Norabelle announce new album for April 11th with new single ‘How Long Does It Take?’ - out now
Norabelle
Announces New Album The Mountain Blinks – Out April 11th
with launch gig in Upstairs in Whelans April 16th
New Single "How Long Does It Take?" Released February 7th
Indie folk band Norabelle is proud to announce the release of their highly anticipated second album, The Mountain Blinks, out April 11th, 2025. The announcement comes alongside the release of their hauntingly beautiful new single, "How Long Does It Take?", which will debut on February 7th across all major streaming platforms.
The band will celebrate the album release with a launch gig Upstairs in Whelans April 16th.
Hailing from Dundalk and now based in Dublin, Norabelle has established themselves as master storytellers, weaving poignant themes of grief, love, and memory into their delicately melodic soundscapes. Consisting of Ken Clarke (Guitar & Vocals), Shane O’Hanrahan (Guitar, Vocals, and Piano), Stefano Rossi (Bass), and Stephen Ludlow (Drums), the band draws influence from artists such as Sun Kil Moon, Bonnie Prince Billy, and Sufjan Stevens. The Mountain Blinks builds upon the success of their debut album Wren, showcasing a matured sound and deeper lyrical introspection.
Recorded at Black Mountain Recording Studios, nestled in the serene Cooley Mountains, the album reflects the band’s surroundings, featuring hushed melodies, intricate arrangements, and harmonized vocals. Speaking about the album, lead vocalist Ken Clarke said:
“The Mountain Blinks explores the themes of memory, grief, and the fragility of life. It’s deeply personal, touching on my own experiences of loss and how those memories shape us, even when they’re fleeting or unreliable.”
About the Single: "How Long Does It Take?"
"How Long Does It Take?" encapsulates Norabelle's ethos—a delicate yet powerful meditation on grief and the impermanence of life. Written from Clarke’s perspective as a child processing the death of his mother, the song blends poignant lyrics with haunting harmonies and intricate instrumentation. Clarke reflects:
"It’s a song born from questions that haunted me as a child, like, 'How long does it take until you’re not you?' It’s both literal and metaphorical—about physical change and the emotional transformation of a family after loss.”
Each track on The Mountain Blinks invites listeners into deeply personal narratives. From the poignant reflection on memory and mourning in "She’s Not Here" to the tender love song "Warm Blood," the album carries a raw emotional weight.
Norabelle’s debut album, Wren, earned widespread acclaim for its poetic storytelling and elegant arrangements. The Sunday Business Post described it as featuring “achingly sweet harmonies, overlaying acoustic guitars, cello and the lightest percussion, but it's their poetic storytelling that sets their songs apart from the throng.” The Mountain Blinks is poised to build on this foundation, offering listeners a record that is as emotionally stirring as it is sonically beautiful.
