• Inbound: Bengo

    September 7, 2022 - By 

    Recent years have seen the culture of Ireland, music or otherwise, in constant flux. A new generation of heads has embraced a new sound, one that is led predominately by black artists who have thankfully dragged the country into the global world of Afropop and beat. It’s here we find producer and songwriter Daryl Bengo, or simply Bengo. Officially getting his start in music as a member of the now-gone Fresh Ré, Bengo cut his teeth playing the piano in church, watching his father. Now, the son of the preacher man is a solo artist that counts collaborations with Alicia Raye and…

  • Music From Beyond: An Interview With Fort Evil Fruit

    September 7, 2022 - By 

    Paul Condon of Limerick-based cassette-only label Fort Evil Fruit discusses spreading outsider music with a DIY ethos Words by Justin McDaid Photo by Nance Hall One Step Beyond and Hits Out of Hell by Madness and Meatloaf, respectively, held residency in my dad’s car for as long as I can remember. I still have those tapes. I still love Madness and Meatloaf. I might not own my own car but thanks to people like Paul Condon and Fort Evil Fruit, my tape collection has multiplied and diversified exponentially, particularly over the various lockdowns we’ve all endured in recent times. Before…

  • Track Record: Aoife Wolf

    September 6, 2022 - By 

    Fast-rising Irish psych-folk Aoife Wolf gives a guided tour of the records she can’t live without, featuring My Bloody Valentine, Kate Bush, Grouper, John Martyn and more Photo by Jane Donnelly My Bloody Valentine – Loveless There’s that saying that talking about art is like dancing about architecture. I don’t often feel that I have a lot to say about the music I love but a hell of a lot to feel about it. When I really like a sound I feel like I can’t get close enough to it like I want to drink it or bathe in it,…

  • Inbound: NIMF

    September 6, 2022 - By 

    Last July, we had the joy of premiering ‘Cloudy Dreams,’ a three-minute gem by Arklow’s Aoibhín Redmond aka NIMF. Representing her experiences as an autistic musician, and the need to indulge in her imagination, it married acoustic motifs with found sound and homespun electronica, as well as influences including Kero Kero Bonito. Four months on from that luminous introduction, the sugar-spun DIY pop of ‘Space’ plumbed prismatic new depths. Delving into what Redmond referred to as “the beautiful worlds within our own minds,” which open up “endless possibilities when overwhelmed by the day-to-day,” it was a dreamscape that hit like…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 2nd September

    September 2, 2022 - By 

    On this Bandcamp no-fee Friday, dig into the best Irish music of the week from Junior Brother, New Pagans, F.R.U.I.T.Y., Celaviedmai, Phil Kieran, Arvo Party and more Junior Brother – The Great Irish Famine The Great Irish Famine by Junior Brother Padraig Cooney – Houses Centuries of Learning by Padraig Cooney Mount Palomar ft Joshua Burnside – Simmer Phil Kieran & Green Velvet – Enjoy The Day ‘Enjoy The Day’ by Phil Kieran & Green Velvet New Pagans – Better People F.R.U.I.T.Y. – Fruiterama FRUITERAMA by F.R.U.I.T.Y. Celaviedmai – Go Down Low Arvo Party – Suave Sauve by Arvo Party…

  • Monday Mixtape: Akrobat

    August 29, 2022 - By 

    Ahead of the release of their debut single ‘Basquiat’s Widow,’ Shane Regan and Paddy Lyons of Dublin indie/art-rock band Akrobat wax lyrical about some of their all-time favourite songs, featuring Sonic Youth, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Velvet Underground, Silverbacks and more Sonic Youth – Kool Thing This song bursts with gritty attitude and swings in Kim’s understated lyrics and vocals, Thurston’s wailing guitar lines and a bizarre cameo from Chuck D. It’s what true indie rock should be and the song is an unapologetic flag for the counter-culture. It sounds as fresh today as it was way back in 1990. The song is…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – August 26th

    August 26, 2022 - By 

    Dig into the very best Irish releases of the week, featuring Uly, The Mary Wallopers, Lõwli, Niall McDowell, Seamus O’Muineachain and more. The Mary Wallopers – Frost Is All Over Niall McDowell – It Was an Honour To Be Nominated Uly – Fishing Seamus O’Muineachain – Mouth of the Isthmus Lõwli – Otherworld Ways of Seeing – The Other Side Of Summer Anna Mullarkey – Damsha Hall JW Soundworks – Hypoxic Reverie Last Survivor – Midnight Run The Art Crimes Band – Neon Skyline

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – August 19th

    August 19, 2022 - By 

    It’s been another big week for new Irish music, with tracks and albums coming from all over the country from emerging artists and established favourites. Dig into new releases from Junior Brother, Katie Kim, Gilla Band, F.R.U.I.T.Y., Sorcha Richardson and more Junior Brother – This Is My Body Gilla Band – Backwash Roslyn Steer – Gamhna Sa Cheo Gamhna Sa Cheo by Roslyn Steer Joey Gavin – Between the Mountains and The Mystery F.R.U.I.T.Y. – BT9 BT9 by F.R.U.I.T.Y. Katie Kim – Eraser Ciaran Lavery – Communion Ham Sandwich – All My Blood Sweat Threats – Call Bullshit Call Bullshit…

  • In Striking Distance: An Interview with Elaine Howley

    August 13, 2022 - By 

    Following the release of her sublime debut solo album, the Cork experimental artist talks to Eoghan O’Sullivan about her process, how she’s surprised to even be making music, and coming to terms with her ambition Photos by Celeste Burdon Elaine Howley, along with partner Cathal MacGabhann, fronts The Altered Hours, one of the most thrilling bands in the country. However, it is but one facet in Howley’s creative output. A youth worker, she also makes music with experimental acts Crevice and Howlbux, hosts the experimental show Cosmosis on Dublin Digital Radio, which has been running since 2014, and in the…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – 12th August

    August 12, 2022 - By 

    With new EPs and albums from the likes of Elaine Howley and God Knows, and some incredible new singles from the likes of Anna Mieke, Stratford Rise, Kyoto Love Hotel and more, get a look at our picks of the week. Elaine Howley – The Distance Between Heart and Mouth The Distance Between Heart And Mouth by Elaine Howley Kyoto Love Hotel – Settling (July) Settling (July) by Kyoto Love Hotel Local Boy – Get Up (Out of Bed) Stratford Rise – Water Running Through Faucet Anna Mieke – For A Time God Knows – We Move The Needle EP…