• EP Stream: Myronik – North/South

    October 10, 2016 - By 

    A six-track “audio diary” borne from travelling New Zealand for a year, North/South by 25 year old Dublin producer Liam Myers AKA Myronik features collected samples of various sounds and environments, from birds to instruments to various sound objects that Myers tried to recreate the emotions that “this amazing country evoked in me.” But far from an ad hoc series of tracks made simply to time-freeze a fond journey, the release is a masterfully assembled document of pastoral ambient, understated electronica and inspired experimentalism. In case you missed it, check out our Track Record with Myronik here. North/South by Myronik

  • The Thin Air Tracks of the Week: J Mascis, Solar Bears, Thee Oh Sees, Enemies etc.

    October 6, 2016 - By 

    You know, we got thinking: three years in, it’s really about time that we started herding up our very favourite tracks – Irish and international – and putting them in one place, each and every week. That very obvious thought developed into a very simple plan (ten or so positively must-hear tracks every Thursday) and here we are. This is it. You are here. Dig below. Enemies – ‘itsallwaves’ RIP Enemies. Don’t miss their farewell show at Vicar Street in December. J Mascis – ‘Waltz 2’ (Elliott Smith cover) It probably shouldn’t work but it does. Go here, man. Crystal…

  • Dublin Digital Radio Launch Party

    October 6, 2016 - By 

    On Saturday, October 8, Dublin Digital Radio will host a BYOB launch party at Dublin’s Jigsaw in the company of Breen, Noid The Droid, Bukeepsie Boys, Daire Carolan, Dream Cycles, Cáit, Melly and Ellll (pictured above). Kicking off around 2pm, the launch 0 which will be streamed via DDR’s new website here – will run on to around 10pm. Entry is through donation (suggested between €5 – €10) and all proceeds will go towards studio equipment, rent, bills etc. Dedicated to “providing a quality platform for the various communities striving to create a socially and culturally progressive city in a landscape netted…

  • Gigs of the Week: Stars of The Lid, Twitch, David Holmes, HWCH & Cathy Davey

    October 6, 2016 - By 

    While this year’s Hard Working Class Heroes in Dublin is undoubtedly the biggest draw in the country this weekend, it seems we’ve chose a particularly to re-launch our Gigs of the Week feature, a weekly round-up looking at (would you believe?) some of the very best and downright unmissable shows taking place – North and South – over the next few days. Cathy Davey Spirit Store, Dundalk Friday, October 7 Having just released her beguiling fourth studio album, New Forest, Cathy Davey (pictured above) has quickly re-established herself as one of the country’s most intriguing solo propositions. Also playing host to…

  • Premiere: Beach – Ono Noh

    October 5, 2016 - By 

    One of our must-see acts at Hard Working Class Heroes this weekend, Dublin five-piece Beach aren’t likely to be neatly defined any time soon. Recently proclaimed one of the “most interesting prospects on the Irish scene” the Dave Barrett-fronted band certainly have a sturdy leg to stand on, blending dusky slacker rock, electronica and contorted psychedelia on tracks including ‘Moon Smoke’, ‘Arabia’ and, most recently, the brilliantly bastardised jazz-punk of ‘Donuts’. Exploring more ruminating territory, the band’s new single ‘Ono Noh’ conjures Black Heart Procession-like lamenting via Depeche Modesque atmospherics and – particularly Barrett and backing vocalist/lead guitarist Alex Conway’s vocals – Queens of the Stone Age at their more sober and restrained. With another single…

  • Solar Bears Announce Split, Release Final Track ‘Across Yesteryear’

    October 4, 2016 - By 

    Hands down one of the country’s most consistently compelling and forward-moving electronic acts, Dublin duo John Kowalski and Rian Trench AKA Solar Bears have announced they have split after 8 years and 3 albums. Very kindly cushioning the blow, the pair have simultaneously unveiled their final single effort, ‘Across Yesteryear’, a track betraying a distinctly psych-folk aesthetic that proves, even at the eleventh hour, Trench and Kowalski were always breaking through new terrain. Speaking of their split, the band said, “We have decided to call it a day after 8 years together. Thank you to everyone that listened and came to…

  • Playlist: 15 Must-See Acts at Hard Working Class Heroes This Weekend

    October 3, 2016 - By 

    Right up there with the country’s leading celebrations and showcases of homegrown, independent music, Hard Working Class Heroes will take over several venues in Dublin from October 6-8. With 100 acts once again independently selected to perform, we have well and truly racked our brains to whittle that imposing list down to 10 must-see acts this weekend. Tickets for HWCH ’16 are still available to buy here. Oh Boland Where: The Hub When: Saturday, October 8 (7.30pm) Pale Rivers Where: The Workman’s Club When: Friday, October 7 (7.50pm) Maija Sofia Where: Wigwam When: Saturday, October 8 (10.30pm) Rusangano Family Where: The Chocolate…

  • Premiere: Nocturnes – Whale Song

    October 3, 2016 - By 

    Inspired by the song whales use to communicate, ‘Whale Song’ by Sligo singer-songwriter Pearse McGloughlin AKA Nocturnes draws parallels between these great creatures of the ocean with our human selves. An oceanic ode that borders on the hymnal in its sublime, altogether delicate delivery and nigh on reverential tone, the single is accompanied by a video courtesy of McGloughlin’s brother, Kevin. Forging animated footage and live action footage to impressive effect,”creating an imagined astro-aquatic environment which is both the sea and the cosmos, the aquatic and the astronomic”, the video was borne from lengthy discussion between the brothers. Kevin said: “After many a chat with Pearse over…

  • Premiere: Pale Rivers – August 6th

    October 3, 2016 - By 

    As debut singles go ‘August 6th’ by Cork five-piece Pale Rivers is a real statement of intent. Accompanied by a typically slick (and warning: flashing imagery-heavy) video by Brendan Canty’s masterful Feel Good Lost, the track – with its subtle synth textures, harmonic flourishes and burrowing chorus refrain – is cunningly anthemic alt-pop at its finest. The track is the first in a string of forthcoming singles produced with Gavin Glass in his studio and mixed by Kieran Lynch, who has worked with U2, Elvis Costello and R.E.M. With more shows soon set to be announced, you can catch Pale Rivers – who will almost certainly be…

  • Premiere: New Pope – The Claddagh

    October 3, 2016 - By 

    Almost like a victim of self-sabotage in the vein of Dostoyevsky or Sartre, Galway’s David Boland AKA New Pope confronts the sheer nausea of the dreaded next day in the Gavin Martyn-directed video for his new single ‘The Claddagh’. But despite the track’s shroud of heartbreak via wonderfully wearied reflections and crushing guitar shapes, Boland sieves gold from the quite literal stoney shore in subtle, masterfully soul-lifting fashion. Boland said: “The Claddagh, meaning “stoney shore”, was once an old fishing village in the heart of Galway city. It is still a little area with a lot of character and a confusing layout. The song is about falling for someone…