• Album Premiere: Exploding Eyes – Exploding Eyes

    January 18, 2017 - By 

    In his review of this, the Dublin progressive garage-rock trio’s self-titled debut album, TTA’s Trev Moran said Exploding Eyes “greets you with a welcoming invitation to something a little less serious and a lot more fun.” Sure enough, the ten-track release is something of a feature-length celebration of cutting loose without overthinking the dynamism that makes their craft so instantly gratifying. Having formed just over a year ago, the band – comprised of members of The Things, Cheap Freaks, Humanzi and The Mighty Stef – bursts forth from a lineage spearheaded by masters Blue Cheer, Mountain and Cream on the likes of…

  • EP Premiere: NERVVS – A Mixtape of Love Vol. One

    January 18, 2017 - By 

    Dublin’s finest self-proclaimed “sick-wave” (noise rock, to you and I) duo NERVVS caught our attention back in 2015 with their debut EP, Death House. In the two years since, the pair have been active on the scene in Dublin, sharing scenes with some TTA favourites including That Snaake and Naoise Roo. Produced by Chris Barry, who has worked with Myles Manley and Cat Palace, their forthcoming EP A Mixtape of Love Vol. One is – to get a little alliterative – a fervent, five-track slab of first-rate, fucked-off fury conjuring the likes of Nomeansno, Bleach-era Nirvana, Fugazi, Butthole Surfers, early Flipper and Sebadoh at their…

  • Premiere: Deadman’s Ghost – Antidote

    January 17, 2017 - By 

    Shot at various scenic locations in Northern Ireland including the Belfast hills, Lough Shannagh in the Mournes and Gobbins Path, the video for ‘Antidote’ by Belfast musician, producer and DJ Jason Mills AKA Deadman’s Ghost is a fitting accompaniment to a song that grasps forth in attempt to move on from old habits, thoughts and attachment. A highlight from Deadman Ghost’s third album Hypocritical Oath, which is out now via Ephem Aural, you can have a first look at Mills and Ben Jones’ video for the single below.

  • Glen Hansard @ Seamus Heaney HomePlace, Bellaghy

    January 17, 2017 - By 

    “Imagining a hero On some muddy compound, His gift like a slingstone Whirled for the desperate.” Seamus Heaney – Exposure Having spent the last while in the eye of the Apollo House maelstrom and the ensuing bureaucracy that continues to surround it, the unassuming presence of Glen Hansard in Seamus Heaney HomePlace this evening is – before he even plays a note – testament to the character of a man and artist who doesn’t perceive a hierarchy between musician and listener; celebrity and fan; government and citizen. In much the same way one of his most potent influences in Heaney never entertained the…

  • Output Belfast Reveal 2017 Line-up

    January 16, 2017 - By 

    Set to return to the city for its third year in a row on Thursday, February 16, the line-up for this year’s Output Belfast – the country’s largest music conference – has been revealed. Organised by Belfast City Council in partnership with Generator NI, the conference – which takes place between the MAC and the Oh Yeah Music Centre – will include panel discussions, music sessions, workshops and speed networking events as well as keynote speeches from award-winning musicians and managers of globally-recognised talent. With specifics venues, line-ups and times to be announced, a series of free shows hosted by the…

  • Premiere: The Mad Dalton – Oh Marseille

    January 15, 2017 - By 

    Taken from his forthcoming debut album, which is set for release at some point this year, ‘Oh Marseille’ is the latest single from Belfast-based Scots-Canadian singer-songwriter Peter Sumadh AKA The Mad Dalton. Featuring Zarah Fleming on cello and Ciaran “Scruffy” Gallagher on accordion, the track – a gently affecting folk-classical ballad produced by James Lyttle at Lisburn’s Millbank Studios – is something of a delicate, more formalised departure from previous material, including October single ‘The Devil Came To Derry’. Have a first listen to the single and check out Dog Kennel Productions’ video below. ‘Oh Marseille’ is officially released on Saturday, January…

  • Run The Jewels Set For Dublin and Belfast

    January 16, 2017 - By 

    Having surprise released their self-titled third studio album on Christmas Day, Run The Jewels have announced that they’ll kick-start the forthcoming European leg of a World tour with a brace of Irish shows. Killer Mike and El-P will stop off at Belfast’s Limelight on March 28 (poster above has incorrect date) and Dublin’s Olympia on March 30. Tickets go on sale this Friday, January 20th at 10am. Go here for Caolan Coleman’s review of RTJ3.

  • Monday Mixtape: Alana Henderson

    January 16, 2017 - By 

    In the latest installment of Monday Mixtape, fast-rising, Belfast-based cellist and songwriter Alana Henderson selects some of her all-time favourite songs from the likes of Nick Drake, Crooked Still and Ani DiFranco. Ane Brun – Big in Japan I love her reworking of this 80s hit. Her voice is so pure, it gives me chills. Nick Drake – Cello Song Had me at ‘cello’, but there’s more to it than just that. I don’t think anyone can match Nick Drake for gorgeous melancholy. The intimacy of the lyrics in ‘Cello Song’ is what really floors me. Arthur Russell – Wild Combination Arthur Russell,…

  • Premiere: Feather Beds – ‘Headache Dreams’

    January 13, 2017 - By 

    Back in August of 2015, we premiered Ah Stop, a stellar, four-track EP from Dublin producer Michael Orange AKA Feather Beds. Seventeen months on, Orange has resurfaced with the news that he will release a new album, Blooming, later this year. To tide us over in the meantime, we’re very pleased to premiere its first single, ‘Headache Dreams’, a whirling, tripped-out surge of electronica summoning Porcelain Raft, Jape and Panda Bear. We’re big fans. Feather Beds should and hopefully will be massive. Have a first listen below.

  • Video Premiere: Saramai – Heavenly

    January 13, 2017 - By 

    Having popped up on the likes of Hard Working Class Heroes and Other Voices last year, Co. Meath duo Samarai straddle a wonderfully inviting line between longing chamber pop and straight-up balladry. The third track on their sublime Magnetic North EP, the ‘Heavenly’ distils the duo’s essence to a song conjuring the subtle, gossamer-like emotive power of This Mortal Coil’s ‘Song to the Siren’ and ‘Mysteries of Love’ by Julee Cruise. Currently working on a new single which they will release in the coming weeks with their eyes on a full-length album, Saramai play Dublin’s Workman’s Club on Tuesday for Syrias…