• Watch: Villagers – Occupy Your Mind

    February 7, 2014 - By 

    “In the advent of the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, please find attached a song written for you, your mother, your father and your gay brothers and sisters in Russia.” So reads a Facebook post by Dublin band Villagers, words that accompany the video to their Muse-esque new single, ‘Occupy Your Mind.’ Directed by Alden Volney, the video features the band’s main man Conor O’Brien sat on a theatre stage as luminous, scattered lights beamed onto his face, a faceless captor of sorts overseeing proceedings in the distance. Debuted on Zane Lowe’s BBC Radio 1 show last night, the single follows on from…

  • Twenty Years of Troublegum

    February 7, 2014 - By 

    Set for an expansive three-disc deluxe reissue in March, the gamechanging Troublegum by Northern Irish alt-rock heroes Therapy? was unleashed twenty years ago today, back in the thoroughly transitional musical milieu of early 1994. An impassioned and inexorable fourteen-track masterstroke borne from social disillusion and the laws of unspoken smalltown psychosis, it saw frontman Andy Cairns, bassist Michael “The Evil Priest” McKeegan and drummer Fyfe Ewing propelled from emerging contenders to bona fide alternative rock demigods. From the gloriously demented ‘Knives’ to closing rampage ‘Brainsaw’, Troublegum forged Cairns’ deeply intelligent and masterfully sardonic lyrics, Ewing’s mighty rhythmic élan and a breathless deluge of earworming, generation-defining pop-punk hooks coloured…

  • Album Stream: Alana Henderson – Windfall

    February 6, 2014 - By 

    Having had an extraordinary breakthrough year in 2013, Belfast-based singer-songwriter Alana Henderson has released a new album, Windfall. Ahead of entering the studio again soon to record some material of her own, the eight-track album is, in Henderson’s own words, “a side-project, separate from my own contemporary writing, in which I recorded an album of re-worked, contemporary arrangements of traditional songs from the North of Ireland.” Featuring the likes of Shauna Tohill AKA Silhouette and Mike Mormecha from Mojo Fury amongst a cast of musicians, the album is available as a limited edition cardboard release with enclosed sleeve-notes. Stream and/or download…

  • Mojo Fury announce tenth anniversary show

    February 6, 2014 - By 

    A whole decade and two thoroughly exceptional full-length albums in, Lisburn alt-rock band Mojo Fury have announced plans for a special 10th anniversary show at Belfast’s Limelight 2 on Thursday, March 6. The Mike Mormecha-fronted band – who headlined our launch party at Voodoo, Belfast last year –  will be supported on the night by fast-rising folk band The Emerald Armada and alt-rock trio Two Glass Eyes. Tickets for the show go on sale tomorrow morning (Friday, February 7) at 9am. Check out our 5/5 review of Mojo Fury’s second album, The Difference Between, here and watch the video for the…

  • Watch: Feet For Wings – Cathedral St.

    February 6, 2014 - By 

    For one reason or another, the sea seems to occupy a special place in the hearts of many acts trying to visually capture the essence of their sound or  lyrical content. Take, for example, ‘Holy‘ by Scottish band Frightened Rabbit or ‘Can’t Make You Come Back‘ by Derry’s Our Krypton Son – just two songs that are not only complimented by their accompanying, nautically-inclined videos, but wonderfully transformed by the simple poetic majesty of the ocean. Adding themselves to such esteemable company is Belfast-based alt-acoustic four-piece Feet For Wings, a band whose short film-like video for their new single, ‘Cathedral St’,…

  • Stream: Hozier – From Eden

    February 6, 2014 - By 

    Back in December last year, Fast-rising Co. Wicklow artist Andrew Hozier-Byrne AKA Hozier reached number 20 in our Top 100 Irish Tracks of 2013 with his spellbinding single, ‘Take Me To The Church’. His latest single effort, ‘From Eden’, has us equally impressed, suggesting great things for the songwriter on his forthcoming second EP. Featuring delay-soaked guitar chords, swaggering bass patterns on the verse and Hozier’s increasingly inimitable soulful twang, the single was Zane Lowe’s Hottest Record In The World on BBC Radio 1 last night. Set to feature on his upcoming Rubyworks-released second EP – also titled From Eden…

  • Premiere: Wild Cub – Thunder Clatter (UNKNWN Remix)

    February 7, 2014 - By 

    2014 is shaping up to be an extremely promising year for Belfast-based electronic duo Unknwn AKA producer Chris Hanna and vocalist Gemma Dunleavy. With the likes of South by Southwest and a forthcoming EP in the pipeline, we’re happy to premiere the twosome’s wonderfully understated remix of ‘Thunder Clatter’ by Wild Cub. “We were really chuffed when Wild Cub asked us to do the remix as I’d actually heard the original on a TV ad before and thought it was so catchy,” said Hanna. “We wanted to put our own sort of spin on it, and maybe try and take…

  • Interview: Sean Gullette

    February 5, 2014 - By 

    Sixteen years ago, American actor, screenwriter and director Sean Gullette sprung to the film world’s attention via his critically acclaimed lead portrayal of Maximillian “Max” Cohen in Darren Aronofsky’s surrealist psychological thriller, Pi (π) – a modern cult classic that he co-wrote. Fast-forward the guts of two decades and Gullette – now an increasingly widely-respected auteur in his own right – is gaining plaudits for his debut feature-length creation behind the camera, Traitors. Centering on an all-female punk rock band in Morocco, the film offers up an alternative view of Muslim women in contemporary North Africa and is bolstered by its punk…

  • No Tomorrow launch announced

    February 5, 2014 - By 

    We’re very happy to announce the launch of our brand new monthly gig/club night at Voodoo, Belfast, No Tomorrow, on Saturday, March 1. Taking place on the first Saturday of every month, the launch will feature fast-rising Dublin noise-rock band Girl Band (above) as headliners, supported by hugely promising Belfast/Dublin garage quartet Cruising and a DJ set from Ricki O’Rawe from the one and only Not Squares. On the night there will be ridiculously good drink promotions, visuals for your sensual perusal and the first fifty people through the door will receive a special No Tomorrow goodie bag. Check out Stu…

  • Watch: GANGS – 2 15

    February 4, 2014 - By 

    Ahead of their performance at Other Voices’ Derry Music Trail this weekend, Dublin indie/rock n’ roll quartet GANGS have released the video to their new single, ‘2 15’. Featuring the perpetually dapper four-piece gallivanting around Dingle, Kerry, the video was shot during the band’s recent appearance on Other Voices on RTE. The band’s appearance on the programme’s Derry Music Trail takes place (alongside John Deery & the Heads) takes place at The Gweedore from 11pm on Friday, February 8. GANGS will launch ‘2 15’ upstairs in Whelan’s, Dublin on Friday, February 21. Watch the video for the single below.