• “Is There Ever NOT More To Say About the Institutional Oppression of Women?” – M(h)aol Release First Single in 5 Years

    October 5, 2020 - By 

    Having releasing one single (‘Clementine‘ – featuring guest vocals from none other than Dara Kiely) in 2015, laying out a pointed intersection feminist & animal welfare-centred manifesto across their raw, visceral 15-minute sets, fast becoming one of the most talked-about bands in Dublin – their bassist the titular Jamie on Girl Band’s debut album – before inexplicably withdrawing with the same unpredictable energy they rode in with, M(h)aol, are the stuff of punk legend. As you well know, the intervening years in a post-referendum and post-Girl Band Irish landscape have seen a seismic transformation – with peak post-punk dude fecundity. Things were supposed to improve. Women were to experience something resembling equal representation on every…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – October 2nd

    October 2, 2020 - By 

    It’s the first Friday of the month, which can only mean one thing: it’s also Bandcamp Friday. As ever, if you’re going to pick up some great new Irish music, best make it today. Here’s our round-up of the best of this week, including Denise Chaila, Kynsy, Arvo Party, Katie Kim, Neil Brogan, Ailbhe Reddy and, because we couldn’t possibly choose just one track, A Litany of Failures Volume III. Denise Chaila – Rí Rá Go Bravely by Denise Chaila Go Bravely by Denise Chaila Various Artists – A Litany of Failures Voume III A Litany of Failures: Volume III…

  • Monday Mixtape: Arborist

    September 28, 2020 - By 

    As a counter to my aimless life as a singer-songwriter, my wife works in bioengineering, researching the cause of pelvic floor muscle injuries during childbirth, contributing to the mitigation of the life-impacting disorders that result. In what is ultimately a human rights issue, the physical price paid by women, stemming from discrimination to lack of basic support in such a fundamental and necessary area, is symptomatic of a wider issue and the music industry is not immune. As grim as these times are for the arts, we probably will have an opportunity to build things from the ground up again, with…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – September 25th

    September 25, 2020 - By 

    Once again, it’s been a ridiculously strong week for Irish music throughout. Here’s the very best, from Post Punk Podge & TPM’s toxic masculinity takedown, wonderfully-constructed modern classic pop from Paddy Hanna, CMAT, Wyvern Lingo, Jackie Beverly, Dark Tropics, twisted Donegal Lynchisms from Shammen Delly, Bitch Falcon’s dreamy post-punk, and the inimitable Myles Manley, and wonderful new EPs from Gadget & the Cloud and Damien Lynch. Denise Chaila, Sorcha Richardson, God Knows, Murli – Out The Gaff Post Punk Podge & The Technohippies feat. TPM – Hard Man Paddy Hanna – Sinatra Cmat – I Wanna Be A Cowboy, Baby! Myles Manley –…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – September 18th

    September 18, 2020 - By 

    Whew, talk about a busy New Music Friday. Here’s the very best Irish tracks from today – and the rest of the week – including Sinead O’Brien, God Knows, April, Magazines, Pillow Queens, SORBET and more. Sinead O’Brien – Most Modern Painting SORBET – Birth (My First Day) Arvo Party – Kyoto Kyoto by Arvo Party God Knows – Mup I Said (feat. Hazey Haze) Pillow Queens – Liffey Tolü Makay – You Are Enough Æ MAK – hey driver (!) April – Watching You Disappear The Zang – Drugs Kojaque – Shmelly Mark Loughrey – Nothing On A Truth…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – September 11th

    September 11, 2020 - By 

    From right across the island, here’s the very best Irish tracks of the week, featuring Róisín Murphy, Ciaran Lavery, Æ MAK, Ailbhe Reddy, Sam Comerford, Arvo Party and more Róisín Murphy – Something More (Soulwax Remix) Æ MAK – wedding day Ciaran Lavery – Count To Ten (CUT-Remix) Ailbhe Reddy – Looking Happy For Those I Love – I Have a Love Sam Comerford – Last Light Out Stillorgan by Thunderblender Arvo Party – God Is In The Window  Somebody’s Child – We Could Start a War (Le Boom Remix) Rebekah Fitch – Dust Gareth Dunlop – In a Hundred Years

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – September 4th

    September 4, 2020 - By 

    It’s been yet another stellar week for new releases in every corner of the island, boosted by today being the monthly Bandcamp Friday, which sees the platform waive all its own cuts – take that, Spotify. Delve into the best of the lot, featuring Lankum, Girl Band, JYellowL, NewDad, Arvo Party, A Bad Cavalier, Girl Band, Æ Mak, Alpha Chrome Yayo and many more. Girl Band – Why They Hide Their Bodies Under My Garage (Live at Vicar Street) Live at Vicar Street by Girl Band A Bad Cavalier – Losers Losers by A Bad Cavalier Lankum feat. Spider Stacy…

  • Preview: Origins is the Appreciative Ode That Irish Hip-hop Deserves

    September 2, 2020 - By 

    Origins: The Story of Irish Hip Hop is a brand new documentary presented by Red Bull and Collective Films charting the development and growth of the Irish hip-hop movement over the last four decades. Multiple years in the works and due for release on RTÉ One this Thursday, Origins takes a deep dive into the stories and mythologies of the scene through key figure interviews, live footage and narrative talking points. With an inimitable soundtrack (surely an official compilation is on the way?) and a familiar, amiable tone, Origins is the appreciative ode that Irish hip-hop deserves. Some of Origins’…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – August 28th

    August 28, 2020 - By 

    From the sledgehammer riffing of Shifting, electronics of Son Zept and Marcus Woods, indie-pop returns by Æ MAK, Catalan and We Cut Corners, to arguably Ireland’s most exciting rising hip-hop star in Denise Chaila, check out this week’s round-up of best new Irish music. Denise Chaila – Holy Grail Son Zept – Lush Lab B by Son Zept Æ MAK – I Dance In The Kitchen (feat. Seba Safe) Shifting – Big Ed It Was Good by Shifting SENU – Jetlag 2 Catalan – Fortune We Cut Corners – Muscle Memory Muscle Memory EP by We Cut Corners Marcus Woods – Repose Tactics Maria Doyle Kennedy – Keeps…

  • Irish Tracks of The Week – August 21st

    August 21, 2020 - By 

    From Kojaque, Paddy Hanna, ROE and Tolü Makay, to Wyvern Lingo, Bitch Falcon, Insideawave and beyond, here’s the very best Irish tracks released this week. Kojaque – Shmelly Tolü Makay – Don’t Let Go Insideawave – Tour Guides CARRON – Even Sad Birds Sing (Kobina Remix) Wyvern Lingo – Brutal Lottery Bitch Falcon – Test Trip Blakkheart – Honey Boy ROE – Hotel Sequence w/ LukeFly – Free Paddy Hanna – Colosseum The Shaking – Uninspidered