• Interview: Gambles

    October 18, 2013 - By 

    It’s interesting to listen to Matthew Siskin (aka Gambles) speak about his debut album, Trust. Borne out of a set of circumstances that are nothing short of tragic, it is a record that is raw and poignant. Roughly three years ago, Siskin got engaged, then lost a child, left his wife, and turned to drink and drugs for two years.  Much of Trust is addressed to his ex-wife of whom Siskin has previously said, “I wanted her to hate me. I did things to make her hate me. Because that would be easier than saying,  ‘I have to leave'”. Trust…

  • Inbound: Little Matador

    October 17, 2013 - By 

    Fronted by Snow Patrol guitarist Nathan Connolly, Little Matador are a band that have already proved themselves to be much more than the sum of their parts. The “parts”, in this instance, before the aforementioned globetrotters, LaFaro, Idlewild and many more projects and musical endeavours besides. Boasting five evidently versatile musicians, the band went down a storm at one of their first shows, opening for none other than Nine Inch Nails at Belsonic in Belfast. We speak to Nathan about the band’s early beginnings, their forthcoming debut album and making time to make it work. Hi Nathan. Firstly, could you tell us how Little Matador came about and who’s…

  • Watch: PigsAsPeople – The Art of Leaving Your House

    October 16, 2013 - By 

    Belfast-based post-hardcore/noise-rock three-piece PigsAsPeople have unveiled the video to their recent single, ‘The Art Of Leaving Your House’. Directed by William Murphy, the video features the band performing the track in their practice space. The single itself was release in July via Bandcamp. Get it here for a name your price download. Watch the video below.

  • Playlist: Literature In Music – From Mastodon to Kate Bush

    October 16, 2013 - By 

    On what would have been his 159th birthday (pending a range of frankly inconceivable factors), the status of Oscar Wilde as one of literature’s greatest wits and stylistic visionaries is one completely set in stone. Having permeated the music and lyrics of innumerable composers bands from Prokofiev to the Smiths down the ages, it got us thinking: “Hey, wait a minute! There’s tonnes of songs written about (or that reference) novels and books not necessarily written by Oscar Wilde. That justifies a Spotify playlist, surely?” Admittedly, not the greatest “Eureka!” moment in history but perservere we did in the name of…

  • Stream: Alarmist – Bunda Internacionale

    October 16, 2013 - By 

    Having kept their collective head down over the last few months, Dublin band Alarmist have resurfaced in fine style via their new single, ‘Bunda Internacionale’. The lead single from the band’s forthcoming new EP Pal Magnet, the song’s bobbing, shifting instrumentalism strikes a wonderful balance between the warped textures of Tera Melos and the Ethio-jazz groove of Mulatu Astatke. Pal Magnet is available for digital download on November 1st. Stream ‘Bunda Internacionale’ via Soundcloud below.

  • Exclusive EP Stream: The Emerald Armada – Hearty Laughs & Warmer Hearts

    October 17, 2013 - By 

    Ahead of its launch at Belfast’s Voodoo on October 26, we have an exclusive first listen of the incredible new EP by Northern Irish alt-folk five-piece The Emerald Armada. Produced by Tony McHugh and the band, the four-track, wonderfully-titled Hearty Laughs and Warmer Hearts was mastered by Jon Moorehead. With the band on a brief and apparently successful stint in the mainland in advance of the EPs release, check out the event page for the launch of Hearty Laughs and Warmer Hearts here. Stream the EP via Bandcamp below! Exclusive stream: The Emerald Armada – Hearty Laughs & Warmer Hearts by…

  • Gambles – Trust

    October 15, 2013 - By 

    New York-based singer-songwriter Matthew Daniel Siskin knows full well the traditions that he carries on his shoulders when he sings on his debut album, Trust. Siskin’s musical idols – the likes of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and Elliott Smith – have all obtained legendary status in an overcrowded genre where vocals and an acoustic guitar are all that are needed to convey the most powerful of emotions.  But it’s true that for every Dylan or Tallest Man On Earth there are ten if not fifty unnecessary and unoriginal fanboy acts, which only serve to dilute the enjoyment that there is…

  • Watch: Ciaran Lavery – Left For America (Live)

    October 14, 2013 - By 

    Aghagallon singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery has unveiled a live video for a new song, ‘Left For America’. Recorded for Dublin-based live music platform BalconyTV, the  track follows in the vein of his superb debut album Not Nearly Dark, which was released in March to a wave of critical acclaim. Lavery is is currently on a brief UK and Irish tour. The remaining dates over the next two weeks are: October 15: Broadcast, Glasgow October 16: Dublin Castle, London October 18: The Revelry, Exeter October 19: Exwick Mill, Exeter October 26: Voodoo, Belfast (Emerald Armada EP launch) Read our review of Lavery’s recent…

  • Stream: We Cut Corners – YKK

    October 14, 2013 - By 

    Taken from their forthcoming second album – set for release at some point next year – Dublin indie-rock duo We Cut Corners have unveiled their excellent new single, ‘YKK’. Set for release via Delphi on November 25, the short track is a simple but characteristically infectious little slice of the two-piece’s craft. To coincide with the release – the band’s first single in over a year – We Cut Corners are set to play four dates over the next while: Thursday, October 17: CMJ showcase, Fat Baby, Rivington St, NYC Friday, October 18: The Planetary/The Great Escape Party @ CMJ, Pianos, Ludlow…

  • Shortlist for Northern Irish Music Prize announced

    October 14, 2013 - By 

    The fourteen-strong shortlist for the inaugural Northern Irish Music Prize has been revealed. Organised by Belfast’s Oh Yeah Music Centre, the new award is “aimed at recognising the great wealth of recorded music from these parts”, focusing on albums released by Northern Irish bands over the last 12 months. The shortlist (below) is the result of votes from The Academy AKA several dozen industry professionals including music writers, DJs and editors amongst others. A Plastic Rose – Camera Shutter Life And So I Watch You From Afar – All Hail Bright Futures Anthony Toner – Sing Under The Bridges Axis…