• Track Record: Gareth Quinn Redmond

    March 2, 2023 - By 

    Ahead of the release of his album Ar Ais Aris this week, Dublin ambient musician Gareth Quinn Redmond selects the records that have left a lasting impression on his life from Myles Manley to Hiroshi Yoshimura. Photos by Leah Carroll Fleet Foxes – Crack Up I adore Fleet Foxes, their first two albums will always hold a special place in my heart and after a seven-year hiatus they somehow came back with an album that was somehow better than its predecessors. Crack Up is a masterpiece, the experimental elements, the string arrangements and vocal performances from Robin Pecknold. From beginning till end…

  • Track Record: Dan Walsh (Fixity)

    February 14, 2023 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record, Cork-based multi-instrumentalist Dan Walsh selects the records that have left a lasting impression on his life from The Spotnicks to Steve Kuhn. Photos by John Sheehy The Spotnicks – Spotlight in the Spotnicks Swedish surf rock with spaceman costumes. Absolutely ideal. These guys used radio waves to connect their wireless guitars back in the 1960s. They also put together surf versions of local folks songs when touring the world. Heroes. Bruce Haack – Electric Lucifer Bruce Haack is a big deal and rocks hard with his powerful machines. An incredibly ambitious album for its time…

  • Track Record: Robbie Stickland

    December 22, 2022 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record, Robbie Stickland selects the records that have left a lasting impression on his life from Angel Olsen to Big Star. Photos by Kate Lawlor. Angel Olsen- My Woman It was late 2016, I had just suffered what can only be described as an epic heartbreak. As I walked through this new maelstrom thrusted upon me, this album descended from the heavens, put its hand on my shoulder, looked me in the eye and said “I know.” Angel Olsen is a master of hard truths via delicate expression and this record best showcases that. I…

  • Track Record: Alanah Smith (Problem Patterns)

    December 1, 2022 - By 

    Alanah Smith from Belfast-based feminist queerpunks Problem Patterns selects the albums that left a huge impression on her life from Bikini Kill to Charly Bliss. Photos by Jane Donnelly. Dark Times – Give Dark Times are a band who reinvigorated my love for punk, and more specifically, made me want to try my hand at it properly again. I’m fairly certain I’ve put them on every single list when anyone asks me about influences for Problem Patterns. I found their song, ‘Girl Hate’ years ago, which just blew my mind when I first heard it. It was just a chaotic…

  • Track Record: Laura Sheary (Kyoto Love Hotel)

    November 10, 2022 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record, Laura Sheary from Kyoto Love Hotel selects the records that have left a huge impression on her, from Sylvan Esso to Sinead O’Connor. Photos by Jane Donnelly Sylvan Esso – Free Love There’s a couple of Sylvan Esso bangers on this as always, but I’m particularly fond of the slightly more downtempo songs with the subtle beats, rich textures, and warm vocals. Amelia Meath’s voice and melodies are gorgeous – they’re nostalgic and full of light. I find her phrasing really interesting too, the way she lingers on or moves between words seems to…

  • Track Record: Robbie Brady (Melts)

    October 20, 2022 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record, Melts organ/synth man Robbie Brady selects the records that have greatly influenced his life from Hawkwind to Harmonia and beyond. Photos by Leah Carroll Brian Eno – Another Green World AGW is a thing of unearthly beauty. Of his pre-ambient period, he hit the nail on the head with this one. “I’ll come running” and “Big Ship” are two of the highest points on this pretty flawless record. Harmonia – Musik Von Harmonia Hypnotic krautrock at its best. They made two incredible albums but this one just captures the magic of the Rother and…

  • Track Record: Peter Curtin

    October 6, 2022 - By 

    RTÉ and Worldwide FM DJ and producer Peter Curtin selects the records that have left a lasting impression on his life. Peter recently released a compilation through All City Records called This Way focusing on emerging Irish artists. Check it below. Photos by Jamie Moore Minnie Riperton – Come To My Garden Is there a better Minnie Riperton album than this? The strings, the arrangements and that voice, that voice, that voice…2022 we are told promises to be the summer of Charles Stepney, with unreleased music by the legendary producer being released for the first time but this album which he…

  • Track Record: Aoife Wolf

    September 6, 2022 - By 

    Fast-rising Irish psych-folk Aoife Wolf gives a guided tour of the records she can’t live without, featuring My Bloody Valentine, Kate Bush, Grouper, John Martyn and more Photo by Jane Donnelly My Bloody Valentine – Loveless There’s that saying that talking about art is like dancing about architecture. I don’t often feel that I have a lot to say about the music I love but a hell of a lot to feel about it. When I really like a sound I feel like I can’t get close enough to it like I want to drink it or bathe in it,…

  • Track Record: Arthur Itis

    June 16, 2022 - By 

    Cork shapeshifter par excellence Arthur Pawsey, aka Arthur Itis, gives a guided tour to the weird and wonderful wax that have shaped his musical life Photo by Celeste Burdon Dr. Roger Payne – Songs Of The Humpback Whale This is a mega-special sound research album that makes for unreal ambient. Dr. Payne is mad for how animals echolocate, particularly owls and bats. He discovered that certain moths know that bats are screaming at them and can evade being munched. He was the first to record Humpback whale songs. Also you will recognise one of our whale friends from Kate Bush’s…

  • Track Record: Junior Brother

    April 25, 2022 - By 

    Co. Kerry experimental folk trailblazer Ronan Kealy aka Junior Brother handpicks a selection of records that have left an indelible imprint on his music and life Photo by Leah Carroll Planxty – The Woman I Loved So Well Whenever I stick this album on, without fail I become lost in its world of folk characters, and in its landscape of field, castle, ditch and twilight. The whistle tune at the end of the final song, ‘Little Musgrave’, is as close to the sound of ascending to heaven as I’ve ever heard on record. Kate Bush – Hounds of Love Like…