Radie Peat, Vocalist of Lankum, Announces Debut Solo Album No Human Tongue Can Tell and Releases Haunting New Single The Moon and Stars

Radie Peat, the distinctive and acclaimed vocalist and multi-instrumentalist best known for her work with contemporary Irish folk radicals Lankum, has officially announced her debut solo album. Titled No Human Tongue Can Tell, the upcoming record is scheduled for release on November 13 via Rough Trade Records. Alongside the album announcement, Peat has shared a striking and atmospheric new single, "The Moon and Stars," offering listeners a deeper glimpse into her deeply personal yet historically rooted sonic vision.

The announcement follows the July release of her inaugural solo single, "Still I Love Him," which served as a poignant and emotionally charged interpretation of the traditional love song of the same name. Both tracks will feature on the forthcoming nine-song LP, a project that has been quietly gestating in the background of Peat’s creative life for well over a decade. As anticipation builds across the international folk and alternative music communities, the release cements Peat’s status as one of the most compelling and uncompromising voices in modern acoustic music.

Unearthing Centuries of History: The Conceptual Backbone of the LP

Speaking about the thematic core of No Human Tongue Can Tell, Peat described the album as an exercise in channeling collective memory. She noted that the record acts as a medium for communicating hundreds of years of other people’s experiences, absorbed into traditional songs across countless generations. According to the artist, engaging with this lineage binds the listener to a worldliness that extends far beyond the sum of an individual’s personal existence.

Rather than approaching traditional folk music as a static museum piece, Peat utilizes these historical compositions as a vehicle to explore enduring human struggles—specifically female suffering, resilience, endurance, and the myriad complications of love. "They are largely songs of female struggle, suffering, strength, and endurance," Peat explained. "But there are many about love as well, with all the complications that brings."

This philosophy is vividly realized on her latest single, "The Moon and Stars," where Peat takes the bold step of rewriting portions of traditional folk lyrics to channel modern feminist anger and reclaim lost narratives. The song contains subtle, coded references to historical realities that were often marginalized or erased in mainstream historical accounts, including unwanted pregnancies and clandestine abortions.

"There are coded references to unwanted pregnancies and abortions within the song," Peat noted in a press release accompanying the single’s rollout. She specifically highlighted the inclusion of references to rue, a medicinal herb historically utilized to induce miscarriages. By integrating these elements, Peat sought to represent these visceral historical experiences firmly from the woman’s perspective, fostering a direct empathetic connection with the listener.

A Fifteen-Year Genesis and a DIY Production Ethos

The journey toward No Human Tongue Can Tell has been a long and deliberate one. Peat revealed that the concept for the record began taking shape roughly fifteen years ago, sparked by an unlikely source of inspiration from outside the traditional folk genre.

In her twenties, Peat watched a documentary detailing how progressive rock pioneer Mike Oldfield meticulously constructed his landmark 1973 instrumental masterpiece, Tubular Bells. The documentary left an indelible impression on the young musician, planting the seed for an ambitious recording methodology: writing and playing every intersecting musical part independently.

"I found the idea of being limited by your own mind and abilities, with all the blind spots and personal preferences, very appealing," Peat reflected. By embracing these self-imposed creative constraints, she sought to craft an immersive, singular sonic landscape entirely representative of her internal musical vocabulary. This meticulous approach is reflected across the album’s thoughtfully curated tracklist, which blends canonical folk standards with lesser-known regional gems.

Official Tracklist for No Human Tongue Can Tell

1. "Hares on the Mountain"
2. "The Moon and Stars"
3. "Willow Garden"
4. "Luisne"
5. "Same Old Man"
6. "Dark Horse on the Wind"
7. "Still I Love Him"
8. "Bonnie Boy"
9. "Cailín Deas"

Extensive Touring Plans Across the UK, Ireland, and Europe

To celebrate the release of No Human Tongue Can Tell, Radie Peat has confirmed a comprehensive series of live performances spanning the United Kingdom, Ireland, and continental Europe. The tour itinerary kicks off in November and extends well into 2027, featuring prestigious venue bookings that underline her rising prominence as a solo headliner.

The live schedule begins with an intimate and atmospheric performance at London’s historic Union Chapel on November 3, followed by a homecoming concert at Dublin’s renowned Vicar Street on November 20. As demand has grown, Peat has also expanded her routing, adding major performances in Amsterdam and Paris early next year, as well as a high-profile spring 2027 date at The Barbican in London.

Confirmed Tour Dates:

• November 2026

  • November 3 – London, UK – Union Chapel
  • November 20 – Dublin, Ireland – Vicar Street

• January 2027

  • January 31 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso

• February 2027

  • February 1 – Paris, France – La Trabendo

• May 2027

  • May 19 – London, UK – The Barbican

Tickets for all newly announced dates are currently available through major ticketing platforms.

Broader Context: Lankum’s Continuing Cultural Resonance

While No Human Tongue Can Tell represents Peat’s bold emergence as a solo artist, it arrives against the backdrop of sustained, extraordinary success with her primary band, Lankum. Alongside members Ian Lynch, Daragh Lynch, and Cormac Mac Diarmada, Peat has helped redefine the boundaries of Irish folk music, blending dark, drone-heavy instrumentation with harrowing vocal harmonies and deep political consciousness.

Lankum’s fourth studio album, False Lankum, released in 2023 via Rough Trade Records, proved to be a critical watershed moment for the group. The record earned widespread international acclaim, securing prestigious nominations for the Mercury Prize and the Ivor Novello Awards. Critics praised the album for its terrifying beauty, structural audacity, and unwavering emotional intensity.

In the wake of False Lankum, the band’s music has increasingly transcended the traditional music circuit, finding new and diverse audiences through high-profile sync placements in contemporary television and film. Most notably, Lankum’s brooding interpretations of "Katie Cruel" and "The Granite Gaze" were prominently featured in the Netflix dramatic series House of Guinness. Additionally, their haunting rendition of "Hunting The Wren" provided the striking soundtrack for the final scene of The Immortal Man, the feature-length film conclusion to the acclaimed Peaky Blinders universe.

Furthermore, the band’s collaborative spirit remains vibrant. Last year, Lankum released a chilling, minimalist cover of The Specials’ iconic post-punk anthem "Ghost Town," which was originally commissioned for choreographer Oona Doherty’s contemporary dance production Specky Clark.

Implications for the Contemporary Folk Landscape

The arrival of No Human Tongue Can Tell marks a significant chapter not only for Radie Peat as an individual artist but also for the broader contemporary folk revival. Over the past decade, artists operating at the intersection of traditional folk and experimental music have demonstrated that centuries-old songbooks remain potent vehicles for exploring modern socio-political anxieties, gender politics, and historical trauma.

By applying her uncompromising artistic vision, instrumental rigor, and thematic focus to neglected narratives of female endurance and bodily autonomy, Peat positions traditional song as a living, breathing, and fiercely relevant art form. As Rough Trade prepares to issue the album on November 13, industry observers and fans alike anticipate that No Human Tongue Can Tell will stand as one of the most vital and resonant acoustic releases of the year.