• Premiere: I Am The Main Character – GOLD (I Die at the End)

    April 19, 2022 - By 

    “Man is the microcosm: I am my world.” Wittgenstein knew the craic when he penned these words back in 1916. A few moons later, Dublin’s premier (only?) “solipsism-core” band I Am The Main Character have taken the essence of the inward-peering avowal in question to its natural conclusion on ‘GOLD (I Die At The End)’. Smudging the lines between thrash-hop, mutant pop, trap and post-punk (no, not that kind) it’s a masterfully mangled effort from the supergroup of sorts. Influenced by the likes of Gilla Band, Lightning Bolt, and The Knife, they’re made up of Dublin DJ/producer Ben McKenna (Ben Bix, Meltybrains?, Sim Simma), Jay McNamara (TTA…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 22nd April

    April 22, 2022 - By 

    Spanning every corner of the island, here are the very tracks of the week, from Robocobra Quartet, Étáin, Tuath, Sinead O’Brien, Farah Elle and more Robocobra Quartet – Wellness Finding Forests – Hijacked Étáin – At Least One Tuath – Iarlais Iarlais by Tuath Sinead O’Brien – There Are Good Times Coming Farah Elle – Play It By Ear Play it by Ear by Farah Elle Jackie Beverly – Analog Radio Rosie Carney – break the ground Síomha – Infinite Space Fontaines D.C. – In ár gCroíthe go deo Slaney – Let Me Go By Garrett Laurie – Mississippi Jesus…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – April 15th

    April 15, 2022 - By 

    Check out the tracks of the week – many from brand new LPs from the likes of Electric Octopus, M(h)aol, Just Mustard, Trick Mist, Seacht Líne, Melts and more. Just Mustard – Mirrors M(h)aol – Desperation Trick Mist – The Junction Electric Octopus – St. Patrick’s Cough St. Patrick’s Cough by Electric Octopus Rooms In Time – Unstramantles Unstramantles by Rooms in Time Various Artists – Faoi Thalamh Records x ACLAÍ Palestine Faoi Thalamh x ACLAÍ Palestine – Various Artists Compilation by Faoi Thalamh Records Onion Boys – Strung Out On Chicken Seacht Líne – Unfenced Country Unfenced Country by…

  • Bob Vylan w/ Problem Patterns at The Deer’s Head, Belfast

    April 9, 2022 - By 

    Right in the middle of their “More Irish, More Blacks, More Dogs” tour of Ireland with Bob Vylan, Belfast represented a special date for Problem Patterns, a homecoming gig to show off their new strengths to a familiar audience. As mentioned during the set, the band just finished recording their debut and it showed. Opening straight away with their furious new single ‘Y.A.W (for Yes All Women)’, Problem Patterns left no doubt: they were on a warpath and they were well-prepared. Punk always relies on an unstable balance between unbridled rage and tight sound. You can excuse when one takes…

  • Pillow Queens – Leave The Light On

    April 11, 2022 - By 

    Pillow Queens’ sophomore album Leave the Light On smooths the cracks of their debut to unveil a near-perfect follow-up. Where In Waiting documented the rough transition from adolescence into adulthood through fleeting tales of young love and triumphs, Leave the Light On  pushes forward into something more settled. Through elegiac verses and changing perspectives, Pillow Queens construct a metaphorical space that inspects the cracks in its white picket fence. These anthems shine light on the marginalised and lonely as they navigate the mundane and everyday; it’s an album that yearns for the peace of domesticity, in a country that continuously…

  • Open Ear 2022

    April 8, 2022 - By 

    If there’s a better Irish music festival than Open Ear we honestly haven’t heard of it. Across 3-5th June, the supremely-curated weekender returns to the blissful environs of Sherkin Island off Cork for its first edition since 2019 (and what an unforgettable experience that was). With more acts yet to be announced for the June Bank Holiday blow-out, the festival have recently announced part A of this year’s line-up. Featuring a whole raft of TTA favourites, among them Acid Granny, Jane Deasy, Olivia Furey, the Department of Energy and Fulacht Fia, it’s another masterfully balanced mix of palette-spanning electronic and…