• EP Stream: Silences – Sister Snow

    Having experiencing a very encouraging 2014, Armagh indie-folk outfit Silences is the harmony-driven, effortlessly impressive brainchild of one Conchúr White. With a voice instantly conjuring two of the band’s biggest influences in Villagers and Death Cab For Cutie, there is an earthly, delicately pastoral allure to their craft; something that is in abundance on their second EP, Sister Snow. Over four wonderfully wistful tracks, the release never strays too far from its source – a distinctly provincial air of yearning, propelled by subtly hypnotic acoustic instrumentalism and White’s breathy meditations upon home, belonging and adulation. The fact that the band manage to set themselves apart…

  • Stream: Southern – Cool Kid

    With new Irish dates expected to be announced soon, Belfast-derived, Liverpool-based brother and sister band (Thom and Lucy) Southern have really grown in stature and repute over the last few months. Currently doing the rounds supporting Jake Bugg on his UK and Irish tour, the band – also featuring Eoghan Clifford on drums – really hit home with their new single, ‘Cool Kid’. At just under three minutes in length, the track is all business – catchy, digestible, immediately familiar, it bears no sonic fat to trim, encouraging repeated listens from the get-go. We’re also a fan of the claps. Where…

  • Stream: OneKnown – JST BKZ

    With the recent announcement that his previous outfit UNKNWN are no more, Belfast-based electronic producer Chris Hanna has wasted no time in getting back on his feet. Released under his new moniker, OneKnown, ‘JST BKZ’ is sweet cut of skittering, arpeggiated instrumentalism, conjuring the shadowy electro doom of Lorn. OneKnown is part of Belfast-based electronic imprint Champion Sound, who hold a showcase at Belfast’s Menagerie on November 15 (also featuring a DJ set from Hanna). Stream ‘JST BKZ’ below. Why? JST BKZ. Sorry.

  • Watch: 7.5 Tonnes of Beard – The Fear

    Comprised of expertly gruesome artwork by Rich Stuart and live footage of the band performing, Belfast-based sludge metal five-piece 7.5 Tonnes of Beard have unveiled the aptly-accompanying video for their pulverizing new single, ‘The Fear’. Released ahead of a run of Irish dates with Hornets, the band – comprised of Johnny Adger and Rory Friers of And So I Watch You From Afar, Blane Doherty of Gacys Threads, Andrew Coles and Micky Higgins – comprehensively pummel over the track’s six-and-a-bit minutes, conjuring everyone from Eyehategod, Burning Witch, Down and Converge in the process. 7.5 Tonnes of Beard play the following shows over the next…

  • Exclusive: Floor Staff – Gift Horse (Live)

    Set to perform the Oxjam Takeover in Dublin this evening, we’re pleased to present the first of three exclusive live videos by one of the city’s finest alt-pop bands, Floor Staff. Filmed at Elektra Studios, the video – featuring the band performing the earworming ‘Gift Horse’ – was directed by Bob Gallagher. The music was record by Chris Barry and James Feeney. Go here for the Oxjam Takeover Facebook event page and watch the video below.  

  • Stream: Jape – The Heart’s Desire

    For the last couple of years, Richie Egan has been residing in the Malmö, Sweden, recording material that will rear its head on Jape’s forthcoming fifth album, The Chemical Sea. As was perfectly illustrated in Ian Pearce’s photo feature with Egan last year, there was no shortage of equipment and sonic gadgetry at the latter’s disposal in the studio, something that is more than evident on ‘The Heart’s Desire’, a new track melding Hot Chip-esque electro musing and forward-moving synth-pop that is unmistakably Jape. The Chemical Sea will be released in January. Stream ‘The Heart’s Desire’ right here.

  • Album stream: Women’s Christmas – Too Rich For Our Blood

    In his review of the album in the first issue of our physical magazine – out now – Mike McGrath Bryan called Too Rich For Our Blood, the debut album by Dublin indie-rock trio Women’s Christmas “an enjoyable excursion into the pop sensibilities of its constituent parts.” And that it is. Comprised of members from Villagers, Jogging and I Heart the Monster Hero, the band have delivered on what came across in our Inbound feature with them back in February. If you like your lo-fi catchy and your catchiness lo-fi, this is well worth a listen. Women’s Christmas will play…

  • Watch: Le Galaxie – Carmen

    If you weren’t one of the lucky few to witness its launch at Dublin’s Workman’s Club last night, check out Le Galaxie’s video for ‘Carmen’ (featuring Fight Like Apes‘ May Kay and comprised of fan footage) below. We’re fans.

  • Watch: Cal Folger Day – Homez-a-Place

    The first single to be taken from her new EP, Adornament, Dublin-based New York artist Cal Folger Day has released the wistful, minimalistic ‘Homez-a-Place’. As with her previous EP, Drom-d’reau, the rudiments of Adornament were recorded on an 8-track in Woodstock, New York. According to Folger Day, “Those analog frameworks were then frankensteined to vocal takes captured in Brooklyn and Dublin”. The track – pieced together by Forest Walker Christenson in Columbus, Ohio – features violins, drum machines, guitars, wurlitzer and vocals, evoking the likes of Julia Holter, Lisa O’Neill and Belfast-based musician Caroline Pugh. Watch the video below.  

  • Premiere: Edward F Butler – Running From Fears

    Originally from London, Belfast-based musician and filmmaker Edward F Butler first made his mark here with the now defunct HOWL, a genre-spanning outfit driven by Butler’s soulful, nigh on beatific vocals. Going several steps further – both in sound and scope – the artist’s debut single, ‘Running From Fears’, is an extremely impressive first gambit, marrying Butler’s idiosyncratic electro-acoustic music with his extraordinary vocals. Conjuring the likes of James Vincent McMorrow, James Blake and Nina Simone, they serve as a transformative centre-piece of a sound bearing the hallmarks of resounding inspiration. And if that wasn’t enough to convince you of his talents, Butler –…