• Irish Releases of the Week – October 30th

    October 30, 2020 - By 

    Another phenomenal week of Irish music, we’ve expanded this time around to feature full length releases, including Nealo’s long-awaited debut LP, Kobina’s phenomenal charity compilation -featuring Jape, Arvo Party and more – a Tuath & Lunch Machine collaboration, Bitch Falcon, Dunluvly, Rebekah Fitch, Mick Flannery, Jackie Beverly, Silent Ghost and more. Nealo – All The Leaves Are Falling Kobina – For Nora For Nora by Kobina Tuath & Lunch Machine – Mountains and Grooves Dunluvly – Something On My Mind Mick Flannery & Anais – Minnesota Rebekah Fitch – Game Over A.S. Fanning – All Time Jackie Beverly – Sea Glass…

  • Monday Mixtape: Slomatics

    November 2, 2020 - By 

    Belfast’s primary exponents of titanically heavy sludge, Slomatics, give us a rundown of some of their all-time essential tracks, from krautrock through to horror OSTs. Hawkwind – The Watcher Live Hawkwind albums can be a real mixed bag, and even for fans with as low a quality threshold as me they can be fairly disappointing. I’d avoided The ‘99 Party Live for years as I assumed it was recorded in 1999, a bit of a low point for the band, but this was actually recorded during Lemmy’s last tour with the band in ‘74 when the concept of 1999 was still very futuristic, and…

  • The Thin Air’s Alternative Halloween Playlist

    October 30, 2020 - By 

    Dire though it is we can’t get all get together for a big old Samhain soirée this year, the thinning of the veil is very much upon us. To mark the occasion, as per tradition, here’s our annual seventy-five track alternative Halloween Spotify playlist, featuring everyone from John Maus, Broadcast and The Cramps to Flying Lotus, Suicide and Throbbing Gristle.

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – October 23rd

    October 23, 2020 - By 

    Tragically, it’s not a Bandcamp Friday. But it is a Friday, which means a rake of first-rate new music from right across the land. Here’s our pick of the lot from today and the rest of the week, featuring Seamus Fogarty, LAOISE, Kyoto Love Hotel, Arborist, JyellowL, For Those I Love, Eve Belle, Amy Montgomery, Sal Dulu, Wyvern Lingo and more. Kyoto Love Hotel – You Unfold You unfold by Kyoto Love Hotel Arborist – The Mountain Will Come to You/A Heart in Minor The Mountain Will Come to You | A Heart in Minor by arborist LAOISE – Healthy Seamus…

  • Monday Mixtape: Ben Harris (The Dreads)

    October 26, 2020 - By 

    Frontman of Belfast’s premier garage-psych proposition The Dreads, and would-be character in an M.R. James story, Ben Harris takes us through some of his Samhain favourites. Timberjack – Come To The Sabbat Sabbats were pretty much an invention by judges and inquisitors during the 14th and 15th centuries that became mythologized before people then started actually practicing their own sabbats themselves. I find this and cans are a great opener to any sabbat. The Electric Prunes – Shadows One of the first songs I learned to play on the guitar was an Electric Prunes song. It wasn’t this one. Grand Theft…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – October 16th

    October 16, 2020 - By 

    It’s safe to say it’s been another stacked week for world-beating Irish music. Here’s the very best of the lot, featuring tracks from Rejjie Snow, Caoilian Sherlock, Paddy Hanna, Arborist, Tebi Rex and many more. Photo by Lloyd Pursall Rejjie Snow w/ Snoh Aelagra and Cam O’bi – Mirrors Paddy Hanna – Jog On Shall We The Hill by Paddy Hanna Comrade Hat – Cracking The Code Caoilian Sherlock – Sucker For Love Arborist – The Mountain Will Come To You Tebi Rex & Awkward Z – Aaaagh Ten Past Seven – Turf War IN-IS – Dark Light feat. Tom Adams…

  • Monday Mixtape: Son Zept

    October 19, 2020 - By 

    Recently championed and playlisted by the likes of by ourselves, The Quietus, DJ Mag and leftfield DJ par excellence Avalon Emerson, “Northern Ireland’s resident electronic compositional polymath” Liam McCartan, AKA Son Zept has just released his second mini-album of 2020, B. Today, he gives us an uncharacteristically abridged mixtape of some current favourite tracks. I tried to keep this as just a stream of thought and not cram in stuff that I’d end rambling about daft things like cheeky hauntological anti-memory sound (*ahem*). Excluded tunes from Aphex Twin + Aphex covers, Mal Waldron, Oneohtrix Point Never, Eprom, Lyra Pramuk, Pinch & Mumdance, Holly Herndon, Chassol,…

  • Róisín Murphy – Róisín Machine

    October 13, 2020 - By 

    Much of the monotonous conversation surrounding dance albums released during lockdown – be it by Lady Gaga or Disclosure – dwell on not being able to hear it in a club. While it is frustrating to not be able to go out dancing, the music is not made for just one setting. Ultimately, many will spend more time listening to dance music while going about our daily lives than at raves anyway. Róisín Murphy understands better than anyone that, with the right mindset, you can turn anywhere into a makeshift dancefloor.  Over the past few months, Murphy has shared a series…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – October 9th

    October 9, 2020 - By 

    It’s only right that a week that gave us innumerable incredible performances at Ireland Music Week would also deliver on the releases front. We’re here with some of the best, including Loah & Bantum, Erica Cody, Tau, Ross Hamer’s Safe Neighbourhood, the returning M(h)aol, Nealo, Eve Belle, Lucy Gaffney, a kraut-punk Organs & Mike Watt collaboration, R.S.A.G., B.K. Pepper, Tolü Makay, and Owen Lamont. Tau – All That Is ft. Deirdre Mulrooney Safe Neighbourhood – Big Decisions In the Heart of the Heart of The by Safe Neighbourhood Loah & Bantum – NGLA M(h)aol – Laundries Erica Cody – Calculated feat. Hare Squead…

  • Pillow Queens – In Waiting

    October 5, 2020 - By 

    Pillow Queen’s anthemic indie-rock has seen them gain incredible momentum as one Ireland’s most refreshing musical exports. On their debut album, In Waiting, the Dublin group take the very best aspects of themselves and craft a magnificently poignant collection, exploring the emotional transition from adolescence to adulthood in a repressed society. With two highly-acclaimed EPs under their belt, along with a Choice Music Prize Nomination for their track ‘Gay Girls’, the four-piece set a high standard for their debut LP to meet. In Waiting exceeds all expectations, and offers a comprehensive showcase of Pillow Queens’ talent for captivating, emotional ballads.…