In 2005 Glen Hansard, lead singer of The Frames and Marketa Irglova recorded an album together in Prague while working together on the soundtrack of Jan Hrebejk's movie, Beauty In Trouble. 'The Swell Season' was released in April 2006 and also featured two Interference musicians, Marja Tuhkanen (violin) and Bertrand Galen (cello). In many ways, it was to prove partly inspirational for John Carney’s 'Once', a low-budget Irish indie film that turned out to be the most successful independent features of 2007. The pair not only wrote the songs for the movie but they both starred in it as well.
Since the release of the film Glen and Marketa have toured extensively as The Swell Season and in February 2008 they took the Academy Award in the Best Original Song category for 'Falling Slowly'.
Their new album Strict Joy was released on the 27th of October 2009.
The record, which borrows its name from a work by Irish poet James Stephens, was co-produced by Hansard and Peter Katis (The National, Interpol), and recorded mostly at Katis’ Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, CT. In addition to Hansard and Irglova, the album features Frames members Colm Mac Iomaire (violin), Joe Doyle (bass), Rob Bochnik (guitar), Graham Hopkins (percussion) plus guitarist Javier Mas (Leonard Cohen), pianist Thomas Bartlett (Doveman), percussionist Chad Taylor (Chicago Underground Duo), horn players Steven Bernstein and Clark Gayton from Levon Helm’s band, and others.
‘STRICT JOY’ TRACK LISTING
1. Low Rising
2. Feeling the Pull
3. In These Arms
4. The Rain
5. Fantasy Man
6. Paper Cup
7. High Horses
8. The Verb
9. I Have Loved You Wrong
10. Love That Conquers
11. Two Tongues
12. Back Broke
The band is currently on a North American tour, which will be followed with several dates in Europe in 2010.
Wanted to stop by and say you Mar and the whole gang knocked our socks off in Oakland last Friday... did you really play us 22 songs? I love them all and was touched by the story of the old woman you met in Chicago! You had us on our feet for the whole encore and got us to sing along. Considering it's the Bay Area where people like to think they've seen this, done that, you've achieved quite a feat! Have a wonderful rest of the tour and please come back soon.
Hello Swell Season (and The Frames, of course!), Wanted to get on Myspace as soon as I could to just send you a word of thanks for coming in to visit Portland again and blessing us with your presence. You're most definitely one of, if not the best, live shows I've been lucky enough to see twice now! Please do come back again, after a little break of course ;D Thank you, thank you, thank you! You're all awesome and wonderful!
Great profile. Peace and progress. Many thanks for adding me and looking forward to your comment.. Any suggestion is welcome. Hope you enjoy and dance to my Music. All the best wishes. Farid
Where are my pics from Philly show on Nov. 8th? Whoever took those pics, please email them to me. Thank you so much for taking the time to hang out with us fans! We so should do a photo shoot together!
my boyfriend and i both decided that your show last night in seattle was one of the best that we have ever experienced. thank you so much for your music! you seem like you are genuinely good people which is so inspiring. thank you again!
The Seattle concert was great! I had so much joy in my heart that I welled up during The Rain. What a fantastic concert to share as a family. Thank you so much.
ahhhhh your show at the wiltern on the 19th was amazing! i couldnt of expected any less! your guys new album is amazing, ever since you guys has the cd signing at amoeba in la, that cd has been in my car playing non-stop, i just wanted to let all of you know how beautiful and inspiring your music is. This was my 4th time seeing you, i first saw you guys when yall opened for Damien Rice at the Orpheum in La! such a good show! ahhhhh amazinnnnngggggg!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for your Music it inspires me to create my own
I am really really enjoying the newest album! I picked it up this past weekend, and couldn't stop playing it in may car while I was traveling. Very great music, just like always. I hope al is well. Take care!
I cannot thank you enough for your INCREDIBLE music. It brings me so much inspiration and happiness. You are my favorite band EVER! Your music is truly magic. Thank you, thank you, thank you for brightening my day!
Ahoj do Seattlu!! Koukám, že se asi zrovna nervozně procházíte po šatně.-). Pokud by jste se nudili zítra cestou na další štaci, můžete z daleké Ameriky poslat každý den hlas pro jednu ztracenou kapelku v Praze- máme na Óčku TV náš první klip o Smutném nádražákovi, a budeme rádi za jakoukoliv podporu. na linku http://ocko.idnes.cz/vytah.asp najdete mezi 12 klipy i náš, a tam nás můžete podpořit. Alespoň budete mít každý den na US tour možnsot vzpomenout na dalekou a vzdálenou Vlast!!:-) Ať se dobře hraje nejen dnes a le i na dalších zastávkách!! Zdravím Vás oba Marek Dusil p.s.kdyby jste v únoru chtěli v Praze předskokana s kytarkou, nebo i s kapelou, jsme k mání s radostí!
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