• Stream: James Joys – A Constellation Of Bargained Parts

    March 6, 2019 - By 

    For any number of avertible reasons, there are criminally underrated artists sprawled right across the island of Ireland, and none more than James Joys. The Belfast composer, musician and producer (real name James Thompson) is someone whose emphatic, masterfully-woven craft operates “somewhere between the concrète and the kinetic.” A Constellation Of Bargained Parts takes that particular turn-of-phrase and transmits it as a full-blown reality. Teaming up with the Codetta Choir and vocalist Peter Devlin – who Joys also makes music with via the guise of the exceptional Ex-Isles – the musician spans choral, electroacoustic, postmodern classic and electronic worlds to deliver five powerful “modern lamentations” that,…

  • Resident Evil 2 (Capcom, Multiformat)

    March 6, 2019 - By 

    Some videogames attain immortality status and their greatness can never be questioned by lowly humans. The likes of Jet Set Willy, Oblivion and Super Metroid are spoken of in the same hushed, reverent tones as “classic” albums such as OK Computer, Revolver and In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, and gamers still grow misty-eyed when speaking of when they first booted up the console and inserted the appropriate cartridge. Often included in those hallowed halls of wonder is Resident Evil 2, first released twenty years ago on the original Playstation. Yes, it had wonky polygonal graphics and excruciating loading times – the animation of an opening door was used to…

  • The Aftermath

    March 6, 2019 - By 

    To imagine the level of destruction and ruthless vengeance that was wrought upon Germany in the later stages of WW2, as it was facing defeat, is a hard thing to do. But this is one thing that director James Kent (Testament Of Youth) achieves exceptionally well, with the help of Ridley Scott in the producer’s chair. And while the performances from the three leads are all impressive, in particular with Kiera Knightley and Alexander Skarsgård, The Aftermath comes across as a predictable, paper-thin adaptation of the Rhidian Brook novel of the same name. The Aftermath tells the story of a…

  • Preview: Brian Irvine Ensemble @ Brilliant Corners Jazz Festival

    March 5, 2019 - By 

    It was at last year’s Brilliant Corners when the Brian Irvine Ensemble ended their 6-year hiatus, and for good reason. Irvine cuts a singular figure not just in Northern Irish music, but worldwide, as one who embodies the spirit of the perpetually open-minded Brilliant Corners and all that jazz music encompasses, by pushing ever forward, with only a slight glance at anything that preceded.  The ensemble comprises around a dozen in number, drawn from varying backgrounds of contemporary classical, jazz & improvised music in Europe & Russia. As with many of artists comprising the Brilliant Corners 2019 lineup, their performances give themselves entirely over to neither formless improvisation…

  • 19 for ’19: TAU

    March 6, 2019 - By 

    We continue 19 for ’19, our feature looking at Irish acts we’re convinced are going places in 2019, with Berlin-based Irish artist Shaun Mulrooney aka TAU. Photo by Brian Mulligan Though it’s early days, come December, you’ll almost certainly find the second album from Berlin-based Irish musician Shaun Mulrooney aka TAU featuring high in myriad end-of-year lists. The follow-up to 2016’s TAU TAU TAU – a release whose recording started on the day Bowie died – TAU & The Drones Of Praise sprung forth last month as a sorcerous statement of intent. The genre-mangling psych experimentalism of TAU (who, with Mulrooney at…

  • Video Premiere: Jake Regan – Over It

    March 5, 2019 - By 

    On Friday night, the packed-out downstairs venue of Dublin’s International Bar played host the first ever music video exhibition by C-47. As well as delivering a stellar debut solo set on the night, Dublin singer-songwriter’s Jake Regan’s ‘Over It’ proved a highlight among the various videos that were screened. Produced by C-47, directed and edited by John D Breen, produced by M.A.K and featuring cinematography by Helton Nóbrega, the video – which features Regan and Eilish Malon from Girlfriend among others – was shot on Wicklow beaches and in the Dublin mountains over two days. While many will know Regan from Dublin band Segrasso, ‘Over It’…

  • Stream: Kyoto Love Hotel – The Shapes That Bond You

    March 5, 2019 - By 

    Marrying sublime autotuned vocals with balmy synth-pop production, ‘The Shapes That Bond You’ finds Tipperary duo Joe Geaney and Laura Sheary aka Kyoto Love Hotel confidently expand upon their increasingly distinctive brand of woozy nocturnalism. Doubling as the duo’s strongest single effort to date – and one of the Irish singles of the year thus far – it’s a brisk and nuanced gem that instantly demands a repeated listen. Keep up to date with Kyoto Love Hotel here.