• Wilco – Star Wars

    July 17, 2015 - By 

    “Why release an album this way and why make it free? Well, the biggest reason, and I’m not sure we even need any others, is that it felt like it would be fun. What’s more fun than a surprise?” So posited the ever quizzical Jeff Tweedy on Wilco’s Facebook page earlier tonight, just when pretty much every Wilco aficionado (especially those of us brushing our teeth before bed) was positively not expecting Wilco’s first studio album in four years to be let loose onto the internet for free. Now, rather than answer his concluding rhetorical question (let’s face it, there’s plenty…

  • Stream: Replete – Day Off

    July 16, 2015 - By 

    One of our Acts to Watch in 2014, Kilkenny producer Pete Lawlor AKA Replete recently delivered two stellar sets in Belfast and Dublin, in Aether & Echo and the new-fangled Wiley Fox respectively. Having released stuff from the likes of Nphonix, Reagan Grey and Sly-One over the last couple of years, Devon imprint Shifting Peaks – purveyors of half decent bass, house and stuff” – have featured Lawlor in their new five-year retrospective compilation, Bass and Superstructure. A mere flicker at five minutes long, the galvanic ‘Day Off’ emerges from sublime washes of synth to form a fleshed-out gem of finespun, glistening House.

  • Midweek Mixtape: Songs To Lament Life To When The Party’s Over But You’re Still Awake

    July 15, 2015 - By 

    It’s 3.30 am and you’re sitting alone at the kitchen table in the house of friend. It’s deadly silent apart from an occasional snore from the living room where most of your friends passed out a few minutes ago. You’re surrounded by empty bottles of cider and are still cradling your last paper cup of wine. You had been excited about going out but it was average and the exact same as every other night out. The silence and the sickly yellow filter on everything in the room caused by overly harsh lighting and the smell of cigarettes and stale…

  • Anon #002

    July 16, 2015 - By 

    Happening as part of the Open House festival in association with PLACE NI, the second installment of Phil Kieran’s Anon series will take place at an undisclosed location in Belfast on Saturday, July 18. According to the poster (above), the ethos behind the electronic events are to “shift the excitement back to the location and music, rather than hype.” Whilst we’re certainly sensing a profound sense of hype around the occasion, we highly approve of the sentiment. Given some nice leverage and interest from the public at large (which most increasingly seems to be the case so far) this could very easily turn into one…

  • EP Premiere + Interview: THVS – Everyday Hexes

    July 15, 2015 - By 

    Forming from the embers of Belfast riff-wielding institution Comply or Die, heavy rock three-piece THVS are on the precipice of completing the first stage of their instantly ear-grabbing metamorphosis. Officially released on Friday (July 17), we’re pleased to present a first listen of their expectedly visceral four-track EP, Everyday Hexes, also chatting to frontman Michael Smyth about the writing and recording of the EP, the formation of the band and their plans for the future. Hi Michael. First thing’s first, how did THVS come about? The band came about after a band practice got cancelled so Matt and I decided to go up and play anyway.…

  • Watch: Pocket Promise – Music For The Twelfth

    July 14, 2015 - By 

    Having been on extended hiatus for a few years, Co. Tyrone band Pocket Promise remain of Ireland’s all-time truly great alt-pop bands. With some expectation suggestive of a reunion of sorts in the pipeline at some point in the future, the band have re-emerged, in some form, with the up until-now unreleased ‘Music For The Twelfth’. With its backdrop of the Northern Irish marching season, the song – over a decade old at this point – should be familiar to anyone caught the band (compised of members that went on to form Seven Summits) during their initial, country-spanning tenure of the mid-noughties. Speaking of…

  • Track Record: Michelle Considine (little xs for eyes)

    July 14, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Track Record, Michelle Considine from little xs for eyes selects and talks about some of her all-time favourite records, including Björk, Future Islands, The Books and Patrick Kelleher and his Cold Dead Hands. Take it away, Michelle… Photos by Abi Dennison I was raised in a vinyl fanatic’s household.  My dad had a huge collection of classic albums from the 1960s/70s and my brother had a massive 80s/90s album collection (I don’t think he’s ever bought a tape or cd in his life if it was available on vinyl!) so I was lucky to have a…

  • Watch: Best Boy Grip – Can’t Buy Love, Son

    July 14, 2015 - By 

    The latest in a string of Irish singer-songwriters to wisely wander down the road of crowd-funding, Derry’s Eoin O’Callaghan AKA Best Boy Grip aims to released his forthcoming debut album on September 7. The latest track to be released from the album, the impassioned and swooning ‘Can’t Buy Love, Son’ perfectly captures the essence of the project, hinting – alongside the previously released ‘Sharks‘ and ‘Cops‘ – at something really special in the works. Having already achieved his Pledge goal, there’s still 55 days to contribute. Like what you hear? You can do so here.

  • Monday Mixtape: Anton Newcombe

    July 13, 2015 - By 

    Ahead of his show with Tess Parks at Dublin’s Sugar Club on Wednesday night (July 15), Brian Jonestown Massacre’s Anton Newcombe selects and talks about not five, not ten but twenty-three of his all-time favourite songs, featuring 13th Floor Elevators, Joni Mitchell, Dungen, Marvin Gaye, Nina Simone and more. The Doors – The Crystal Ship There’s something about this beautiful love song that touched me when I was very young. Still love it. Dungen – Panda God, when this came out I was taken back – so powerful in any language. Love these guys, love Sweden. John’s Children – Smashed Blocked…

  • Summer Watch 2015 @ Whelan’s

    July 9, 2015 - By 

    On July 10 and 11, Dublin’s Whelan’s will play host to this year’s Summer Watch 2015, featuring some of the country’s very best and most promising acts. The line-up is as follows: Tadgh, Hawklion, I Heart The Monster Hero, Skelocrats, Riot Tapes, Rocstrong, I Am Niamh, Mythill Grim, Switzerland, New Valley Wolves, Pretty Beast, Paddy Hanna (pictured), Half of Me, Participant, Buffalo Sunn, The Fontaines, Pranks, Sub Motion, Let’s Set Sail, Fruit Tones, Swimmers and Gangs. Tickets are €5 per day with a complimentary pint of Heineken (door tickets only available until 11pm). Advanced tickets are available from WAV Tickets.