• Stream: Morrissey and Marshall – She’s Got Love

    May 12, 2017 - By 

    Set to release their new album, We Rise, on May 26, London-based Dublin duo Morrissey and Marshall know a thing or two about the craft of classic songwriting. With a pop-centric sound conjuring the refined, harmony-driven quintessence of The Thrills, The Charlatans, the duo’s latest single, ‘She’s Got Love’, channels the more earworming – and decidedly sun-kissed – peaks of Britpop’s more discerning exponents, whilst filtering the influence through the prism of their own compositionally slick approach. We’re fans.

  • Premiere: Citog Records – Volume 2: Melancholia in the Mirror

    May 9, 2017 - By 

    Home to some of our favourite artists from the West of Ireland, Galway independent, artist-run label Citóg Records will launch their second compilation at their spiritual home at the Roisin Dubh on Thursday night in association with Strange Brew. Featuring everyone from Drown, Field Trip, New Pope to Whim, Eoin Dolan and Majestic Bears, the fourteen-track release is a carefully-curated, genre-spanning collection of tracks, perfectly encapsulating the imprint’s dedication to commitment to eclectic, homegrown sounds and their firm – and on-point – belief that their neck of the woods is a “culturally significant, artistically stimulating” bastion of creativity. Playing on the launch night are The…

  • Premiere: Milky Teeth – Guess Again

    May 8, 2017 - By 

    Back in February we premiered ‘Sleepiness and Weary Wit’, the stellar debut single from Cork’s Milky Teeth AKA Robbie Barron of The Shaker Hymn and John Blek & The Rats. A single we said embodied his main influence in The Beatles, as well as Ed Harcourt, Elliott Smith circa XO/Figure 8, Friendly Fire-era Sean Lennon and Jon Brion, it hinted at some special things in the making for his forthcoming debut album. Fast forward three months and Barron is back with the similarly spectral psych-pop of its follow-up, ‘Guess Again’, a track whose subtly-symphonic, kaleidoscopic thrust and tone reveals the workings of an artist we’re certain…

  • Premiere: Conor Mason – Follow

    May 8, 2017 - By 

    One of many shining lights in a potent local scene at the minute, Derry singer-songwriter Conor Mason is an artist of equal subtly and humility. Having released one of our Irish tracks of 2016 in ‘On The Surface’, new single ‘Follow’ is a beautiful and brilliantly-realised pop masterstroke conjuring everyone from Grandaddy at their most inward-looking, fellow Derry songsmith Chris McConaghy AKA Our Krypton Son and mid-era Elliott Smith. Released soon as a free download, have a first listen to the track below.

  • Album Premiere: Joshua Burnside – Ephrata

    May 5, 2017 - By 

    Ever since the release of his masterfully lo-fi 2012 EP The Winding Straits (and the string of memorable local shows that accompanied that release) Joshua Burnside‘s inimitable brand of alt-folk has commanded our attention like few others. Having really made a dent a year later with the release of his stellar five-track EP If You’re Goin’ That Way, the Belfast songsmith has evolved from wistful folk contender to a fully-fledged artist whose sound incorporates electronica and first-rate experimentalism in fine fashion. The full-length culmination of that evolution, his brand new debut album Ephrata is a real triumph of the spirit. Testament to refusing to be bound…

  • Watch: Come On Live Long – In The Still

    May 5, 2017 - By 

    Ahead of the release of their sophomore album In The Still on May 19th, Come On Live Long have released a video for the title track. With additional production duties from Solar Bears’ Rian Trench, it’s a cut that showcases the group’s penchant for  tempered atmosphere with Louise Gaffney’s vocal carrying it through to its conversely distorted peak, all brash Kalimba and agitated drums. The track is accompanied by an equally excellent video directed by Albert Hooi and starring Robyn Byrne and Laragh McCann.

  • Watch: Mons Olympus – Incognito

    May 4, 2017 - By 

    Ahead of releasing their long-awaited debut album, Vampyroteuthis, at Belfast’s Empire Music Hall tonight, space-prog quartet Mons Olympus have unveiled one of the downright funnest music videos from an Irish act that we’ve seen in quite some time. The accompaniment to riff-fuelled new single ‘Incognito’, the cosmically-inclined visuals were filmed on location at The Burren in Co. Clare, and other locations.  Stream the album in full and check out the video – directed and edited by Mervyn Marshall and Chris McConnell, with after FX by Paul McGrath – below. Vampyroteuthis by Mons Olympus

  • Video Premiere: Hornets – Threads

    May 3, 2017 - By 

    On May 20, Belfast hardcore punk quartet Hornets will launch their long-awaited debut album, Witch Hunt, as part of one of the finest local heavy bills we’ve seen in quite some time. Ahead of that, we’re pleased to present an exclusive first look at the first video for a track taken from the release, ‘Threads’. Filmed and edited by band member Craig McCloskey, it’s a suitably menacing, monochrome accompaniment, driving home the track’s vengeful attack and tone. Witch Hunt is released via Solid Choice Industries on May 19.

  • Silverbacks – Sink The Fat Moon

    April 28, 2017 - By 

    Insofar as first-rate lo-fi indie rock goes, the island of Ireland is surely right up there with the most fertile.Laying claim to their stake amongst the very best, Dublin’s Silverbacks release a new EP, the five-track Sink The Fat Moon on May 19. If new single ‘Dirty Money’ is anything to by, we’re in for something well worth the wait. A terse, harmonic-laden effort that openly yet rather brilliantly filters the more more reclined efforts of the holy trifecta that is Sonic Youth, Pavement and Pixies, it’s a masterfully languid release betraying real purpose in its disaffected swagger. This follows up on their…

  • Premiere: Fox Colony – Patterns EP

    May 1, 2017 - By 

    Ahead of its release on May 4, we’re delighted to premiere the new EP from Belfast-based emo-tinged indie rock trio Fox Colony, Patterns. Associates & former bandmates of indie-pop outfit Brand New Friend, the young band recorded Patterns with Start Together Studios’ Rocky O’Reilly and have the uncanny ability to craft a tune without the usual fear of wearing their hearts – or accents – on their sleeves. The EP takes some cues from the current emo-pop revival of Modern Baseball, with slight glimmers of early ’90s alt. rock sophistication & dischordance seeping in that belies their youth. Patterns will be available from Bandcamp – both digitally on…