• Track Record: Paul G Smyth

    February 21, 2016 - By 

    In the latest installment of Track Record, Dublin pianist and Jimmy Cake member Paul G Smyth handpicks a selection of records that have left an indelible imprint on his music and life, including Tangerine Dream, Derek Bailey and Talk Talk. Photos by Aidan Kelly Murphy. Evan Parker – Saxophone Solos This album essentially ruined my life. First stumbled upon when I used to hoover up the contents of the Ilac Centre Library’s audio section as a teenager, using every family member’s cards every Saturday, and coming home on the bus with unknowns from every section. I hated it. Passionately. It…

  • Jack O’Rourke: Comfort in Melancholy

    February 19, 2016 - By 

    Set to play Dublin’s Whelan’s tonight (Friday, February 19) we chat to Cork baroque-pop singer-songwriter Jack O’Rourke about influence and inspiration, soundtracking the Yes campaign, the thin line between joy and melancholy, as well as the writing and recording of his forthcoming debut album. First up: for those not in the know, when and how did you first start writing and playing your own music? I was four and doodling at the piano. It chilled me out and excited me simultaneously. I discovered Kate Bush and Tom Waits when I was 15 and the rest is history. I sometimes wish I…

  • Stream: Ciaran Lavery – Return To Form

    February 17, 2016 - By 

    At the risk of (really) repeating ourselves, Ciaran Lavery is easily one of the country’s most naturally gifted, hugely endearing singer-songwriters. From his days in Captain Kennedy up until the present day, we’ve seen the Aghagallon songsmith silence the most bustling venue with the the slightest of syllables and all but seduce innumerable crowds with his brilliantly charming badinage. At the root of all that is Lavery’s extraordinary grasp of the human condition, masterfully bolstered by an enviable harmonic grasp and compositional flair that continues to blossom unabated. The latest – and quite possibly greatest – manifestation of that is his new single, ‘Return To…

  • Stream: Michael Mormecha – Family

    February 17, 2016 - By 

    Long one of the country’s more indomitable and fiercely individual musicians, Michael Mormecha is best known as the frontman of quintessential NI alt-rock band Mojo Fury. But rather than ever been bound to either that realm or moniker, Mormecha has pursued his music-making thus far with an idiosyncratic wanderlust via many collaborations, his work as Clown Parlour and – more recently – his own sounds, under his very own name. Having very recently launched a Pledge Campaign to ensure its release, the proverbial seeds of Lofi-Life, the forthcoming debut solo album by Mormecha, were first openly sown a couple of years now. Forever…

  • F_Festival 2016

    February 17, 2016 - By 

    A new, free multifaceted platform aimed at generating visibility and equality for women in the arts, the inaugural F_Festival will inhabit various iconic Dublin venues with an eclectic spectrum of female artists across March 12-13. With the main focus of the festival being art, film, spoken word, comedy and discussions, its main objective is to “highlight inequality within the arts community with a showcase from some of Ireland’s brightest female talent” in venues including Hangar, The Grand Social, Wigwam, Film Base, The Back Loft, Sweeney’s and The Gallery of Photos. Will full line-up information to be released, keep an eye on…

  • First Acts Revealed For Sea Sessions

    February 17, 2016 - By 

    Ireland’s self-proclaimed “biggest beach party”, Sea Sessions returns to Bundoran, Co. Donegal from Friday 24 to Sunday June 26. With it’s unique marriage of surf and music, the first acts set to play this year’s festival include Primal Scream, Tinie Tempah, Bad Manners and a host of Irish acts including Ciaran Lavery, August Wells and CC Brez. Festival director Ray O’Donoghue says “We think this line-up is the strongest yet. We’ve got the legendary Primal Scream. They’ve been on the festival radar for years and it’s great that we’ve finally booked them. Tinie Tempah is a mega star with a…

  • Stream: Shrug Life – Making Progress

    February 16, 2016 - By 

    With varyingly mind-numbing electioneering currently frying a good portion of the island’s collective head, Dublin indie-rock trio Shrug Life want your vote… … of confidence pertaining to the release of their excellent new single, ‘Making Progress’. One of our 16 For ’16 acts, the Danny Carroll-fronted maestros set out with the following Five Point Plan in mind: 1. Danny (lyrics, vox & guitars), Josh (drums) & Keith (bass) write song. 2. Get song recorded & mixed by Fiachra McCarthy (HEFTTRAX). 3. Get song mastered by Mark Chester. 4. Get artwork designed by Sean Conroy (deadl.ie) 5. Release song via online platforms. They have succeeded and…

  • Album Premiere: Heliopause – How Can We Laugh After This…

    February 15, 2016 - By 

    Released ten years to the day since performing his first ever show, How Can We Laugh After This… by Belfast’s Richard Davis AKA Heliopause is an exquisite electro-acoustic release confronting creativity, self-questioning and mental health with a refined, incisive delicacy that goes some distance in revealing the musician’s rejuvenated prowess. His 13th release to be self-released via Bandcamp, the 12 track album was mostly composed using Ableton Live, in which his usual backbone of acoustic guitar is replaced in favour of a baritone electric. Occasionally shaped by literary influences including Mysterious Stranger, the final novel by Mark Twain and James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room, Davis’ lyrics…

  • Monday Mixtape: Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr./Sebadoh)

    February 15, 2016 - By 

    To say Lou Barlow needs no introduction would be something of a colossal understatement. A founding member of Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh and the Folk Implosion, Barlow is both a veritable indie rock hero and lo-fi pioneer par excellence. Having recently released his third solo album, Brace The Wave, Barlow reveals and waxes lyrical about some of his favourite tracks discovered via apps like Shazam, including Crain, Sauna Youth and Dublin’s Girl Band. I love the music-identifying apps on my phone, Shazam and SoundHound. If I hear something and don’t know what it is I tap one of these and aim my phone.…

  • NI Science Festival 2016

    February 15, 2016 - By 

    Is there anything more satisfying than flicking through a freshly-printed, beautifully designed festival programme bursting with every shade of varyingly mind-expanding and curiousity-sating event? Having recently had that very same experience checking out the programme for this year’s forthcoming NI Science Festival we swiftly discovered that the short (and long) answer to that is no. Set to return to various venues across the North of the country from February 18-28, the festival will be divided into many day and night events. During the day the festival will present a range of workshops, talks and interactive activities for young people, parents and schools. In the…