Released May 30, 2019, Ronan’s fifth solo record, and eighth record, “The Moment Is Gone,” is a 9 track record released on vinyl, with a digital release including a bonus 10th track. The album examines interpersonal and family relationships, the personal traits we inherit and develop and how we struggle with them, and the yearning for love and redemption.
The songs were written and recorded between September 2014 and October 2018, featuring musicians Ronan regularly works with in Charlie Nieland (guitars, bass, keys, synth, drums) and Justin Wierbsonki (drums), accompanying his vocals and guitar. Charlie has been recording, engineering, producing, mixing, and playing on Ronan’s records since 2013.
The first three solo albums followed an arc as Ronan explored songs written in the prior 10 years, writing some new songs in the process, starting with the folksier “Discontent,” developing into fuller band arrangements in “The Game” and moving through to heavier more alternative and indie territory in “not a part of anything.” Having completed that arc and gone through a divorce, the next release was a very stripped back dark indie EP, “Blood Dread,” with no drums at all on two of the five tracks, building to the epic fifth track which, for Ronan, forms a coda to everything that came before it in all four releases.
“The Moment Is Gone” feels like a fresh start, moving ahead into new material and uncharted territory, digging deeper into myself and seeking new understanding.
Musically it remains dark indie, but in this record Ronan also hears his love of, say, The Band, Amy Mann, Nick Cave, Bob Mould, David Gray, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, even a little Radiohead.
Produced and engineered by Charlie Nieland at Capture Sound Studios, Brooklyn, New York between September 2014 and November 2018
Mastered by Fred Kevorkian at Avatar Studios Manhattan in November 2018
Album cover designed by Shannon Brown
Thanks to the artists who appeared on this album and for your continued support over the years: Charlie Nieland and Justin Wierbonski.
Thanks to Shannon Brown for the album design.
Music and lyrics by Ronan Conroy (except #8 – lyrics – traditional, adapted from an old book written by various people, mostly men)
Vocals by Ronan Conroy (except #2 – vocals by Ronan Conroy with backing vocals by Charlie Nieland)
Guitars by Ronan Conroy
Lapsteel guitar on #8 by Charlie Nieland
Bass guitar by Charlie Nieland
Synths by Charlie Nieland
Piano on #1, #3 by Charlie Nieland
Harmonica on #10 by Ronan Conroy
Percussion by Charlie Nieland
Drums on #1, #2, #5, #10 by Charlie Nieland
Drums on #3, #6, #7 by Justin Wierbonski