• Before Machines announce split

    September 12, 2013 - By 

    Having released their superb debut album, Tundra, at the start of the year, Belfast indie-rock four-piece Before Machines have announced that they are to part was after a final Belfast show next month. The band released the following statement: “On October 2nd, Before Machines will play Limelight 2. This will be our last performance. A few weeks ago the two Dans (Dan Larkin, Dan Black) announced their intentions to leave the band, confirming what we had all been feeling in our hearts for some time – that Before Machines are over. The release of the Tundra album earlier this year was…

  • EP Stream: Feet For Wings – Homes

    September 12, 2013 - By 

    Having released a studio single and live track over the last year,Belfast alt-acoustic four-piece Feet For Wings have unveiled their debut five-track EP, Homes. Recorded and produced by Andrew Dougherty of Sonic Visuals Recording Studio, the band are streaming the release via Bandcamp. It is also available to purchase a minimum of £4. The artwork for the EP was painted and designed by Glenn Kennedy. Check out his stuff here. Stream Homes in full below. Homes by Feet For Wings

  • Radio K

    September 20, 2013 - By 

    The atomic symbol of potassium, the maligned protagonist in Franz Kafka’s The Castle and the unspecified superior feature of a certain breakfast cereal: the letter K denotes and relates to many things. Tentatively established back in 2006, Radio K has steadily established itself as Belfast’s go-to weekly alternative club, set in the suitably underground surroundings of the basement of Belfast’s oldest bar, McHughs at Custom House Square. Casting our eye back to its foundations and the years that have since passed, we catch up with the club’s main players to trace the supremely soundtracked trajectory of a Belfast social institution.…

  • Gig of the week: Champion Sound Showcase

    September 11, 2013 - By 

    Our gig of the week this week is set to be an outright highlight of this year’s CultureTECH in Derry/Londonderry: a showcase by Belfast-based label Champion Sound at the most excellent Sandinos on Friday September 13 featuring performances two of the label’s most exciting names. Fast-rising Derry electronic artist Ryan Vail (above) and decidedly anonymous producer Unknown lead the way on the night. Visuals coming courtesy of award-winning Belfast collective DSNT, the labels bosses of both Planet Mu (Tom Quaye) and Champion Sound (Lyndon Stephens) will also perform DJ sets on the night Tickets are five pound at the door. Check out ‘Fade’ by Ryan Vail below.

  • Exclusive stream: The Late David Turpin – Bear of a Star

    September 11, 2013 - By 

    On the eve of the release of his forthcoming third album, we have an exclusive stream of ‘Bear of a Star’ by Dublin-based singer-songwriter The Late David Turpin. Having already released two albums under his own name, Turpin – who recently died for “approximately died for 28 seconds” – will release We Belong Dead on September 13. To celebrate the release, Turpin will perform the album in full with a chamber choir  on September 15 at Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre.  ‘Bear of a Star’ strikes a rather brilliant balance between Beck, Eels and Of Montreal, with hints of Wire and Soul Coughing. Ahead of our interview with Turpin on…

  • Watch: Arcade Fire – Reflektor

    September 9, 2013 - By 

    After considerable anticipation, Montreal indie band Arcade Fire have unveiled the interactive video for their new single, Reflektor. Easily one of the more interesting promos of its kind, the video allow viewers to alter effects in the clips via either their mobile, tablet or mouse. Reflektor is our on October 29 on Merge records. Watch (or direct) the incredible video here.

  • Recap: Hello Skinny, Dig, Survival Knife, etc.

    September 9, 2013 - By 

    This week’s installment of Recap – our weekly look back at the best songs released the week previous – is arguably our most diverse collection to date. Featuring three Irish acts of varying stature and attack, and a new track by a band that describe themselves as… wait for it… “post-music”. More Than Conquerors – Try-Antlers Ahead of the release of their debut album next month, Northern Irish four-piece More Than Conquerors released new tracks, ‘Jaw’ and ‘Try-Antlers’, on Wednesday afternoon. My favourite of the two is the latter – a brilliantly brooding distillation of the band’s increasingly inimitable alt-rock shtick. Dig –…

  • Video exclusive: FOG – Paranoids

    September 9, 2013 - By 

    Belfast-based rock band FOG (otherwise curiously known as Friends of Granleese) have unveiled the Sarah McGlinchey-directed video to their new single, ‘Paranoids’ – and we have an exclusive first look. The track – recorded at Omagh’s Outland Studios in June – will feature on the band’s forthcoming debut album Hollow & The Grace, due for release in late October. The track is also available to download via Soundcloud here. Check out the video below.

  • Watch: Blue Whale – Was

    September 9, 2013 - By 

    Belfast jazz-punk quartet Blue Whale have released the video for ‘Was’, the lead single from their forthcoming self-titled EP. Crated by Stuart Sloan, the video splices footage of the band performing the track with an array of contorted, skittering, warped images. The band’s self-titled EP will be releaesd on 7″ vinyl on Friday, September 20 at Culture Night Belfast, when the band will be performing a “rooftop tour” in the City Centre from 4-8pm followed by their EP launch party in St. Anne’s Car Park at 10pm. Watch the video for ‘Was’ Below.

  • Watch: Axis Of – The World’s Oldest Computer

    September 6, 2013 - By 

    As part of their “Sharing St. Kilda” Day – and ahead of their performance at the fourth annual Tweed Fest tomorrow – North Coast three-piece Axis Of have unveiled the video to their new single, ‘The World’s Oldest Computer’. For all of today, the Ewen Friers-fronted band have asked the fans to the spread the word about all things Axis Of via social media and other platforms. Earlier today, they announced details of a forthcoming thirty-two date tour. See below for the dates. September 7: Ballymoney – Tweedfest 11: Dublin – Workmans w/ Jetplane Landing 12: Dublin – Tower Records…