Off the back of his sublime debut album, Loner, Donegal alt-folk artist Declan McClafferty aka Ramper talks us through some of his all-time favourite songs – from Kate Bush and the Bothy Band, to Dylan, Villagers and beyond.
Photo by Joe Doherty
Bob Dylan – Girl From The North Country
I think this was the first song that pulled me out of listening to music through the prism of what the guitars were doing. I got a bit obsessed with the simplicity of it – acoustic, vocal, harmonica. Dylan is like a big hole. If you get stuck in there it takes a while to get out.
Kate Bush – Running Up That Hill
‘A deal with god and I’d get him to swap our places’ says Kate. I love the weight in the lyric but for some reason it makes you want to move and doesn’t feel so heavy. Squaring up to pain and death with bravery and hope in a pop song. Anybody who can sail that flag into the mainstream has got some kind of magic about them. This song generally, the writing and how it’s produced, even I knew was art worth taking note of. It’s pushing out in lots of directions and succeeding.
The Bothy Band – The Kesh Jig/Give us a Drink of Water/The Flowers of the Flock/The Famous Ballymote
The energy of the Bothy Band grabbed me. It’s primal and raw. It’s like an analogue version of four to the floor dance music. If there were drum samples and all that jazz back then it’d have been an interesting time! The drone from the pipes and the driving bouzouki before the tune even lands. The joy in Tríona Ní Dhomhnail playing the harpsichord/clavinova or the bodhran in the Famous Ballymote just makes you want to move!
The Chemical Brothers – Another World
This track brings me so much joy. Was a toss up between this and ‘Can’t Do Without You’ by Caribou. I’ve played it many times at many house parties and danced. I love the chords and rhythms and it always feels fresh. It’s transcendental and it takes me somewhere. And the video with all the green shapes – class!
Paddy Cullen – Shannagolden
Learned this song from the late Paddy Cullen. He was a great keeper of songs and locally he was the go-to man. He was a cool character, drove an old Grey Diesel tractor around. Great wit and always calm and peaceful. Fond memories of hearing him silencing pubs with this at local trad sessions.
Villagers – The Waves
This record was made about 15 miles away from where I’m from. I realised that geography wasn’t a factor in making amazing records. Just because nobody else was doing this locally shouldn’t stop anybody making what they want. Tommy and Attica was/are proof of that. Or like hearing Ciaran Lavery write amazing songs. They were fairly local and it seemed achievable hearing records like this. It influenced how I wrote things for sure.
Jeff Buckley – Forget Her
Rory Gallagher and Thin Lizzy were what I was steered into as a teen. I remember hearing a bit about Nirvana but I was more interested in the Smashing Pumpkins at the time. A bit after, I heard Jeff Buckley and it blew my mind. Blues or rock songs were very formulaic and repetitive. The grunge thing I liked because the rules got broken. Buckley blew things apart by crossing so many genres. His records sound great. His musicianship is great. His songwriting is great. Melodically it’s challenging and fresh without feeling totally pretentious.
Hank Williams – I’m So Lonesome I Can Cry
My dad listened to a load of Irish Country singers. But through the tapes there were a few gems I liked. Johnny Cash at San Quentin for example. But there was a Hank Williams tape and it seemed different. Anyway, I remember standing in the back of the car between the two front seats singing Hank Williams songs and it felt like a new world was opening. First time I got into music.
