• Classic Album: The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead (1986)

    June 13, 2016 - By 

    The Smiths recorded their 3rd album ill at ease with their position in the music world. They were unsure of their record label, frustrated at how the media represented them, and perplexed with the public’s perception of the band. Nevertheless, when The Queen Is Dead was released, it presented The Smiths at their zenith, aware of their astonishing abilities and revelling in utilising them to full effect. The confidence bursts forth from the get-go with a 6 minute plus, unbridled thrash of a title track and is sustained throughout the 9 diverse songs that follow it. The musical landscape displays a knowing maturity;…

  • Inbound: Feather

    May 31, 2016 - By 

    Emma Garnett AKA Feather has morphed again. While many may know her from the punchy, artistic collaborations with Ben Bix this itineration is something of a departure. Now fully backed by an eight-piece band, she and the group are emerging as a blooded, blended new horizon in Irish music so it’s no surprise that they’re signed up with emerging world conscious independent label Hipdrop Records whose slant towards global sounds, funk, soul and jazz distinguish them from the pack. Take their new single ‘Like No Other’ which works its way through three distinct movements without sounding piecemeal. The comparisons to…

  • Inbound: Bad Bones

    May 30, 2016 - By 

    Paul O’Connor excavates the impetus and art of Dublin producer and visual artist Sal Stapleton AKA BAD BONES. Photos by Joe Laverty. Under the moniker of BAD BONES, Dublin based producer and visual artist Sal Stapelton, has spent 2016 eking out a series of stunning singles and videos on a monthly basis. With dark but infectious beats that combine rich textural layers of synths and choral vocals with her own heavily processed vocal melodies each single has taken themes of sexuality and power exploring them in different ways. Next month sees the release of the fifth of these video singles,…

  • Track Record: Cian Ó Cíobháin (An Taobh Tuathail)

    May 30, 2016 - By 

    Presenter of Ireland’s best radio show, An Taobh Tuathail on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Cian Ó Cíobháin reveals some of his all-time favourite records. Photos by Sean McCormack. Sonic Youth – EVOL Looking back, it now seems to me that this was the album that ‘trained’ my ears to appreciate more experimental sounds.  Picture it.  Prior to discovering this, one of Sonic Youth’s strangest records, originally released in 1986, I had been mostly listening to what was on the radio and perhaps just been eased into ‘indie’ music by The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays.  I can’t recall how or…

  • Rave New World (27/05)

    May 27, 2016 - By 

    Aidan Hanratty and Antoin Lindsay return with the best electronic gigs, tracks and mixes of the week. Gigs Shit Robot Album Launch at Bar Tengu, Dublin Saturday 28 May Dubliner Shit Robot has a new album on DFA, and to celebrate its release there’s a party in Tengu (which is host to all the best parties in Dublin right now, funny that). Previous collaborators Alexis Taylor and Nancy Whang both feature on What Follows, as does local lad New Jackson, who’s going to be DJing tomorrow night. Sure to be a partyyyyy. AH Julia Kent + David Donohoe, Freemasons’ Hall,…

  • The Black Box: Celebrating 10 Years at the Heart of Belfast Culture

    May 23, 2016 - By 

    Although initially intended as a mere short term project, over the past ten years, the Black Box has established itself as Belfast’s cultural hub, right at the centre of the thriving Cathedral Quarter. No other venue here dedicates itself to such a wide remit of music, comedy, theatre, film, art, literature and spoken word, both international and homegrown. As it celebrates its tenth birthday, it would seem fitting to recollect its most memorable events, but there are really too many to recall – though the staggering list of names who’ve passed through the venue’s doors include the likes of Tim…

  • Rave New World (20/05)

    May 20, 2016 - By 

    Aidan Hanratty looks at the week’s best gigs, tracks, mixes and releases. Gigs Shivers with Leon Vynehall (3 hr set) at Electric Garden & Theatre, Galway Friday 20 May Fresh from the release of his album Rojus on Running Back, joyous house guru Leon Vynehall comes to Galway for a lengthy set at Shivers. These guys are getting some seriously good bookings, so we’re glad to see this party taking off. AVA/TNI/BMC Pres Dekmantel Soundsystem at Aether & Echo, Belfast Saturday 21 May AVA is just around the corner, and The Night Institute and Belfast Music Club are coming together to host the Dekmantel…

  • Festival Preview: AVA Festival 2016

    May 17, 2016 - By 

    Having had an unforgettable inaugural outing last year (you can check out our review right here) Belfast electronic festival AVA will return to T13 on Saturday, June 4 with the very solid aim of celebrating and nurturing talent from across the length and breadth of the country. With just over one month left to this year’s festival – which also features much more than just live sets – TTA’s resident electronic savants Aidan Hanratty and Antoin Lindsay have banged heads to produce the following preview, featuring all confirmed artists performing at this year’s festival. Go here to buy tickets to this year’s AVA Festival. Check out…

  • Monday Mixtape: Martin Carr (The Boo Radleys/bravecaptain)

    May 16, 2016 - By 

    In the latest installment of Monday Mixtape, Martin Carr of 90’s alt rockers The Boo Radleys and his solo output as bravecaptain selects some of his favourite and most inspirational tracks from James Yorkston to King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard. Being a musician I don’t get time to listen to as much music as I would like but this is a snapshot of what I’ve played recently. I thought I might have grown out of this by now but even if all new music was outlawed this instant there would be still be enough to discover until the end of all days.…

  • Picture This: Your National Visual Arts Guide – Collaboration and Identity

    May 13, 2016 - By 

    A multitude of practices across a wide-range of disciplines are featured in this edition of Picture This – and in some cases this diversity can be found in a single show. A general thematic arc of Collaboration and Identity exists within the four shows highlighted in Dublin, Cork, Belfast and Laois. Collaboration, be they between artists, spaces and mediums, is present in all shows and forms the core of These Days are Persistent and Changeable (Belfast) and You Make Mine/I Make Yours (Cork) both of which feature works by groups rather than individual artists. Steven Maybury’s Anicca (Dublin) is built…