PILGRIMS - WINTERING
Paul Noonan gets back in the studio with former Juniper and Bell X1 pianist Brian Crosby for a quiet atmospheric set of songs with Noonan usual imaginative lyrics... an It=rish Record of 2026 already!
I came across Pilgrims taking a casual glance across Irish papers for what’s new in Irish albums.
What a find. Thirty years ago I was a big fan of Bell X1, seeking Juniper rarities. Juniper came first. Damian Rice’s first band that included Paul Noonan and Brian Crosby. Noonan and Crosby went on to birth Bell X1 before Crosby took off into composing, ambience soundtracks and instrumental things.
Well, here are the two of them back together making one of the most beautiful records you will here this year.
The perfection of their partnership, that began in their schooldays at Salesian College, Celbridge, County Kildare, is back, just like riding a bike. It is stark and ambient, built mostly on Crosby’s piano alone foremost of then time.
On top of this Paul Noonan brings his songs full of his individuality. He’s a quirky lyricist full of fertile imagination. On Wintering we have three particularly great ones Daisies In The Dirt with the daisies literally looking up at us; Shitty Weather like a catharsis for Irish summer weather misery; what a metaphor; and a track back to his teens in Sunday Night School Blues with more depressing thoughts.
Wintering is for dark night of soul, pilgrims finding a little light to get through the big dark. It is also very beautiful.