• 18 for ’18: EHCO

    January 16, 2018 - By 

    We continue 18 for ’18, our feature of showcasing eighteen Irish acts we’re convinced are going places in 2018. Throughout January we’re going to be previewing each of those acts, accompanied by words from our writers and an original photograph from one of our photographers. Next up is Wicklow’s EHCO. Photo by Niall O’Kelly  Eoin Whitfield has ditched his indie-rock roots and swapped them for another genre; slick electronica. The Wicklow-based artist, formerly of Enemies, recently dropped his first cut under the moniker EHCO. And the track, titled ‘Raise It Up’, serves as an ideal glimpse into what we can…

  • Night Drive – Night Drive

    June 22, 2017 - By 

    There’s nothing quite like an album that manages to fuse the past with the present, and even the future for that matter. Rodney Connell and Brandon Duhon, the Texas-based, future-wave duo better known as Night Drive do just that with their new self-titled, debut album. The pair first met when when the woman they were both dating died in a car crash. Neither knew the other before the accident, but from this inauspicious encounter stemmed something very powerful indeed. Their sound, a time machine of sorts, combines elements of 80s synth-pop with futuristically dynamic instrumentation, while brilliantly remaining both sleek and…

  • Elaine Mai – The Colour Of The Night

    June 19, 2017 - By 

    The Colour of the Night is the latest extended-play from Mayo native, Dublin based electronic mastermind, Elaine Mai. It’s snappy, intoxicating and beautifully unique. Most of all, it demonstrates Elaine’s confidence and progression as a solo artist. It’s been three years since the release of her last EP Known/Unknown. And her growth since then has been phenomenal. The Colour of the Night sees Mai cleverly weave authentic human emotions with electronic and mechanical soundscapes to craft beautiful tracks that uncover touching stories. She transcends boundaries with layers and textures that form a sound that’s honest and thought-provoking. ‘Enniscrone’ serves as…

  • Daithí – Holiday Home EP

    April 28, 2017 - By 

    Daithí teased listeners as far back as last year with the first scintillating, electro-pop banger from his latest endeavour, Holiday Home. The snappy five-track release lands today and, just as that first single, ‘Falling For You feat. Sinead White’ suggested, it shows Daithí continuing his progression in maturity as a producer, providing a collection that exudes confidence. The Galway/Clare-based producer continues to craft fascinating, atmospheric tracks that cross- weave traditional Irish cultural elements with modern-day electronica. He’s managed to ramp up the sophistication on this one, continuing to transcend boundaries by inventively fusing together electronic, folk and synth elements. With…

  • Ibibio Sound Machine – Uyai

    March 3, 2017 - By 

    Ibibio Sound Machine are back with their second album, Uyai. The scintillating record which lands today via Merge shows the group on top form with a sound that is bigger, bolder and funkier than ever. The London-based collective, led by front woman Eno Williams, have returned with an assured mastery of their sound. Inspired by the golden era of ‘70s and ‘80s disco and funk, the overall tone is a colourful fusion of West-African grooves, brassy electronics, modern pop tempos and powerful synths. There’s an air of fearlessness about this release. Focusing on themes of empowerment, freedom, courage and the…

  • Hanni El Khatib – Savage Times

    February 17, 2017 - By 

    Having released five EPs last year, Hanni El Khatib has returned with a newer, fuller collection Savage Times. A colourful, 19-track release that mixes everything from garage rock to punk and disco the LP embraces diversity and celebrates taking pride in who you are. The record seems a little messy and disjointed upon the first listen, hopping from grungy garage-rock stylings to funky, disco-infused melodies and on to bluesy crooner tracks. It doesn’t immediately betray a typical album smoothness. . .  but that’s kind of the point. The San Francisco native was born to parents from Palestine and The Philippines,…

  • Deadman’s Ghost – Hypocritical Oath

    February 10, 2017 - By 

    Jason Mills, better known as Deadman’s Ghost, recently dropped his third album Hypocritical Oath, an eccentric, eight-track collection of prismatic experimentation. The Belfast native inventively fuses together electronic, folk and synth elements, creating a sound that’s intoxicating, honest and thought provoking. The intimate album comes as a follow up to 2012’s The Broken Zoetrope. It takes the listener on a sonic journey of discovery, delving into new territory and overshadowing his previous releases. The multi-instrumentalist’s music appears to have become much more complex and this album demonstrates his growth, creativity and experimental brilliance as a musician. ‘Ogham Script’ serves as…

  • 17 For 17: Rocstrong

    January 16, 2017 - By 

    Andre Bangala, otherwise known as Rocstrong, has made a triumphant arrival, emerging with a vibrant sense of swagger and style that many artists seem to never quite grasp. Having grown up in Terenure, the Congo-born artist writes and co-produces all his own material which encompasses a truly unique sound that can only be described as an energetic and refreshing explosion of funk, soul, electro-pop and rock. Following on from his 2014 win in the Hot Press/Alcatel Big Break competition, the ever-cool newcomer dropped his debut extended play, SOWG just last Summer, which boldly told the music world he’d arrived on…

  • Two Door Cinema Club – Gameshow

    October 18, 2016 - By 

    Having struggled to find their place in society, both musically and personally over the past number of years, it was only going to be the hope that Bangor’s Two Door Cinema Club, who were previously so emblematic of indie-pop, would return with an exciting and re-energized collection. Distancing themselves from the indie scene, they have still managed to stay true to their original fun style of twitchy, undeniably danceable, electro-pop. This third musical endeavour, Gameshow, sees the trio curiously venture into new genres, digging into the 80s for inspiration and injecting a splash of colour to the record with the retro revival of disco, neo-soul and funk.…

  • Stripping It Back: An Interview with Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor

    September 7, 2016 - By 

    Best known as Hot Chip’s typically cheeky, earnest-voiced frontman, Alexis Taylor embarked on an exploratory solo adventure back in 2008 trading the group’s funky and percolating electro-pop sound for something a little more introspective and intimate. His 2014 solo endeavour, Await Barbarians, saw him on almost every instrument which led him to create a record that was much more quiet and vulnerable this time round, honing in on his dreamy, effortless falsetto and the beautifully simplistic piano keys. Ahead of his at The Workman’s Club in Dublin on September 15, Paula Murphy talks to the London-born musician. What prompted you…