• Stream: Ryan Vail – Shadows

    September 13, 2017 - By 

    Having released one of the finest Irish electronic albums of 2016 in For Every Silence, Derry’s Ryan Vail is back with one of his strongest single efforts to date, ‘Shadows’. Released via Belfast imprint Quiet Arch, the track’s warm synth lines and glitchy textures forge strong bed for Vail’s words to hit home with masterfully restrained force. Released via Belfast imprint Quiet Arch, the track’s warm synth lines, glitchy textures and subtly propulsive beats create a quietly rapt bed for Vail’s words to hit home with typically restrained force. Sealing the deal is an outro blending the aforementioned with cello courtesy of Laura…

  • Stream: Just Mustard – Tainted

    September 13, 2017 - By 

    Dundalk five-piece Just Mustard are a band whose cloistered craft mines influence from noise, trip-hop, electronic and lo-fi sounds. With their debut album set for release in early 2018, new single ‘Tainted’ – which was self-produced, recorded by Chris Ryan and David Noonan, mixed by Noonan and mastered by Tony Fitz – is a  ‘gaze drenched effort whose repetitive, smoggy swoon and tremolo-armed spell marry to propel a track made for soundtracking solitary, stoned night walks reflecting on what needs to be done. We’re fans. Tainted [single] by Just Mustard

  • Bicep – Bicep

    September 13, 2017 - By 

    As well known in recent years for their 4/4 bangers as their spacey, off-kilter musical segues from the dance floor to the chill-out room, it’s not entirely surprising that Belfast native, London-based duo Bicep have found a home for their eponymous debut LP on Ninja Tune. Historically, the label’s indie ethos has allowed those artists straddling experimental electronica and the left-field to develop a cult following before propelling them into the greater public depth-of-field. What’s interesting here is that Bicep, having already garnered such an intensely outspoken following on home soil in a relatively short space of time (all things considered),…

  • Fifth Hit The North Festival Announced

    September 13, 2017 - By 

    Returning for its fifth year, Hit The North will return to the streets of Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter across September 21 and 22. Established by Seedhead Arts and the Community Arts partnership back in 203 as a response to vacant spaces along North Street, the free street art festival has been the biggest event of its kind on the island, bringing together some of the biggest and best names in the field from home and much further afield. This year is no different: from Manchester duo Nomad Clan, Dan Kitchener and Irony to KVLR, Friz and JMK, amongst many others, this year’s…

  • Ryan Adams @ Olympia Theatre, Dublin

    September 13, 2017 - By 

    Walking into the main room of The Olympia Theatre, you would almost feel as if you are on the set of a 1980s Sci-fi movie as enormous Fender guitar amps, stacks of old cathode Ray TVs and stuffed tigers occupy the stage. As the no doubt Neil Young Rust Never Sleeps-inspired props loom over the audience it makes the room feel really small. This cranks up the excitement levels about being in such an intimate setting with Ryan Adams. Karen Elson opens the proceeding this evening. Touring with Adams on the back of her sophomore LP Double Roses, Elson and…

  • Exhibition: The Way Things Go: An Homage @ Butler Gallery

    September 26, 2017 - By 

    2017 marks the 30th anniversary of Swiss duo Peter Fischli & David Weiss’ The Way Things Go. The hugely influential video piece serves as the departure point for the latest exhibition in Kilkenny’s Butler Gallery. At it’s core The Way Things Go saw everyday items pushed outside their comfort zone to perform roles and tasks not suited for their original creation, and tasks it should be noted that they were able to fully complete, querying the limitations we impose on materials we formulate. While in full-colour and sound, the piece drew on the almost slapstick era of silent films from the vaudeville era of…

  • Any Joy – Cycles

    September 13, 2017 - By 

    Following its digital release earlier in the year, Cork psych-tinted post-punk outfit Any Joy release their debut album, Cycles on vinyl. The five piece, formed at the start of this year by Oisin Dineen, self-released the album earlier in 2017 digitally, Cycles. With all the hallmarks of a great post-punk indie rock record – glistening guitars, anxiety-fuelled lyrics centred around the cyclical nature of thought – its psychedelic hue, peppered with documentary samples & unexpected instrumentation while maintaining a healthy minimalism that avoids any air of pomposity, à la Parquet Courts; you can add Any Joy to the list of essential post-punk & psychedelic bands from a city…

  • Mogwai – Every Country’s Sun

    September 11, 2017 - By 

    With Mogwai’s soundtrack career ever-burgeoning and winning them new plaudits 20 years after the release of their debut, Young Team, you’d forgive them for taking a break from regular studio albums for a while. This soundtrack work has given them a new sense of purpose, and while 2014’s Rave Tapes was their highest charting album to date, it also earned them some of their most lukewarm reviews, the band themselves even conceding that it was somewhat underdeveloped. Not only that, but their 20th anniversary celebrations – consisting of a career spanning retrospective compilation and some of their most truly triumphant live shows ever…

  • Honesty and Conviction: An Interview with Dave Hanratty of NO ENCORE

    September 11, 2017 - By 

    The country’s self-proclaimed “pre-eminent music podcast” NO ENCORE will once again take to the stage at Whelan’s on Thursday, September 28. Taking place as part of the inaugural Dublin Podcast Festival, the event will see hosts Dave Hanratty, Colm O’Regan and Craig Fitzpatrick record an episode live alongisde musical guests Overhead The Albatross, Daithi and Elaine Mai. Ahead of what’s sure to be a stellar evening on Wexford Street, Brian Coney talks to Dave Hanratty about the podcast’s conception, present and future. Go here to buy tickets to NO ENCORE Live II Hi, Dave. Take us back to the very…