Delorentos shocked their legion of fans this week by announcing their imminent disbandment. The quartet released a statement on Tuesday claiming that they would split after recording their second album, believed to be called You Can Make Sound.

“It’s with a very heavy heart that we have to let you know that Ronan [Yourell, guitarist and co-vocalist] has decided to leave the band,” it said. “As our songs always came from the four of us playing together, we’ve also decided that it wouldn’t feel right to continue Delorentos without him . . . The three of us will still be making music and will let you know about what happens next.”

The Dublin band released their debut album, In Love With Detail, on their own Cottage Records label in 2007. The album was subsequently nominated for the Choice Music Prize.

Apart from appearances at several festivals, the band kept a low profile on the Irish live circuit in 2008. This was initially attributed to work progressing on their second album, but an ominous post on their MySpace blog in December hinted at troubles. An international deal had been stymied by their potential new label’s financial collapse, they said, and the bankruptcy of distribution company Pinnacle had also thwarted plans to release their album independently in the UK.

The band and their management declined to comment further.