• Stream: J Mascis – Every Morning

    Dinosaur Jr. frontman and bona fide axe-wielding demigod (check that – God) J Mascis is streaming a new track, ‘Every Morning’. Taken from his forthcoming second solo album, Tied To A Star, the track is pretty much an alchemical blueprint of Mascis’ songwriting style – unmistakably languid vocals, masterfully simple lyrics (“Won’t you see me?”, evocative of “You won’t see me…” from Dinosaur Jr.’s ‘The Wagon‘) and his classically melodic, Neil Young-influenced lead lines. Tied To A Star is released on August 25. Stream ‘Every Morning’ below.

  • Watch: Go Swim – Animal

    The follow-up to their February single, ‘Call Sign’, Belfast-based indie pop five-piece Go Swim have released the video to ‘Animal’. Filmed in Belfast’s Belvoir forest, the video – featuring Jennifer Marshall and Dan Cullen – was directed by Darren Lee of Maverick Renegade. The concept of the video – which we shan’t ruin for you – was created by the band’s singer, Steve Smith. The track is taken from the band’s forthcoming EP of the same, set for release at White’s Tavern, Belfast on Friday, June 27. Go here to buy tickets and watch the video below.

  • Stream: Adebisi Shank – Big Unit

    Dublin instrumental rock trio Adebisi Shank are streaming a victorious new track, ‘Big Unit’, via the Sargent House Soundcloud page. Taken from the band’s forthcoming third album – the naturally talented This is the Third Album of a band called Adebisi Shank (artwork above) – it is nigh on four minutes of the band’s increasingly inimitable, dazzlingly unravelling, meticulously imaginative post-rock. Stream ‘Big Unit’ below and keep an eye out for our upcoming Inbound piece with the band – coming soon.

  • Watch: Making Monsters – Nosebleed

    Taken from their forthcoming EP, Attention, Derry alt/metal band Making Monsters have unveiled the video for their new single, ‘Nosebleed’. Directed by Darren Lee of Maverick Renegade Productions, the video – a very well shot and edited visual accompaniment to the track features Dee Kivelehan from Sandstone. The single will be released via Death By Records on June 16. Making Monsters will kick off a UK and Irish tour one June 13. Check out the poster for all the date and watch the video for ‘Nosebleed’ below.

  • Stream: Princess – Neverlook

    A year on from enamouring us with their debut EP, Black Cat, Dublin three-piece Princess seem to have fully arrived with their new single, ‘Neverlook’. Balanced very nicely between with glacial indie tangents and rampant noise pop, the track boasts a distinctive, compelling surge; splatterings of rhythm morphing with gaze-y guitar patterns and bobbing bass lines. Stream the track via Soundcloud below and keep an eye out for our Inbound interview feature with the guys next week.

  • Album stream: Oh Boland/Me and My Dog – Delpi

    Ahead of its official launch tomorrow night, Popical Island are streaming the brand new split between Galway’s Oh Boland and Mayo’s Me and My Dog. Featuring five tracks by each band, the album will be released as a pro-dubbed pale blue cassette tape, each hand-titled by the band. Musically, the split is a rather typically (in the best way possible, that is) collection of starry-eyed jangle-pop, indie rock and surf from two of Popical Island’s finest acts. The split is released at Dublin’s The Pop Inn tomorrow night (Saturday, June 7). Go here for the show’s Facebook event page and stream the…

  • Dig Early: Six Months of Psych (Part I of II)

    Having seen a real upsurge over the last while, 2013 was a particularly stellar year for psych rock (and all its many manifestations) the world over. With mind-expandingly exceptional albums from the likes of Hookworms, Goat, Destruction Unit and Unknown Mortal Orchestra sating the psych thirst of the more cosmically-inclined amongst us, it might yet pale in comparison to the sheer abundance of first-rate psychedelia that’s been released (and is set to be released) in 2014. Here’s my picks of the year so far. Blank Realm – Even The Score [from Grassed Inn] Two years on from the psych-tinged art-rock of their debut album, Go Easy, Brisbane sibling trio Blank Realm made…

  • Oh Yeah Centre announce Scratch My Progress acts

    Belfast’s Oh Yeah Centre have announced the five acts that will take part in this year’s installment of their talent development programme, Scratch My Progress. Having expanded from four acts to five this year, the programme has chosen indie-pop band Hurdles, singer-songwriter Matthew Duly, indie-punk act Hot Cops and Belfast alt-rock five-pieces Setotonin and R51. Speaking of the selection process, project manager Charlotte Dryden said, “We had more applicants and a harder job of getting it down to four than the previous two years, so we thought we would extend the offer to one more act. It’s an exciting and challenging development for us, but…

  • Watch: Skymas – Hey Porter

    Having recently kicked into gear on the live front, Belfast-based electronic-rock trio Skymas have unveiled the animated video to their pounding second single, ‘Hey Porter’. The follow-up to the Martin Corrigan-fronted three-piece’s debut single ‘This River’, the video for the track features an series of interesting characters busting shapes to the song’s wonderfully propulsive rhythm. Having formed last year, Skymas will play the following shows over the summer: Saturday, June 28: Craft Village, Celtronic Festival (3pm, admission free) Saturday, July 5: Aether and Echo, Belfast Saturday, August 9: Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh Go here to read our Inbound interview with the band here…

  • Watch: Subplots – Colourbars

    Marking their first release in five release, Dublin duo Phil Boughton and Daryl Chaney AKA Subplots have unveiled the rather visually satisfying video to ‘Colourbars’ Set to feature on the twosome’s forthcoming second album, set for release later this year via their own label, Cableattack Records!!, the track is a subtly entrancing four minutes of minimalist beats, guitar shapes and deformed vocal lines. With more shows set to be announced, the band will play Dublin’s The Pop Inn with Bouts and Come On Live Long on Saturday, July 26. Watch the video for ‘Colourbars’ via Vimeo (where else?) below.