Acoustic version / from "Hirondelle et Beretta"

Tara King th. - L'enquête (Acoustic)

DREAMING ON

熱帯夜の夢

Written and performed by Djana Vallespir
Recorded in Caja del Ruido Studios, Mallorca

Safe From Harm

I read some pretty dark history last night so I've called  this Lament For Mary Connell.  It’s just me on my guitarviol.

I researched her story. Warning, it’s pretty bleak.

In 1882, Mary Connell came from Meath to keep house for a farmer, Nicholas Archbold in Grallagh, north county Dublin.

The newspapers tell of Archbold “seducing” her, he being 20 years her senior. Neighbours and priests compelled him to marry her and he made promises to buy wedding rings in Dublin or Drogheda.

Archbold’s sister did not approve of his intentions and put pressure in him to abandon Mary. She was trying to protect her.  

In any case on Sunday, 18th January, 1885, Archbold sent his labourer Henvey to get bread. When Henvey returned the cottage door was locked.

Henvey fetched Mary’s brother, James Connell and he broke down the door. There was no sign of either Archbold or Mary. They searched the quarters, the kitchen and the dairy.

Mary had quarters in the loft above the kitchen. Henvey mounted the kitchen table and got to the door. 

The dreadful nature of the tragedy was not immediately apparent in the dimly lit room.

The floor was a sea of blood. Archbold’s body lay lifeless by the door. Furniture was scattered and broken and in the corner lay Mary Connell.

Archbold held a blood drenched pocket knife, his neck gaping with a wound from ear to ear. An open razor lay at his feet. Mary had been almost decapitated by it and her broken body bore the wounds of her struggle with Archbold.

Police were summoned from Balbriggan and the next Morning the coroner Davys arrived. The whole area was in total shock. There would be no justice for Mary.

Three days later, Archbold’s body still lay in his house. Any attempt to bury him was met with resistance. From Grallagh, to Westpalstown to Balscadden, Fingallians physically blocked and resisted Nicholas Archbold’s internment guarding cemeteries night and day.

They wanted to burn the house with his body in it rather than have him by their ancestors. In the end a compromise was made and Archbold’s corpse was donated to medical science. 

His evil heart possibly still suspended in formaldehyde on a dusty shelf...

Lament For Mary Connell

Year of the Rabbit

Henry the Rabbit began his recording pastime after a bet that came up during a tahuti water drinking session with Hank Lapin from the Psychotronic G-Sect. Hank Lapin challenged the Rabbi to make an audio album using only items available in his Rabbit Hole, and kitchen. Year of the Rabbit was born.
A live session was demanded by Blaa Records. Henry the Rabbi recruited members from The Black Tortoise of the North Cult: King Kanin, Miss Cottontail, Astrid Hare and The Boy Wonder. The Rabbit went on to release Earthen Birth By Henry the Rabbit; a highly collectible cassette tape on Moon Glyph.

Mixing instrumental soundscapes with the occasional choral melodies and vocals, Henry the Rabbit's Psychedelic Ukulele Skiffle is the soundtrack to your walk in the woods where you stumble across some perky nippled fungi that talks to you, that wants to be inside you, that wants to warm and soothe your body and mind in gentle waves of colourful caresses.