• 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…

  • A Different Beast: An Interview with Elaine Malone

    November 24, 2023 - By 

    Elaine Malone’s debut album roars “Fuck you, thank you” into the abyss. Words by Mike Ryan. Photo by Celeste Burdon Residents have long believed that there’s something intangibly special about the country’s second city, and the same holds true for its musicians. Cork has produced a plethora of transcendent acts in recent years, across the entire musical palette, including Fixity, the Altered Hours, Trá Pháidín and Pretty Happy to name just a few; the Cork music scene is a many-headed beast. The most recent of which has now reared its head in the form of Elaine Malone’s first full-length album,…

  • 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

  • Serving Punk: An Interview with Problem Patterns

    November 20, 2023 - By 

    Off the back of the release of their debut LP Blouse Club and winning Best Video at the Northern Ireland Music Prize, Jack Rudden speaks with Belfast queer punks Problem Patterns about politics, representation and fancy blouses Photos by Sean McMahon Political frustration, an insatiable hunger for justice and pure unabashed cheek are the weapons of choice for Belfast punks Problem Patterns. Formed in 2018 in the wake of a high-profile rape trial, the four-piece has spent years espousing calls for collective action and solidarity amongst oppressed peoples with their distinct brand of abrasive, infectiously catchy and unforgivingly queer hardcore.…

  • 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…

  • Radical Optimism Above All: An Interview with David Holmes

    November 8, 2023 - By 

    Ahead of the release of his most fully realised record to date, Blind on a Galloping Horse, Belfast torchbearer David Holmes talks radical optimism, Weatherall, self-awakening, signing to Heavenly and really making it count Artwork by Jimmy Turrell Photos by Steve Gullick Whoever coined “there aren’t enough hours in the day” might not have bothered if they were up on David Holmes. Lauded producer, generation-spanning DJ and soundtrack composer par excellence is the brief but it only grazes the surface of a trailblazer who has packed in more than most. Three sprawling decades in, it’s a journey that hits like…

  • 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…