Australian nun Sister Irene O'Connor's long-lost lo-fi pop masterpiece is finally seeing a reissue next month by Freedom to Spend. The 1973 album 'Fire of God's Love' is an unexpected gem in the world of analogue pop music, featuring simple and airy folk songs that are both spiritually aligned with cult singer-songwriters and refreshingly secular.
The story behind O'Connor's music is as fascinating as her output. Having started making music in the 1950s while living in a convent in Singapore, she initially released music under the pseudonym Myriam Frances to avoid any potential controversy. Her collaboration with fellow nun Sister Marimil Lobregat, who had experience working in audio technology, led to the creation of these unique and deeply personal songs.
'Fire of God's Love' is not only a quintessential winter record but also embodies the spirit of its time – a perfect blend of devotional music and contemporary pop. Tracks like 'Teenager's Chorus' evoke feelings reminiscent of pastoral British folk music, while others, such as 'Fire', incorporate elements of dub.
The reissue of 'Fire of God's Love' is a testament to the power of music in revealing unlikely sources of talent. Sister Irene O'Connor's sweet and compelling pop record is a true miracle – a reminder that sometimes, it takes an open mind to discover something truly special.
The story behind O'Connor's music is as fascinating as her output. Having started making music in the 1950s while living in a convent in Singapore, she initially released music under the pseudonym Myriam Frances to avoid any potential controversy. Her collaboration with fellow nun Sister Marimil Lobregat, who had experience working in audio technology, led to the creation of these unique and deeply personal songs.
'Fire of God's Love' is not only a quintessential winter record but also embodies the spirit of its time – a perfect blend of devotional music and contemporary pop. Tracks like 'Teenager's Chorus' evoke feelings reminiscent of pastoral British folk music, while others, such as 'Fire', incorporate elements of dub.
The reissue of 'Fire of God's Love' is a testament to the power of music in revealing unlikely sources of talent. Sister Irene O'Connor's sweet and compelling pop record is a true miracle – a reminder that sometimes, it takes an open mind to discover something truly special.
I mean, can you imagine listening to Sister Irene O'Connor's soothing vocals and introspective songwriting back in the 70s? It's mind-blowing that her music was hiding in plain sight all this time 
The fact that she released it under a pseudonym is even more intriguing - like, what would her actual lyrics have been if she'd just shared them freely? 
! I mean, who wouldn't want to hear more of this lo-fi pop masterpiece? But, you know, I've got some reservations about the whole thing... like, how did it take this long for people to catch on? And what's up with Sister O'Connor releasing music under a pseudonym? It's like, why hide her talents? 
Still, I'm all for rediscovering underrated artists and sounds. The idea that music can reveal hidden gems is just so cool 
. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for this reissue and giving it a listen!
I'd love to see some sources on this one...
I'm so stoked about this reissue! I was browsing through discogs the other day and saw that 'Fire of God's Love' was still super rare and pricey 
. Can you believe Sister Irene O'Connor started making music in the 50s? That's like, ancient history for us lo-fi pop heads 
. The fact that it's finally getting a reissue is like a dream come true – I need to get my hands on this ASAP 
. I love how Freedom to Spend is putting out these hidden gems... they're doing the world a solid 
!
. and to think 'fire of god's love' has been a winter staple for years, and people have just been missing out on this gem all along 
. i'm hyped that freedom to spend is reissuing it next month! 