• Track Record: Alpha Chrome Yayo

    December 6, 2023 - By 

    One of the island’s finest genre-spanning savants, Alpha Chrome Yayo takes us on a guided tour of his all-time favourite records, featuring Enya, Mort Garson, Mariya Takeuchi, Sigh, Tom Waits, Minako Yoshida and more Photo by Aislinn Mcginn Singles are great and all, but for me nothing compares to the experience of listening to an honest-to-goodness album, especially if it involves physical media. The ephemeral quality of music made somehow tangible, cloaked in artwork to luxuriate in, liner notes to pore over. Beyond that, listening to an album is like fulfilling an unknowable contract. One between the artists who made…

  • Inbound: Spit

    December 5, 2023 - By 

    ‘Indie rock’, ‘Post-punk’ – the music industry does an effective job of co-opting and commodifying terms originally defined by their reaction to stagnation, creating a deluge of so-close-yet-so-far simulacra. We’ve noticed young artists, of late, pushing back against algorithmically-pleasing confines, into creatively fertile territory. Dublin’s Spit are doing just that with their abrasive, experimental punk that conjures the essence of the movement. Guitarist Alex and bassist/violist Sarah connected with drummer Conor, and just days before their first gig, their first music was written, its credos tantamount to its sound.  Part of a crop of forward-thinking acts emerging in the wake…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 1st December

    December 1, 2023 - By 

    As we swiftly approach our end-of-year round-up of the best Irish releases of the year, delve into our pick of the best singles and albums of the last week, featuring Yinyang, Stefan Murphy, Villagers & Lisa Hannigan, Connor McCann and more Stefan Murphy – Hospital Verses Hospital Verses by Stefan Murphy Villagers & Lisa Hannigan – The Little Drummer Boy Connor McCann – These Fires Yinyang – Kill Jester Bitch Falcon – Staring at Clocks (Remixes) ​​ Preference w/ Plus One Remix – Pinch Molly O’Mahony – Quietly T.A. Narrative – Loves Hold Retro Futurism by T.A. Narrative Hotgirl –…

  • Inbound: Connor McCann

    November 24, 2023 - By 

    This summer I attended the Fête de Rosette, in the Savoie region of France. A fledgling festival of Irish talents both established and fringe, Connor McCann was a highlight among his contemporaries – his Americana-infused balladry, married with the atmosphere of the Alpine valleys, was a treat for the senses. That’s not to say he’s any less enthralling when playing closer to home. The influence McCann is having on the candle-lit folk sessions of Belfast’s music bars seems initially novel, but in fact has been brewing for some time. While the Glenravel-born artist has pedigree as frontman of disbanded alt-rockers…

  • Inbound: Search Results

    November 24, 2023 - By 

    The most interesting sounds tend to come from those unencumbered with risk aversion. Take Devo, whose five gestative years before releasing a debut album bought them creative armour, allowing them to hone their worldview and arrive fully-formed. Search Results started writing in Dublin within a week of meeting in 2020, having moved from Waterford, Sligo, and Tipperary just prior to Covid. Drummer Jack Condon explains: “We assigned ourselves different instruments to the ones we would have been most comfortable on. Myself and Adam had more training in guitar, and Fionn in bass, so that took away any safety nets and…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 24th November

    November 24, 2023 - By 

    Some serious big-hitters among this week’s best Irish music. Dive into new Junior Brother, Lemonade Shoelace, Chalk, Two Nice Catholic Boys, Sly, Ciaran Lavery and more Photo by Adam Heffernan Junior Brother – The Men Who Eat Ringforts Two Nice Catholic Boys – Three Cheers for the Distant Observer Three Cheers for the Distant Observer by Two Nice Catholic Boys Ciaran Lavery – Shame (10 Years Later) Lemonade Shoelace – Soul Syndrome THEE U.F.O – Junk Funk Garbage Uly – Alex Chalk – The Gate Eoin Dolan – The Most Important Thing Is Peace Within Yourself ZOiD – Internal Space…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 17th November

    November 17, 2023 - By 

    It’s another stacked week for new Irish music. Delve into the best albums and singles of the last seven days from Joel Harkin, Nealo, pôt-pot, Akrobat, Stefan Murphy and more Joel Harkin – Sham Supermarket Sham Supermarket by Joel Harkin Nealo – November Medicine November Medicine by NEALO pôt-pot – No Friends Akrobat – Verlaine Stefan Murphy – Athlete of Seoul Sprints – Shadow of a Doubt Moon Landing – Blink Once and Miss the World Go By Blink Once and Miss the World Go By by Moon Landing Aoibha – Muddy Water

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 10th November

    November 10, 2023 - By 

    Delve into the very best new singles and albums of the week from Pillow Queens, David Holmes, John Francis Flynn, Phil Kieran, Alpha Chrome Yayo and more Pillow Queens – Suffer David Holmes – Blind on a Galloping Horse David Holmes ft. Raven Violet – ‘Blind On A Galloping Horse’ by David Holmes Rachael Lavelle – Big Dreams Big Dreams by Rachael Lavelle Phil Kieran – The Strand Cinema Live Nealo, Morgana, Uly, Rach – Cereal Alpha Chrome Yayo – Heart Engine Heart Engine by Alpha Chrome Yayo Two Nice Catholic Boys – Never Wonder John Francis Flynn – Kitty…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 3rd November

    November 3, 2023 - By 

    Delve into the very best Irish music of the last seven days from girlfriend., Hilary Woods, HAVVK, Clara Tracey, Acid Granny, Belacqua, Faoi Thalamh Records and more girlfriend – To Be Quiet To Be Quiet by girlfriend. Hilary Woods – Acts of Light Acts of Light by Hilary Woods HAVVK – City Creep Faoi Thalamh Records – From The River To The Sea From the River to the Sea – Various Artists Compilation by Faoi Thalamh Records Clara Tracey – Baby Witch Acid Granny – The Holy Spirit is Coming Inside Me The Holy Spirit is Coming Inside Me by…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 27th October

    October 27, 2023 - By 

    As we approach the tail-end of the year, several new Irish releases stake their claim as the some of very best of 2023. Listen to new LPs from ØXN, Problem Patterns & Naoise Roo, a new Gaza Relief fundraiser EP from Moot, as well as new tracks by Lucy Gaffney, Alicia Raye and more ØXN – CYRM Naoise Roo – Emotionally Magnificent Problem Patterns – Blouse Club Jellypelt/Polytunnel – Gaza Relief Fund EP Gaza Relief Fund EP by Jellypelt/Polytunnel Lucy Gaffney – Next Year Uly – 33s Alicia Raye – Close to Me Moon Landing – Feel, Don’t Think Elaine…