• Vampire Weekend – Father of the Bride

    May 8, 2019 - By 

    Six years on from Modern Vampires of the City, Vampire Weekend have returned with Father of the Bride, a sprawling double album which finds singer Ezra Koenig trying to find his voice since the departure of Rostam Batmanglij (Rostam) from the band. When the New York outfit first appeared in 2008, they owed their unique sound to a mix of classical, African and western pop influences – never before had a combination of harpsichord, strings, bass, and drums sounded as good as it did on ‘M79’. This evidently was largely due to Rostam, the band’s multi-instrumentalist who has since taken…

  • Royal Yellow’s Mark O’Brien talks sound, streaming and life after Enemies: Interview

    March 13, 2019 - By 

    Royal Yellow is the pseudonym for Mark O’Brien, the multi-talented former frontman of post-rock darlings Enemies. After a ten year career culminating in a global tour and the release of their third album, Valuables, Enemies called it a day. This is when O’Brien went solo, charting out a course of his own drawing influence from every direction and creating something truly unique. Royal Yellow takes cues from the likes of The Avalanches and DJ Shadow, somewhere where hip-hop, jazz, rock and pop collide. After the viral release of his debut single ‘Hazeldene’ and the follow up ‘Aruba’, Royal Yellow will…

  • Foals – Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost – Part 1

    March 11, 2019 - By 

    Foals have returned with their fifth album, or at least the first part of it. Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost is a double album released in separate parts with the second half scheduled for release in the Autumn. Double albums are a risky move, and often end up feeling bloated and add weight to the adage that less is more. They’re an endeavour usually reserved for stadium sized acts with little to lose and material to dump, and this is where Foals now find themselves. Having survived the exodus of bassist Walter Gervers, they stride forward carrying the torch…

  • Stream: Royal Yellow – Aruba

    February 12, 2019 - By 

    ‘Aruba’ is the slick new single from Mark O’Brien (A.K.A. Royal Yellow). The former Enemies front man has followed up on his infectious 2018 release ‘Hazeldene’ with a track which offers us a wider glimpse of Royal Yellow. Contrasting the lo-fi beats and melancholic lyrics of ‘Hazeldene’, ‘Aruba’ draws in the listener with whispered chanting reminiscent of Blue Swede’s ‘Hooked On A Feeling’. What follows is a rush of well polished pop, rock, soul, and everything in between. While the song features strings, flutes, and rich vocal harmonies alongside a grooving rhythm section, it remains balanced, never losing itself under…

  • Bloc Party @ 3Arena, Dublin

    October 23, 2018 - By 

    Thirteen years on from the release of their seminal debut, Silent Alarm, Bloc Party come to Dublin to play their biggest Irish show to date. Headline shows in the 3 arena are usually reserved for bands who have proved their worth, released several albums of notable acclaim while gradually growing a loyal and passionate fanbase. Although this may not be the case for Bloc Party, tonight we can make an exception to celebrate one of the most revered albums of the noughties. It’s not that Bloc Party are a bad band per se, it’s just that since Silent Alarm the…

  • Interpol – Marauder

    August 28, 2018 - By 

    Last year Interpol embarked on a worldwide tour in celebration of the 15th anniversary of Turn On The Bright Lights. It’s impossible to deny just how important that album was to both fans and to music in general. In the wake of 9/11, it placed the band at the centre of a slew of era defining artists coming out of New York. Covered in a shroud of mystery, the band managed to tug at the heart-strings of indie lovers with the likes of ‘NYC’ and ‘The New’. They replicated this emotional prowess on 2004s Antics cementing Interpol as one of the…

  • Stream: Toucan – Toucan EP

    August 14, 2018 - By 

    Following the success of their single, ‘We Fell For Miles’, Waterford based soul-pop duo Toucan have released their self-titled debut EP. The brainchild of singer-songwriter Conor Clancy and multi-instrumentalist Martin Atkinson, Toucan is a project that highlights the talents of both musicians. Clancy’s ear for quaint yet infectious melodies and Atkinson’s full-bodied arrangements result in a collection of songs alive with rhythm and charm. The band’s style is positively upbeat, reminiscent of the likes of Stevie Wonder complete with riffing brass sections and memorable choruses. While most of the EP follows in the footsteps of ‘We Fell For Miles’, ‘Gold’…

  • Father John Misty @ Vicar Street, Dublin

    May 31, 2018 - By 

    Father John Misty’s brand of quip laden folk rock has garnered him a loyal following. One that has seen him sell out not one but three nights in Dublin’s Vicar Street. On a humid Monday Night, an enthusiastic but somewhat subdued crowd gathered for the first showing. Bearded men wearing t-shirts adorning their idol seem at odds with the singer’s anti-capitalist persona but I guess that’s just rock and roll. Support on the night comes from Saint Leonard, formerly known as Kieran Leonard, a known associate of The Libertines and Misty alike. Under the guise of Saint Leonards Horses, a…

  • Watch: Saint Sister – Twin Peaks

    May 11, 2018 - By 

    Saint Sister have returned with their first new offering since last years ‘Causing Trouble’. ‘Twin Peaks’ is the first single from the bands forthcoming album Shape of Silence and shows a change of pace for the Northern Irish duo. While sonically not as dark as ‘Madrid’ or ‘Tinman’, it’s just as emotive. Here, the pair explore new textures while retaining all the best elements of their sound. Beautiful vocal textures and lush harp strings combine with driving drum and bass rhythms to create a satisfying interplay. Working once again with Hozier bassist, Alex Ryan, Doherty explains “The three of us…

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    Superorganism – Superorganism

    March 3, 2018 - By 

    Superorganism are to music what memes are to art. In the space of just one year they’ve managed to capture a sound that is both easily digestible and instantly recognisable. One which is synonymous with the online age that we live in as they curate the sound of endless YouTube holes and trips to “the weird part of the Internet”. Their self titled debut comes in at just over 30 minutes, and is laden with short songs that cut straight to the point. High Definition synth and guitar hooks are grounded by the lo-fi voice of singer Orono Noguchi. Her lyrics…