• Exclusive EP Stream: Heroes in Hiding – Decorated Absence

    June 3, 2015 - By 

    Ahead of its official launch on Friday, we’re pleased to present an exclusive first listen to Decorated Absence, the second EP from Heroes in Hiding. Produced, recorded and mixed by Philip Magee, the three-track release is all-killer, no-filler folk-pop from the Dublin four-piece, fresh from their performance at Forbidden Fruit at the weekend. Ahead of an in-studio The Record with the band tomorrow – featuring an insight into the recorded and release of the EP and featuring candid shots from our photographer Tara Thomas – stream Decorated Absence in full below. Photo by Tara Thomas

  • Track Record: Roy Duffy (Squarehead)

    June 2, 2015 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record, Roy Duffy from Squarehead takes us through some of his most influential and inspiring records in his collection from The Wipers to Vivian Girls.  Photos by Aaron Corr. Disclaimer: Nowhere in this article will I refer to “tones” “riffs” “licks” or to any aspects of technical proficiency. Radioactivity – Radioactivity I just recently moved into my current abode and my house mate was playing this relentlessly in the next room for the first few weeks. When he stopped I had to find out what it was and go buy it so I could do the…

  • Visual Arts Outlook (1/6)

    June 1, 2015 - By 

    Perhaps the main event happening this week in the Visual Arts in Belfast would be the Launch of the Annual Belfast Photo Festival. This year running from the June 4-30 there are lots of events throughout the month to go and check out, in various venues across Belfast. This weeks opening for the Photo Festival include (both on Thursday evening) The Golden Thread: To Camera: Lorraine Burrell, Amanda Coogan, Tony Hill, Tom Lovelace, Moira McIver, Maria Platero, Manuel Vason, and Ai Wei Wei. And Body of Work: Jordan Hutchings (project space) QSS Bedford Street: Metamorphosis: Thorsten Brinkmann, Alma Haser, Christiane…

  • What Happens When You Add Toto To David Lynch

    June 1, 2015 - By 

    On paper, there seems no situation that would combine the disparate elements of film-maker and master of the surreal, David Lynch, future Captain Picard and Professor X, Patrick Stewart, former Police-man Sting, ambient music guru and former glam rock icon Brian Eno, and soft-rock superstars Toto. Surely, you might say, if there was something that brought all these people together and united them on one project, that project would be a crazy, unwieldy thing, probably unloved by all? Well, if you did think that, you’d probably be right. Released in 1984, Dune was intended to cash in on the sci-fi…

  • Monday Mixtape: Elaine Howley (The Altered Hours)

    June 1, 2015 - By 

    Since we kick-started out Monday Mixtape back in January, we’ve had some truly excellent playlists courtesy of Niall Kennedy of ASIWYFA, Ciaran Lavery, Pavement’s Bob Nastanovich, Girls Names’ Claire Miskimmin, Ciaran Smith of Crayonsmith, Quasi’s Sam Coomes, September Girls, No Spill Blood’s Ror Conaty, Ricki O’Rawe of Not Squares, Sargent House’s Cathy Pellow, The Mighty Stef’s Stefan Murphy, Dara Kiely of Girl Band, Built to Spill’s Doug Martsch, Ryan Vail and Autumns’ Christian Donaghey. Today, we continue that altogether tasteful tradition with none other with Elaine Howley of Cork psych-rock wizards The Altered Hours, who selects ten of her all-time favourite songs…

  • Deep Down South: (Almost) A Half-Year Review (Of Sorts)

    June 1, 2015 - By 

    Because it’s a slow news week, and your writer is a laptop-dwelling beardo still in thrall to his most base of blogger-nerd urges, this week’s Bank Holiday installment of Deep Down South is every music pedant’s favourite – the half-year review. I’m well aware we’re only just into month six of 2015 (and this column) as of today, but it’s been a hella-busy few months, and a wee bit of stocktake is more than called for. We started the year with the promise of the Quarter Block Party, a DIY arts festival co-organised by the Makeshift Ensemble and promoters the…

  • Rave New World (29/5)

    May 29, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Rave New World, Aidan Hanratty delves into the very best electronic gigs, mixes, tracks and release of the week, featuring Luke Abbott, hold mc, Tamo Sumo (pictured) and more. GIGS Pender Street Steppers at Opium Rooms Friday, May 29 Pender Street Steppers and the whole Mood Hut crew have conquered all before them lately, and with the tiniest hint of warmth in the air now is the perfect time to catch their buoyant brand of house music. Underlying Form w/ Bruno Schmidt (hifi) at The Bunatee (Belfast) Friday, May 29 We’ve already had extensive coverage of the…

  • Q+A: Timmy Stewart

    May 28, 2015 - By 

    This Saturday’s AVA Festival in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter shines a light on the city’s vibrant house and techno scene like never before. Chris Jones speak to a true hero of the Belfast scene, house DJ, producer and Extended Play co-chief Timmy Stewart. Photo by Niall Murphy How did you first get into DJing? Did you take to it straight away? My friends and I were coming to that rebellious teenage angst age (imagine an acid house Inbetweeners) when the whole rave scene was beginning to blossom. My girlfriend at the time had an older brother who was a Belfast DJ…

  • Independents in Paris: NØ FØRMAT!

    May 27, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Independents in Paris, photographer Tom McGeehan visits independent record label NØ FØRMAT!, home to the likes of Chilly Gonzalez, Mélissa Laveaux, Ballaké Sissoko and more. Chatting to co-manager Thibaut Mullings, he’s granted an insight into the workings of one of the country’s most vibrant and promising indie imprints. Read the first installment – looking at InFiné – here. For those unfamiliar with the world of NØ FØRMAT, tell us a little about how the label came to life? Laurent Bizot founded the label in 2004. At this time the music business was still driven by major companies who…

  • Villagers Irish Tour

    May 27, 2015 - By 

    Our writers and photographers report back from three of Villagers’ hugely successful dates across Ireland, including shows at Dublin’s Olympia, Cork Opera House and Belfast’s Mandela Hall. Saturday: Opera House, Cork w/ Gavin Glass Photos by Brid O’Donovan May 23rd, 2015 will forever be remembered as a landmark in Irish history, a momentously happy day, as the passage of the marriage referendum finally allows two people that love each other to marry and be recognised as equal citizens of our young, progressive nation. The eyes of the world are upon us, and they are smiling warmly as word filters around the world. The…