• Watch: VerseChorusVerse – The New Paranoia

    November 11, 2016 - By 

    North Coast singer-songwriter Tony Wright AKA VerseChorusVerse is very much an artist that embodies the idea “when it rains it pours.” Aside from the release his as-of-yet untitled third solo album, he has announced that he will also publish his first book and unveil what he calls a “socio-economic/musical pilgrimage/documentary filmed in Spain next year. Ahead of that highly-anticipated flurry of activity, Wright has unveiled a pre-emptive statement in the form of ‘The New Paranoia’, a new, full-band track featuring bass from Herb Magee and drums from Andy Coles, who recorded and mixed the track. Ex-ASIWYFA axeman Wright said, “In light of…

  • Premiere: Robyn G Shiels – If I Were Thy Demon

    November 7, 2016 - By 

    The first track to be taken from a new – as yet untitled – EP set for release this March, ‘If I Were Thy Demon’ has been something of a live staple from Kilrea singer-songwriter Robyn G Shiels for a few years now. Released in association with the ever informed Solid Choice Industries, the single – a doom folk lullaby very worthy of a repeated listen – is deathly dirge-like in its brooding Americana lilt and ill-fated sway. Set for release both digitally and in limited physical format this Wednesday (November 9) at Belfast’s Empire Music Hall, have an exclusive first listen to the track…

  • Premiere: Gnarkats – Running From You

    November 7, 2016 - By 

    Having been popping up on bills left, right and centre in North of the country over the last while, Belfast-based quartet Gnarkats are set to unveil a new EP, Waves Collide, on December 2. Produced and mixed by Mojo Fury’s Michael Mormecha at Millbank Studios in Lisburn a couple of months back, the four-track release – not least lead single ‘Running From You’ –  captures a band that continue to flesh out their own brand of earworming, fuzzed-out alt-rock. Ahead of their appearance at Spectrum Festival at Belfast’s Elmwood Hall this Saturday (November 12), have an exclusive first listen to ‘Running From…

  • Stream: OneKnown – VΛV

    November 3, 2016 - By 

    Having been busy releasing straight-up house and techno material under his own name, Belfast producer and DJ Chris Hanna has released ‘VΛV’, a stellar, decidedly more downtempo new track under his alias OneKnown, a music-making moniker adapted from his once cryptic Unknown/UNKNWN titles. Speaking of the new song – hands down one of the producers strongest tracks to date – Hanna said, “I hadn’t made one of these sorta tracks in just over 2 years and out of nowhere just got a total itch to make more of it, felt slightly strange! As usual, made in bed on my laptop haha. Recorded…

  • Video Premiere: The Shaker Hymn – Baltic Heart

    November 1, 2016 - By 

    With the dark and cold evenings started to creep in at rapid pace, Cork five-piece The Shaker Hymn have returned with a suitably titled new single, ‘Baltic Heart’. Taken from their album, Do You Think You’re Clever? the track is a wonderfully produced slice of swooning subtly symphonic throwback pop and – not least in the addition of strings throughout – real testament to the band’s knack for sculpting a song where harmony is at the heart of their craft. The Shaker Hymn play the following dates in December. December 2: McGings, Westport December 3: Tir Na Nog, Cavan December 11: Kino, Cork (w/ Rozi Plain) Have an…

  • Stream: Matua Trap – Glossolalia

    November 1, 2016 - By 

    Set to play the next live Thin Air Tuesday Throwdown at Belfast’s Lavery’s on next Tuesday with Mons Olympus (it’s free entry and everything) Belfast prog trio Matua Trap have unveiled their new single, ‘Glossolalia’. The first cut to be taken from the band’s forthcoming debut album The Thunderous Silence, it’s a potent epistemological rumination betraying the band’s ever-growing knack for forging deft musicianship with cogitative lyricism courtesy of guitarist/vocalist Steven Butler. The track was recorded, mixed and mastered by bassist/vocalist and drummer James Bruce at Great Northern Productions and Snakehole Studios. Glossolalia by Matua Trap

  • EP Premiere: Brash Isaac – In Two

    October 27, 2016 - By 

    A familiar face behind the kit of folk-rock band New Ancestors, Andrew Cameron’s Brash Isaac is a project that launched back in May. With their spirited brand of earworming, FM-friendly alt-folk, his latest two-track release, In Two, is the third and final mini EP to be released from June to October. Ahead of its official launch on Halloween, we’re pleased to present a first listen to the release – also featuring guitar by Christopher McKay and additional vocals by Beulah Kim – here. Feeling a bit bummed out? Have a listen.

  • Album Premiere: The Urges – Time Will Pass

    October 25, 2016 - By 

    When it comes to swirling, baroque-tinged neo-psychedelia and throwback (yet forward-looking) garage rock, Dublin’s The Urges are, without a doubt, in a league of their own. Spearheading a modern manifestation of a lineage stemming from The Doors, Scott Walker and Love, the five-piece’s new album Time Will Pass is testament to following collective vision rather than moving with the whims of trend. Set to be launched at The Grand Social in Dublin this Saturday, the album – which comes nine years on from the release of their debut full-length – is a wonderfully flesh-out effort that doesn’t shy away from layering strings and brass upon…

  • Watch: Michael Mormecha – The Opera House

    October 24, 2016 - By 

    Taken from his hugely accomplished debut album LOFi LiFE, ‘The Opera House’ finds Mojo Fury’s Michael Mormecha in especially bombastic form. Featuring mantra-like, burrowing harmonies with Fiona O’Kane of RunawayGO, the track marries fuzzed-out grooves, smatterings of urgent percussion and Mormecha’s uncanny ear for a killer hook. The track’s accompanying video ups the DIY ante in perfectly kaleidoscopic fashion. Delve into LOFi LiFE right here.

  • Premiere: The Mad Dalton – Devil Came To Derry

    October 20, 2016 - By 

    Keeping the candle burning for the dying tradition of the Halloween single, Belfast-based Scots/Canadian singer-songwriter Peter Sumadh AKA The Mad Dalton’s ‘Devil Came To Derry’ is a slow-burning dose of malevolent Americana that puts sparsely plucked guitar guitars and a bleak, unravelling narrative centre-stage. Accompanied by a video shot up Derry way by Dog Kennel Productions, the single is the follow-up to Sumadh’s 2015’s The Little Belfry EP, which we reviewed here. Have an exclusive first look at the video for the single (“a song for people of all faiths and for people with no faith at all.”) below.