• Melody’s Echo Chamber – Bon Voyage

    June 25, 2018 - By 

    Melody Prochet delivers her sophomore record, Bon Voyage, after a lengthy six period, refueling her psychedelic-pop ensemble Melody’s Echo Chamber. It follows a decent debut that made somewhat of an impression among critics and fans. For Melody’s Echo Chamber’s  self-titled debut, Prochet had enlisted her former-partner and Tame Impala frontman, Kevin Parker to build a wall of psychedelic sounds. On that release, the Australian held both production and co-writing credits and his distinct style is unmissable throughout that album, particularly on ‘I Follow You’, ‘Crystallized’ and ‘Bisou Magique’ and instrumentally it all sounded as though it could have featured on…

  • Hilary Woods – Colt

    June 13, 2018 - By 

    The word colt is used to in reference to either a male foal or a young untried person. Universally, horses symbolise a spirited force and freedom without restraint. In that defiance, a passionate desire also pervades. Both The Rolling Stones and U2 sang about wild horses; Keith Richards was inspired to write a lullaby for his toddler to articulate the strain of having to leave him to tour the world. Bono pined for a “dangerous” but exhilarating woman on Achtung Baby’s ‘Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses’. On her gorgeously soothing debut Colt, Hilary Woods marries these feelings of varied…

  • Forbidden Fruit 2018: Monday

    June 6, 2018 - By 

    On the last day of the June bank holiday, also one of the hottest days of the year, a modest gathering assembled at Forbidden Fruit. The line-up for day three differed greatly from Saturday and Sunday’s bill, as it catered devotees of guitar-led indie-rock with Philadelphia based The War on Drugs headlining and veteran (and nostalgia inducing) acts like Spoon, Warpaint and Grizzly Bear performing, also. David Kitt, whose set predominantly drew from his most recent record, Yous, eased the early attendees into the day’s marathon of live music. His set-up was minimal; comprised of Kitt switching between acoustic and…

  • Father John Misty – God’s Favorite Customer

    June 5, 2018 - By 

    Nine years ago, Nardwuar The Human Serviette interviewed Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes and then drummer, Josh Tillman. The exuberant Canadian musician-turned-journalist acknowledged Pecknold’s penchant for performing in a seated position and commented that he had revived this style. Tillman, dissatisfied with the lack of attention, interjected, “I kind of resent being overlooked in this category because I also [perform] on a chair.” This casual exchange, small though it may seem, provided us with an early indication of someone unwilling to relinquish the spotlight. Nine years later, Josh Tillman’s ego abides. He’s transformed from the fabled “horny, man-child, Mamma’s boy”…

  • Beck & Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ 3Arena, Dublin

    May 24, 2018 - By 

    Both the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Beck have crafted careers built on distinct sonic styles. Their music captured time and place; Beck encapsulates an era within the 90s pushing towards innovation by blending genres within one record, whilst Yeah Yeah Yeahs defined the New York dance-punk sound of the early 2000s. Their cult statuses, born from albums like Odelay and Fever To Tell, respectively, gives them mass-appeal to a myriad of music fans. The pairing of these artists for this one off joint headline arena gig, then, feels appropriate given the impact their music has made on an incalculable number…

  • Drinks – Hippo Lite

    May 2, 2018 - By 

    Drinks, a collaboration between Welsh experimental-pop musician Cate Le Bon and Californian sonic-chameleon Tim Presely of White Fence (and The Fall for a brief period), have returned with their sophomore record Hippo Lite. Its creation stemmed from the following activities and amenities or lack thereof: No Wi-Fi, a month in an old mill, river swimming, night sounds. It is by their interpretation, “An album made for each other by one another with no piercing the bubble, the opposite of a typical recording experience”. While it may have been made for each other though, Hippo Lite will, if there is any…

  • Eels – The Deconstruction

    April 10, 2018 - By 

    Describing the thesis of The Deconstruction, Eels’ twelfth record and first in four years, Mark Oliver Everett retains a phrase commonplace in conversations happening globally: “The world is going nuts.” That is not to say, however, that his outlook for the future is bleak. If anything, he is hopeful: “If you look for it, there is still great beauty to be found. Sometimes you don’t even have to look for it. Other times you have to try to make it yourself. And then there are times you have to tear something apart to find something beautiful inside.” There are plenty of…

  • David Kitt – Yous

    March 15, 2018 - By 

    In January of 2017, David Kitt shared an album that would only be available to stream for a week. A throwaway project of sorts, a means to share new material recorded since The Nightsaver, released seven years prior. The initial brevity of Yous predated the release of From Night To Night, the debut LP from Kitt’s techno project, New Jackson by only by a few months. The songs, however, are remarkably different. One provides a passport to escapism, the other eases your return to reality. That is not to say there are boundaries enforced preventing one from getting lost amongst…

  • Southern Hospitality: A Conversation With Aisling O’Riordan

    March 6, 2018 - By 

    Aisling O’Riordan is a musician, booker, promoter, radio host and is about to add tour manager for Brigid Mae Power to her already exceedingly impressive CV. Amidst all of these roles, Aisling also co-founded the Southern Hospitality Board and the revered annual Quarter Block Party festival which hosts a variety of music, spoken word and theatre throughout Cork city. A vital figure in the Irish music industry, O’Riordan spoke to Zara Hedderman about her beginnings, experiences and the importance of women encouraging each other within the business. Photo by Brid O’Donovan. What was your introduction to the music industry and…

  • Ought – Room Inside The World

    February 21, 2018 - By 

      The word ‘ought’ touches on probability; the coulds, woulds and shoulds. It is a word often used with critical intent to highlight the shortcomings of a project. Room Inside The World, the third album from Canadian post-punk quartet Ought brings forth an unfortunate case of nominative determinism. What should have been a triumphant return instead presents a band struggling to find their identity and a cohesive sound in the light of a changed dynamic. On their latest record Ought scarcely resemble their formerly distinct selves, shifting instead towards a style that veils their individuality. This is a record that…