• Hamer Place Releases Debut Single ‘A Tribute To Tina’

    As a member of Postcard Versions, Safe Neighbourhood, and Oh Boland, Ross Hamer’s place in the furniture of Dublin indie rock furniture is fairly well cemented. Enter new project Hamer Place and debut single ‘A Tribute To Tina’, another joyous guitar-led nugget brimming with all the immediacy you’d come to expect from him. Led by Hamer, the band features David Tapley, Hugh O’Dwyer and Neil Dexter, and was recorded by O’Dwyer in Hodland Studio earlier this year. On ‘Tribute To Tina’, Ross told us: “I’ve written lots of songs in my life, mostly miserable ones, but recently I felt like a change. Inspired by some of the greatest musicians of…

  • Album Stream: Postcard Versions – Remote Viewing

    In case you missed it, Friday saw the surprise, name-your-price release of Postcard Versions‘ new LP, following up on their debut –  one of Ireland’s finest indie rock albums of last year. Messrs Paddy Ormond and Ross Hamer – of The Claque, Music City, Oh Boland and more – are back with another ten warming, bite-size gems, adding to the city’s not-insubstantial bedroom-pop canon – born not out of aesthetic, but economic necessity. Stream below: Remote Viewing by Postcard Versions

  • Irish Tracks Of The Week – August 7th

    It’s been yet another phenomenal week for new releases in every corner of the island, boosted by today being the monthly Bandcamp Friday, which sees the platform waive all its own cuts – take that, Spotify. Delve into the best of the lot, featuring Postcard Versions, Joshua Burnside, Just Mustard, Wyvern Lingo, Natalia Beylis, and many more. Postcard Versions – Do You Consider? Just Mustard – Seven (Live on KXLU) Live Session by Just Mustard Joshua Burnside – War on Everything Kynsy – Cold Blue Light lastminuteman – Walking Into Water At Night %%%%%% by lastminuteman Natalia Beylis – Ursa Minor Old…

  • This Month in Irish Music: February

    In the latest of a new regular series, Colin Gannon rounds up the very best Irish tracks released of the month just gone, featuring ELLLL, Mob Wife, Fehdah, Larry, Sunken Foal, Soulé, Postcard Versions and more. ELLLL — Pepsi Ellen King’s work as ELLLL is fast becoming one of the most searingly vital things in Irish music. As well as being super busy (she’s released two equally erudite EPs in the space of two months), King has managed to keep the quality to an almost peerless quality. The latest batch of tracks, Confectionary, all named after a sweet shop delicacy,…

  • Album Premiere: Postcard Versions – Postcard Versions

    Making good on the promise of last year’s debut single ‘Sunday Morning With Nate‘ – which came in at number 28 on our 2018 Irish Tracks of the Year and featured on independent compilation A Litany of Failures Volume II – Postcard Versions‘ debut album is here. Comfortably resigned and pragmatic in its optimism, Postcard Versions looks at a hungover languor as a chance for reprieve. Its 10 tracks never outstay their welcome, clocking in at just short of half an hour, making this another essential breezy indie rock album to add to Dublin canon alongside Popical Island, Tandem Felix & company – and it’s arguably the finest ever not to include a cymbal. Clearly a…

  • Various Artists – A Litany of Failures Vol. II

    To be a contemporary “independent” band in Ireland isn’t merely a genre categorisation, but a complex creative actuality. There’s often a socio-economic subtext to the term, as happens when a multitude of younger or less experienced creatives don’t have the resources to view music as a full-time pursuit just yet. They must therefore look elsewhere to meet the frequently unforeseen costs that stack up when making music – gear upkeep, travel, recording/rehearsal space fees, etc. This can lead to an absence of parity at the level of industry power relations. Simply look at the cultural-economic logic followed by certain festivals…

  • A Litany Of Failures Vol. II Announced

    Following the limited release of cross-Ireland Little L Records compilation, 2016’s A Litany of Failures – featuring Oh Boland, Shrug Life, That Snaake and Junk Drawer – an expanded second edition has been confirmed for release on July 13. Set to be released on 180g gatefold double vinyl, as well as through Bandcamp, Spotify and the usual outlets, it features 18 acts from Belfast, Cork, Derry, Donegal, Dublin, Galway & Limerick. The DIY, co-op endeavour aims to provide an opportunity to perform outside each of their hometowns, shortening the mental distances between bands, and encouraging a cross-pollination of musical communities. Splitting costs between artists and the organisers, a sense of…