• Stream: A Plastic Rose – Someone’s Daughter

    April 21, 2014 - By 

    Currently making waves over in Nottingham, Northern Irish alt-rock quartet A Plastic Rose have unveiled the wonderfully eccentric video for their new single, ‘Someone’s Daughter’. Directed by Tom Coles and Benson Burrows, the video features a strange, friendly robot (related to Johnny Five from Short Circuit, one wonders?), who accompanies a couple of humans before an untimely demise in an abandoned tunnel. Pretty standard stuff, really. The second single from the band’s forthcoming second album Flickering Light Of An Inner War, the track was produced by Chris Coulter. Watch the video for Someone’s Daughter below.

  • Stream: Girl Band – The Cha Cha Cha

    April 21, 2014 - By 

    Quite possibly the shortest track released for this year’s Record Store Day, Dublin four-piece Girl Band have made the brilliantly abrasive burst of noise rock that is ‘The Cha Cha Cha’ available to download for free. Once again evoking the likes of early Pixies and Mclusky/Future of the Left, the twenty-five second track is a fairly accurate summation of the band’s back catalogue to date: frantic, frenetic, breathless and gloriously pulverising in equal proportion. Our only complaint? You guessed it – it’s just that little bit too short. All said and done, we think you should listen to this. So do,…

  • Stream: The Wood Burning Savages – Been Anywhere Lately?

    April 21, 2014 - By 

    Another highlight from this year’s Record Store Day was a rather unexpected single from Derry band The Wood Burning Savages. Having written and recorded it during last week, ‘Been Anywhere Lately?’ was released on Saturday for the annual celebration of independent music stores worldwide. The track sees the Paul Connolly-fronted four-piece jolting straight for the jugular, pounding rhythms and impassioned refrains propelled by dual harmonies and the aforementioned frontman’s rousing tail-telling. In all, yet another subtly seismic clenched fist from the fast-rising Derry act. Stream ‘Been Anywhere Lately?’ via Soundcloud below.

  • Interview: Old Fang

    April 18, 2014 - By 

    Ahead of its official launch at Belfast’s Menagerie on Thursday, May 15, we talk to multi-talented musical visionary of sorts Thomas Camblin, founder of new-fangled (ahem) record label OLD FANG. Endeavouring to “discover, develop, release and promote new and contemporary artists with a progressive vision” the label is already off to a hugely positive start, with various local artists and creative peers of the Camblin extolling what looks set to be an interesting and exciting project for all involved. Hi Thomas. First off, can you tell us how the label came about – has it been in development long and…

  • Stream: We Cut Corners – Blue (Daithí Remix)

    April 17, 2014 - By 

    “I am not a loner, I’m just alone.” Ahead of headlining our gig/club night, No Tomorrow, at Belfast’s Voodoo on Saturday, May 3, Dublin indie rock duo We Cut Corners have had their track ‘Blue’ masterfully contorted by Galway producer Daithí. Set to feature on We Cut Corners’ forthcoming second album, Think Nothing, the remix of ‘Blue’ is both structurally warped and vocally frenetic, resulting in a brilliant schizoid rendering of the original. Think Nothing is released on April 25 in Ireland) and May 12 in the UK. Believe it or not, our show with We Cut Corners on Saturday, May 3…

  • Output #5 @ The Stiff Kitten

    April 17, 2014 - By 

    Seeing its Belfast debut on Wednesday, April 23, at the Stiff Kitten, creative panel event Output will host a discourse amongst an array of electronic and dance music professionals. Presented by Generator NI, the organisers behind the event – featuring speakers including Rob Booth of Fabric/Houndstooth, Gary Curran of Japanese Popstars and Paul Hamill AKA Psycatron – stated, “Whether you’re a DJ looking for tips on your live set, or a bedroom producer wanting to build your network, this is your opportunity to find out from the experts how it’s done.” Sound like something you might be interested in checking out?…

  • Gig(s) of the week: Desert Hearts, Record Store Day & More

    April 15, 2014 - By 

    A year into our existence – hey, it’s been fun – we’ve decided that it’s both wise and opportune that we started expanding out horizons when it comes to our regular “gig of the week”. Ireland is a relatively big-ass country (the technical description for you, there), after all; one single show, exceptional as it might be, is simply not worth singling out at the expense of similarly awesome prospects in different areas across the city. And it is upon which note that we arrive, rather comfortably, at this week’s gig(s) of the week. The return of Desert Hearts Standing just…

  • Watch: Ryan Vail – Grow

    April 15, 2014 - By 

    The latest in a string of wonderful visual accompaniments by the duo, Derry electronic act Ryan Vail have unveiled the surf-inspired video for ‘Grow’. Released as part of the forthcoming EP of the same name – released via May 5 via Champion Sound – the video for the track was created by the interestingly-named Spiceburger. Watch the video below.

  • Derry set for “major” two-day festival

    April 15, 2014 - By 

    As was exclusively revealed by the Derry Journal earlier today, a major two day music festival “will take place in Derry this September”. Although details are few and far between at this early stage, the newspaper reported that “initial local investment [in the festival] amounts to approximately £1,000,000. It is also believed the event will attract well known international bands and singers.” Followed last year’s hugely successful City of Culture drive in Derry/Londonderry, many have wondered if Ebrington Square would see the arrival of a Derry-based showcase or festival in 2014 and beyond. The rumour mill is turning – with the…

  • Record Store Day 2014 Round-Up

    April 15, 2014 - By 

    Did you know that it was none other than Metallica who kickstarted Record Store Day back in 2008? Yes, James “Yeah-yeahhha” Hetfield and co. spearheaded the tentative inauguration of what has become an annual celebration of all things independent and vinyl-based right across the (ever-increasingly) audibly-appreciative globe. From the rather modest ten special RSD releases from the likes of Death Cab for Cutie, R.E.M. and Stephen Malkmus on its debut, there are hundreds of albums and EPs set to be released this Saturday, April 19; everything from Nirvana’s ‘Pennyroyal Tea’ 7″ to a 5LP Box Set of LCD Soundsystem’s a 5LP Box…