Vantastival 2018 at Beaulieu House in Drogheda, Co. Louth featuring live performances from Thumper, Loah, The Stunning, No Oil Paintings, Dreaming of Jupiter and more. Photos by Kristy Hal
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A couple of weeks back, we shared ‘Cab Sad’ by Dublin three-piece Oh Joy, a song we said captured “intent, psychic wanderlust and heartbreak across 141 all-too-short seconds”. Now we’re pleased to present a first listen to the release from which it’s taken. Officially out on Friday (June 8), Good Grief is an EP brimming with the emotionally-charged hallmarks that make their knowingly self-deprecating “mope-rock” craft nigh so irresistible. From the aforementioned lead single to masterfully melancholic closer ‘Pepsi’ via ‘Volunteer’ and ‘Hot Strange It All Became’, the band have, across fifteen minutes, comfortably confirmed their arrival as one of the country’s most vital bands. Oh…
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In case you haven’t gathered, we’re big fans of Dublin shoegaze/dream-pop band Galants. So much so, that we ranked their self-titled EP as one of our favourites of 2017. Now, the four-piece have returned with their new single ‘In Vain’, lifted from their forthcoming second EP Follow. Set for release in Autumn via Zen Ten records, the new EP was partly recorded in a north Dublin attic before being placed in the capable hands of producer Dan Doherty at Darklands Audio. The track is a typically bright, emotive number from the group which takes “a sonic cue from from Ride and The…
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We’re big fans of Out on a Limb Records here at The Thin Air. Back in 2013, we reflected upon their decade in the game – now, a few moons and several releases later, Limerick’s finest indie imprint are celebrating 15 years in existence by hosting Growing Pains, featuring a remarkable line-up of Irish musicians, at Dolans in Limerick on Saturday, June 9. Lining up for what’s set to be a thoroughly well-soundtracked knees-up in celebration of OOAL growing up to be, in their words, a bold teenager are: Fluffy Coke // Jogging // Junior Brother // Katie Kim // Mankyy presents:…
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A lute and drum kit doesn’t sound like a combination that should really work, but in this post-genre age almost anything goes. And, when the musicians in question are veritable virtuosos, as is the case with Cretan laouto player George Xylouris and Australian-born, New York-based drummer Jim White, then the results are nothing short of spectacular. This duo already had a dozen European gigs under its belt in support of its third album, Mother (Bella Union, 2017), which was just as well, as the late arrival of the lute-like lauto-temporarily lost in transit-meant there was no time for a sound-check.…
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What can one expect from Jenny Hval? To date, her career is comparable to one big game of whack-a-mole. At any one moment, the Norwegian artist could pop up in collaborations, most recently with Håvard Volden for the Lost Girls EP, or perhaps as the author of a novel (Paradise Rot, arriving October). Her solo work can largely be categorised under avant-garde, but flits between a range of electronic, jazz, pop, ambient and folk influences, making Hval one of the most freely creative artists of this generation. For someone so strikingly studious, it’s hard to imagine where the inspiration comes…
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Nine years ago, Nardwuar The Human Serviette interviewed Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes and then drummer, Josh Tillman. The exuberant Canadian musician-turned-journalist acknowledged Pecknold’s penchant for performing in a seated position and commented that he had revived this style. Tillman, dissatisfied with the lack of attention, interjected, “I kind of resent being overlooked in this category because I also [perform] on a chair.” This casual exchange, small though it may seem, provided us with an early indication of someone unwilling to relinquish the spotlight. Nine years later, Josh Tillman’s ego abides. He’s transformed from the fabled “horny, man-child, Mamma’s boy”…
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The sun is out and the mighty Dott are back with another summery tune. ‘Bleached Blonde’ is lifted directly from their new album Heart Swell, set for release on Graveface Records next week. The song is a slice of fuzzy-pop written about Anna McCarthy’s love of surfing and her self confessed lack of real talent for it. It’s a treat. Play loud. Pre-order Heart Well here.
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In this special installment of Track Record all five members of Just Mustard select two records each to discuss, from Sufjan Stevens to Aphex Twin. Mags Godflesh – Post Self Inspired by the dreary urban landscapes of Birmingham, Godflesh are the band who pioneered the fusion of industrial and heavy metal together into a dsytopian whole. It was upon hearing their 1989 seminal classic masterpiece ‘Streetcleaner’ that enamoured me with their music and though I do not yet own it on record, their 2017 album ‘Post Self’ is arguably just as powerful. Post Self is an outstanding achievement in that…
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Ham Sandwich live at the Olmypia Theatre in Dublin with support from True Tides and Eve Belle. Photos by Kristina Hajdu