• Watch: Rusangano Family – Soul Food

    September 5, 2016 - By 

    Having released their triumphant debut LP Let the Dead Bury the Dead in April and having taken festivals both at home and abroad by storm all Summer, Limerick’s Rusangano Family returned today with the aptly charismatic video for album track ‘Soul Food’ directed by Dave Tynan. The film depicts the trio and troupes of friends having more fun than you somewhere in The Burren, the vibrant colours they wear and the energised movements in contrast with the stark landscape symbolising this group’s endless capacity to bring soul and vigour to the most dramatic and grey situations and places. Oh, and there’s a “Make Ireland Grand…

  • Premiere: SKYMAS – No Easy Way Out

    September 2, 2016 - By 

    One of the country’s most compelling live outfits, Belfast duo Martin Corrigan (ex-Alloy Mental) and Nick Todd AKA SKYMAS are an act that aim straight for the sonic jugular. With their aim to create tracks that “can channel the fundamental, super physical energy from beyond our everyday world” their new Dave Lievense-produced single ‘No Easy Way Out’ bears the hallmarks of their propulsive electro-rock craft to date: pounding rhythms, powerful textures and brazen lyrical gusto. Tipping their hat to musical and philosophical forerunners ranging from Fela Kuti, Steve Albini and John Lydon to David Bohm, Robert Anton Wilson and Alan Watts, Corrigan and Todd’s…

  • Premiere: Invaderband – Ship of Nothing

    September 1, 2016 - By 

    With their self-titled debut album set for release on November 25, Derry quartet Invaderband‘s idiosyncratic brand of garage-laced artrock betrays the hallmarks of a band content in doing things their way without neglecting the power of the hook. Nowhere is that more self-evident than on their forthcoming single ‘Ship of Nothing’, an impossibly earworming three minutes that simultaneously rollicks and lulls via chopping guitar chords, handclaps, seagull samples and organ lines in confident, mercurial synchronicity. Invaderband songwriter and vocalist Adam Leonard, “Lyrically this record covers a number of disparate bases: The invasion of Iraq, ectoplasm, alien attack and Alan Rickman, and that’s…

  • Premiere: Tenro – Vimana

    September 5, 2016 - By 

    Dublin duo Marc Aubele and Brian Conniffe AKA Tenro meld darkcore, ambient techno and deathpop with an outsider fearlessness that isn’t likely to yield to populism or calculable trend any time soon. Taken from their forthcoming debut album – which is set for release via Dublin’s Little Gem Records on October 7 – the pair’s latest track, ‘Vimana’, forges warped, Mogwai-esque modulated vocals with infernal synth textures and perfectly demented samples across five minutes. Accompanied by a suitably tripped-out (possibly seizure inducing – be warned) video, the track sits at the right side of nefarious, each phrase clawing away at some vague malevolent inking just out of view.

  • First Electric Picnic Stage-Times Unveiled

    August 29, 2016 - By 

    Set to make its annual return to the 600 acre Stradbally Estate in Co. Laois this weekend, the first stage-times for this year’s Electric Picnic have been unveiled. With times for the likes of Cosby, Little Big Tent, Electric Arena and more yet tom be announced, start planning your weekend for the likes of the Main Stage, Body and Soul Main Stage, Rankin’s Wood, Other Voices and more below. Friday Main Stage 22.30-00.00 The Chemical Brothers 21.00-22.00 The 1975 19.30-20.30 Nas 18.15-19.00 Abc 17.00-17.45 Ryan Sheridan Body And Soul Main Stage 02.45-03.30 Whilk & Misky 01.30-02.15 Mothxr 00.00-01.00 Flexfab 22.30-23.30 The Altered Hours…

  • Download: Fixity – FIXITY 2 & Live In What Used To Be A Church

    August 29, 2016 - By 

    Cork drummer maestro Dan Walsh AKA FIXITY likes to keep himself busy. From his work and creative endeavours with The Great Balloon Race, Cork Improvised Music Club, jazz night Blue Note and many musical projects, there’s a forward-moving momentum to his multifaceted musical trajectory to date. With his first, self-titled album as FIXITY released via Cork tape imprint Kantcope in July, Walsh has just released two new releases: FIXITY 2 and Live In What Used To Be A Church, the latter released featuring Emil Nerstrand, Kevin Terry, Fortune, Declan O’Shea and Dan Walsh. A restless, six-track release, FIXITY 2 is a perfectly…

  • Other Voices Make Open Call For IMRO Open Room

    August 26, 2016 - By 

    Having offered the likes of Villagers, James Vincent McMorrow and Rusangano Family a platform over the years, the annual call for applicants for the IMRO Open Room at Other Voices 2016 has been made. In December last year, the IMRO Other Room was filmed in front of a live audience as part of the Music Trail for the first time. This July an hour long special on the Other Room aired on RTÉ 2, featuring performances from Saint Sister, Talos, 2015 Open Call winner Saramai and others. To apply to play the IMRO Other Room in December 2016 go here.

  • Premiere: Scenery – Howlin’

    August 25, 2016 - By 

    Early days though it is, Derry’s Scenery have already established themselves on the live front as an act that won’t likely be slotted into a neat box any time soon. With a sound confidently traversing progressively-minded rock, soul, jazz and blues, the Stephen Whiteman-fronted band’s debut single ‘Howlin” is a feverish effort weaving wanton sax and vocals over a creeping chord progression that burrows deep. For a band proudly wearing throwback sounds on their collective sleeve, it’s a first gambit that edges into forward-looking, decidedly urgent territory. Taken from their debut EP, Far Out, exclusively stream ‘Howlin” – and check out forthcoming Scenery…

  • Stream: I Am Karate – Swayze

    August 30, 2016 - By 

    Scandinavia has been at the helm of what could be called Pop music’s glorious renaissance of the past couple of years. From artists like Denmark’s MØ to Sweden’s Rabbii, Ji Nilsson, and Julia Spada there is a plethora of acts currently doing a terrific job of bringing out the synth-pop fan in even the most hard-hearted listeners. Another act that fits comfortably into this realm while still operating with a wealth of individuality is Stockholm’s I Am Karate. The duo, made up of Erika Soldh Ahlström and Marta Pettersson, released their debut EP In Thin Air (I mean, how couldn’t we talk about them?) back in July and now unveil…

  • Premiere: Carriages – Moving Parts

    August 24, 2016 - By 

    Dublin duo Harry Bookless and Aaron Page AKA Carriages aren’t an act to shy away from idiosyncratic process. Following on from the stellar ‘Like a Child’ – released back in March – their latest single, ‘Moving Parts’, began life as a recording of Harry’s nephew Alex, who was 3 years old at the time, singing as he played with some percussion instruments. According to the pair, “A short loop was cut from the recording and a chord sequence was written around it and this became the basis for the song. Aaron wrote the lyrics and melody around Alex’s singing and the main hook…