vocals, with references to sources such as Henry Cow, Jacula and contemporary classical music.

Releases

The band have three albums and a number of EPs and limited releases. Their second album, And He Told Us to Turn to the Sun, is a concept record about heresy and appears on Boring Machines and Aagoo Records in 2008. The EP No Room for the Weak follows on Aagoo Records in 2010 and deals with mysticism, theology, pain and salvation. Anyway, Your Children Will Deny It comes out on Aagoo Records in 2012 and focuses on life, death, love, religion and death again. The album In Praise of Our Doubts continues in a similarly bleak register but also includes moments of more luminous sound.

Collaborators and related releases

Anyway, Your Children Will Deny It is recorded by the band and mixed and produced by Greg Saunier of Deerhoof. In 2013 Aagoo Records issues Father Murphy: Heretical Reviews, a remix album featuring versions by Black Dice, Philippe Petit, Sic Alps, Indian Jewelry, Thulebasen and E.M.A., among others. Father Murphy also work again with Greg Saunier on the EP Pain Is on Our Side Now, a concept about failure.

Reception

The band attract attention in the UK and US press and gain admirers including Julian Cope, Deerhoof and Michael Gira. They are described as a mysterious and enigmatic presence within Italian experimental music.