• Stream: Benihana – Machines

    Featuring a sample of Charlie Chaplin’s famous speech from The Great Dictator, Kildare electronic duo Will Molloy and Billy Archbold AKA Benihana have released a new track titled ‘Machines’. Speaking of current plans, the pair said, “We actually havent played any gigs yet so at the moment we’re  working on a few tracks with the hope of building up enough material for a decent set. We’re also starting to look at how exactly we’re going to play our stuff live – still a bit unsure! Once the new tracks are finished, hopefully we’ll be able to start piecing together our next…

  • Causeway @ Ulster Hall

    On Wednesday, March 26, Belfast’s historical Ulster Hall will play host to the premiere of Causeway, a special orchestra-electronic tribute to the Northern Irish coastline. The third commission undertaken by Ulster Orchestra and Associate Composer Ian Wilson, the production is “firmly rooted in the mythos and history of Northern Ireland, in this instance taking its inspiration from the formation of the Giant’s Causeway.” Speaking of the event, the Ulster Orchestra said, “In order to depict the three geological processes which helped form the Causeway – shifting tectonic plates, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes – Ian, for the first time in his work, has combined…

  • Gig of the week: Joshua Burnside, Affleck & Carriages @ White’s Tavern

    Our gig of the week will see Northern Irish alt-folk troubadour Joshua Burnside release his new single, ‘Desert Wine/Platonia’, at White’s Tavern on Thursday, March 27. Supported by electro-pop trio Affleck and Dublin electro-folk duo Carriages, it will mark Burnside’s return to the venue, where he launched his exquisite EP, If You’re Going That Way, last June. ‘Desert Wine/Platonia’ is Burnside’s first release via Broken Melody Records. Check out our interview with them here. Entry is £4, doors are at 8pm. Go here for the show’s Facebook event page and stream ‘Desert Wine’ and ‘Platonia’ via Bandcamp below.

  • Watch: Fight Like Apes – Crouching Bees

    With their forthcoming new EP, the altogether interestingly-titled Whigfield Sextape set for release on May 12, Dublin electro-pop four-piece Fight Like Apes have unveiled the video to their  new single, ‘Crouching Bees’. Directed by Grey Sun, the video shadows a disenchanted and onesied urban flâneur on a bicycle-based, sea-sprayed mystical adventure featuring the band’s frontwoman May Kay. Check out the artwork for Whigfield Sextape (created by none other than our photo/visual editor Loreana Rushe) and the video for ‘Crouching Bees’ below.

  • Video exclusive: C-BEAMS – Tannhauser

    Ahead of its general release later in the week, we’re happy to present an exclusive first look at the new electronic audio/visual project by Belfast-based artists Paul Shevlin and Richard Butler AKA C-BEAMS. Featuring music by Shevlin (also of alt-pop band Hologram) and film by Butler, the pair’s somnambulant debut offering, ‘Tannhauser’, is the first song to be taken from their debut four-track EP, Scars. Speaking of the project, Shevlin (pictured above) said, “The project started when Richard and I started spitballing ideas to work on together. We both have similar tastes when it comes to music/film and the idea of working on…

  • Interview: Solar Bears

    Ahead of their Thin Air show at Belfast’s Voodoo this Saturday night (March 22), Brian Coney talks to John Kowalski from Dublin electronic duo Solar Bears about the evolution of their sound, the imprint of cinema on their music-making and how things are going in the process of piecing together album number three. Hi John. You’re currently in the process of making your third album. How have things been progressing over the last couple of months? Really good thanks. We are deviating a lot and making sure we are covering new ground, which is our preference. At the moment there…

  • Gig of the week: Solar Bears, Ryan Vail, Blue Whale @ Voodoo

    We hope we’re not accused of too much bias with this one but… our gig of the week for March 17-24 is our next showcase at Belfast’s Voodoo Bar on Saturday, March 22. Supported by Belfast jazz-punk masters Blue Whale and fast-rising Derry electronic duo Ryan Vail, Dublin electronic pair Solar Bears – currently in the process of writing their third studio album – will make their long-awaited return to Belfast with a headlining DJ set. Doors are at 8.30pm, door tax is £8 (pay at the door) and the first 10 people through the door get a poster from the…

  • First acts announced for Electric Picnic 2014

    Trip-hop pioneers Portishead and U.S hip-hop duo Outkast are amongst the first wave of acts announced for this year’s Electric Picnic. With tickets for the festival going on sale at 7pm tonight, the following acts were revealed to play the festival, taking place at Stradbally Estate, Co. Laois from Friday 29 to Sunday, August 31: Portishead Outkast Beck Foals Pet Shop Boys Paulo Nutini Chic featuring Nile Rodgers Lily Allen St. Vincent Simple Minds London Grammar Metronomy Slowdive Laura Mvula Annie Mac Flume The Stranglers Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks The Blades The Wailers Omar Souleyman White Denim Temples Sohn Jungle…

  • Watch: Deadlights – Passenger

    Four months after the release of the stellar ‘Glass Houses’, Lisburn alt-rock band Deadlights have unveiled the video for their new single, ‘Passenger’. Created by Tommy Keery of Dog Kennel Productions, the video, which features the band performing the track, is inter-cut with a story that holds no bars in conveying the harsh reality of abduction. The single, mastered by the masterful Jon Moorehead, was recorded by Mike Mormecha of Mojo Fury at Millbank Studios. Watch the video below.

  • Interview: Slint

    Over two decades since it was released into unravelling obscurity, Spiderland by Louisville post-rock pioneers Slint has ever-increasingly climbed the ranks to be commonly heralded as one of the most revered cult records of all time. As much lauded for its distinctly impenetrable introversion as it is its decidedly forward-thinking musical mastery, the six-track release will finally see a remastered release as part of a deluxe boxset – also featuring a feature-length documentary by Lance Bangs titled Breadcrumb Trail – next month. Ahead of our exclusive screening of Breadcrumb Trail at The Garrick, Belfast on Thursday, March 27, Brian Coney talks to…