Some artists spend a lifetime polishing a single sound. Others treat music as an open field, constantly testing its edges, stepping into uncertainty just to see what might happen. Sean MacLeod has always belonged to the second camp. With his latest single I Know Not, released on December 5, 2025, the Irish songwriter leans fully into curiosity, blending the familiar with the strange in a way that feels fearless rather than forced.
MacLeod’s roots trace back to Scarriff, a small and scenic town in Ireland where music often feels woven into the landscape itself. His early career gained momentum as a founding member of the Dublin based band Cisco, a project that earned serious attention at home and abroad and led to studio work alongside U2 collaborator Paul Barrett. When Cisco came to an end, MacLeod did not retreat. Instead, he took that momentum inward, beginning a solo journey that has now reached its fifth album, the upcoming That’s When the Earth Becomes a Star.
I Know Not arrives as one of the boldest statements from that new chapter. At first listen, the song feels playful and oddly comforting, driven by a chorus that hints at old school pop charm. Dig a little deeper, though, and its edges start to show. There are strange tunings, unexpected melodic turns, and moments where the vocals feel deliberately unsettled. It is pop music that refuses to sit still.
What makes I Know Not so engaging is the way it holds opposing ideas in balance. On one hand, there is a clear nod to the sweetness of 1950s doo wop and the dense, melodic ambition of early Phil Spector productions. On the other, there are echoes of 1970s punk attitude and 1960s psychedelia, warped through MacLeod’s own experimental instincts. The result is a song that feels catchy without being safe, and strange without becoming alienating.
Much of that tension comes from MacLeod’s fascination with microtonal tuning. Rather than sticking to standard scales, he explores spaces between notes, creating a subtle sense of unease that gives the song its character. Early versions of the track were built around the lyre, a medieval instrument that lends itself naturally to alternative tunings. Those initial recordings became the blueprint, with percussion later retuned to match the lyre’s unusual pitch. It is an approach that sounds academic on paper, but in practice feels organic and oddly human.
The recording process itself was anything but polished. I Know Not was tracked at home using basic equipment, embracing lo fi textures instead of hiding them. That choice suits the song perfectly. There is a rawness to the sound that makes it feel intimate, like a private experiment that somehow grew into a single. Nothing is smoothed over. Every rough edge feels intentional.
Lyrically, the song circles around uncertainty rather than trying to resolve it. The title says it all. I Know Not is not about arriving at answers, but about sitting comfortably with questions. MacLeod has always shown a willingness to challenge how people listen, and here he asks something simple yet profound. Is sound only just sound, or can it become something more when we stop demanding clarity from it.
As a single, I Know Not stands out within That’s When the Earth Becomes a Star for its ability to bridge MacLeod’s two creative worlds. It satisfies his interest in experimental music while remaining grounded in strong songwriting. That balance is likely why it was chosen from a shortlist of potential singles. It represents the album’s broader ambition without giving too much away.
Live, the track promises to be just as intriguing. MacLeod has announced a series of upcoming gigs across Ireland, where his willingness to reshape songs on stage has always been part of the appeal. His performances tend to feel exploratory, less like recitals and more like conversations between artist and audience.
I Know Not is not a song designed to dominate playlists through familiarity. Instead, it invites repeated listens, rewarding attention and curiosity. It reflects an artist who has reached a point in his career where he no longer feels the need to prove anything, only to explore honestly.
With his fifth solo album on the horizon, Sean MacLeod continues to carve out a space where pop music and experimentation can coexist without compromise. I Know Not captures that philosophy perfectly. It is uncertain, playful, and quietly confident, a reminder that some of the most interesting moments in music happen when an artist is brave enough to admit they do not have all the answers.
