• Track Record: Crayonsmith

    October 23, 2013 - By 

    For the latest installment of Track Record, the Crayonsmith lads arrived at my house armed with their favourite records, brownies and plenty of stories of why these albums mean so much to them. All three of them agreed that Public Strain by Women is one of the best albums ever. We chatted about the others over tea and here’s what they had to say: Women – Public Strain Ciaran Smith: “This record has everything and is a good example of where our three tastes meet. Amazing lo-fi recording job by Chad Van Gallen and loads of killer hooks. ‘Venice Lockjaw’ has…

  • Track Record: Brendan Fennessy (O Emperor)

    October 16, 2013 - By 

    In the latest installment of Track Record, Brid O’Donovan catches up with Brendan Fennessy, drummer with Cork-based alt-rock five-piece O Emperor as he chooses and talks about a selection of his favourite and most treasured records – everyone from Curtis Mayfield and Tame Impala to Neu! and Harry Nilsson. Some taste on you there, Brendan! Todd Rundgren – A Wizard A True Star I probably picked this up a year ago. I had quite a lot of trouble finding it because there is no version in print at the time so I had to get it online. It was just…

  • Track Record: Blane Doherty (Gacys Threads)

    October 1, 2013 - By 

    In the second installment of Track Record, Colm Laverty hits up Blane Doherty, guitarist/vocalist with Belfast progressive hardcore/metal band Gacys Threads to have a rummage through his nice and eclectic record collection. Taking us on a trip through the Bee Gees to King Crimson, we get an insight into Doherty’s listening and music collecting habits via both his own thoughts on a selection of his favourite records and Laverty’s accompanying photographs. Missed the first installment in the company of Tree from Belfast prog band Kasper Rosa? Go here. ___ The Secret – Solve et Coagula Love this album. So intense and relentless. I…

  • Twenty Months, Twelve Photos, One Glass Eye

    September 11, 2013 - By 

    If you’re a regular gig-goer in Belfast, chances are you will at least know amateur music photographer Diarmuid Kennedy to see. Having worked tirelessly on his own initiative to capture  pretty much every single local gig worth going to over the last twenty months, he has very kindly selected a dozen of his favourite distinctive black-and-white photographs during this period, offering a snapshot of a small but thriving scene and the thoughts of a true champion of homegrown live music. Take it away, Diarmuid. “It is very flattering to be asked to select my favourite photographs for Thin Air.  I am a complete amateur…

  • Way Out West Festival 2013

    August 15, 2013 - By 

    Our Malmö, Sweden-based photographer Ian Pearce (above) hit up this year’s Way Out West Festival, undoubtedly the Scandanavian country’s best annual showcase of musical and culture. Having took place in Göteborg from 8-10 August, this year’s line-up was something else altogether. Headlined by Neil Young and Crazy Horse, the bill featured everyone from The Knife and Godspeed You! Black Emperor to Haim and Public Enemy. Take time to sift through Mr Pearce’s extraordinary trove of visual awesome below!

  • Track Record: Tree (Kasper Rosa)

    August 13, 2013 - By 

    In the first installment of Track Record, Belfast musician, photographer and filmmaker Colm Laverty captures James Bruce AKA Tree, drummer with Belfast-based prog quartet Kasper Rosa choosing a section of his favourite and most treasured records from his collection – everyone one from Barbara Streisand to obscure big beat duos hailing from Birmingham. Nice. ___ Rush – A Farewell To Kings A proper Rush record of over the top pro rock greatness. Tough to pick a Rush record out the discog but I decided on this one simply for the triumphant cry of “XANADU”. Barbara Streisand – Classical   This holds…

  • The First Time: Rachel Austin

    July 30, 2013 - By 

    In the third installment of The First Time, we catch up with Belfast-based experimental folk singer-songwriter Rachel Austin, delving into a whole range of musical “firsts” in her life both as a performer and lover of music. Traversing her experiences with everyone from the Appleseed Cast and the Smashing Pumpkins to UB40 and Django Reinhardt, the Virginia-born artist has come quite the way… Portrait photo by the ever-excellent Joe Laverty. ___ First album you bought? I begged my parents to take me to the music shop to buy Louis Armstrong’s What A Wonderful World when I was 8 or 9.…

  • In conversation with… The Vincent(s)

    July 25, 2013 - By 

    In the first installment of  In Conversation With..., photographer Brid O’Donovan captures Margus and Shane from Cork “death pop” five-piece The Vincent(s) visually and in conversation about the band and their music. This is where we would say “awesomesauce” if we sucked – which we do so … awesomesauce. _____ [On discovering music as a kid] Margus: “I had a friend around the corner. We moved into this estate when we were young and you’d see someone wearing a band t-shirt and you would be obsessed. You call round to their house when you’re not invited. Then I found his…

  • Tour Journal: Vanilla Gloom

    July 18, 2013 - By 

    A hotly-tipped “must see” act at the final ever Glasgowbury music festival this weekend, Belfast-based all-female post-punk band Vanilla Gloom have just returned from their first tour across the water – a brief but eventful little stint across Scotland beginning and ending in Glasgow. In the first installment of an occasional tour journal feature, Shannon O’Neill, vocalist and guitarist from the Derry three-piece details the band’s experiences on and off the stage via photos (courtesy of the very talented Ciara McMullan), doodles and day-to-day thoughts from on the road. ___    

  • The Record #002: Bouts

    July 10, 2013 - By 

    Dublin pop-grunge noiseniks (sorry) Bouts are currently recording and putting the finishing touches to their highly anticipated debut album.We for one cannot wait to hear it. In the second installment of The Record, Aideen McFadden captures the band in their element.