• Watch: Zaska- Got To Go

    April 19, 2016 - By 

    Fancy a game of Countdown? Of course you do. Dublin composer and bandleader Max Zaska yesterday debuted the brand new video for his most recent release ‘Got to Go’. It’s a soulful number that shows Zaska and his troupe of supremely talented musicians continuing on the same trajectory as previous releases In Your Own Sweet Time and Different Light, crafting songs that are effortlessly accessible while still maintaining satisfying and adept jazz technicality. ‘Got To Go’ is another fine example of the joyous work of the bandleader and guitarist as he puppeteers the band in a smooth, charming dance of soul, funk, blues and…

  • Reverberation Psych Fest 2016 (Day Two) @ The Grand Social, Dublin

    April 18, 2016 - By 

    With my ears having gone through the mill during night one of Reverberation, it was only right to see if they could last for the duration of round two! First up to the mound was Derry duo Fabric, who really falls into the post-punk side of things as opposed to psych rock. Ruairi Coyle (Percussion/Drums & Backing Vocals) and Lorcan Hamilton (Bass & Lead Vocals) manage to put on quite the performance, which considering the low turnout for their slot, they can only be applauded for. There are hints of Joy Division, Young Marble Giants and Gang of Four dotted…

  • Picture This: Your National Visual Arts Guide- Future & Past

    April 15, 2016 - By 

    As we tentatively approach the summer galleries are beginning to launch their summer shows and draw their spring endeavours to a close. This looking ahead while checking back is one of the key themes across the exhibitions chosen for this edition of Picture This. The future of Ireland, her art and the wider contemporary art landscape is discussed in shows such as 2116 in Cork, EVA International in Limerick and Phototropism in Dublin. Casting our minds back forms the centrepiece of the Peter Dressler show in Belfast as the work or the late German photographer takes centre stage, this revisionary…

  • Rusangano Family @ The Sugar Club, Dublin

    April 11, 2016 - By 

    There’s been something special brewing in Ireland for the last year or so. If you’ve been lucky you’ve caught glimpses of it here and there, or heard the rumours; something big from the Mid-West. Something new. But after nearly a full year of hor d’ouvres in the shape of feverish shows and tantalising single track releases one of Ireland’s most exciting bands finally has a full album to offer. And while it’s justifiably whipping critics and fans into a frenzy, many know that for the full Rusangano Family hip hop experience you’ve got to see it live. So while the…

  • Forbidden Fruit Add More Acts

    April 7, 2016 - By 

    With the likes of Underworld, Tame Impala and Jungle already announced, Forbidden Fruit have revealed Dizzee Rascal, Katy B, Young Fathers, Katy B and DJ Deece are amongst the acts to perform on the Friday of the June bank holiday festival. Elsewhere, MMOTHS, Beta Band’s Steve Mason, French deep house project Klingande and The Field have also been added to the bill for this year’s festival, which is set to return to Dublin’s Royal Hospital Kilmainham from June 3-5. Check out the current day-to-day line-up below. Tickets for the Friday of Forbidden Fruit go on sale at this Friday (April 8)…

  • Frightened Rabbit – Painting of a Panic Attack

    April 7, 2016 - By 

    The concept of painting a panic attack seems in keeping with the narrative Frightened Rabbit have followed since their debut album Sing the Greys in 2007. Documenting and finding beauty in the grip of anxiety has been a running theme for the Scottish group. Initially a solo project from singer and guitarist Scott Hutchinson, Frightened Rabbit have grown into a band proper and Painting of a Panic Attack is their fifth album. The title itself hints at the themes found over twelve damaged, imperfect but redemptive tracks. Lyrically, all the characteristics of a panic attack are here, from the paranoia and sickness to the dizzying rush and…

  • TV Eye: Horace and Pete

    April 5, 2016 - By 

    The tenth and final episode of Louis CK’s experimental online-self-distributed series, Horace and Pete, arrived in subscribers’ inboxes on Saturday to no fanfare or announcement of the series’ conclusion – simply an email from CK saying he had nothing clever to say about it. It was written, filmed and directed by Louie in the week prior to each release, evidenced by the highly topical barroom discussion, with even Hulk Hogan’s Gawker sex tape discussed. In its finest moments, Horace & Pete feels like zeitgeist-capturing cult television event, and for anyone into it, the personal email from Louis was the highlight…

  • Future of the Left – The Peace and Truce of Future of the Left

    April 4, 2016 - By 

    It’s been almost three years since the last Future of the Left album, though we haven’t exactly been left wanting, with frontman Andrew Falkous delivering two solid albums under his new Christian Fitness moniker in the interim. Nevertheless, it’s undeniably exciting to have the full band back in action, as demonstrated by the PledgeMusic campaign for fifth album The Peace and Truce of Future of the Left reaching its goal in a mere three hours. Their second pledge-funded album, they’re evidently one of model’s success stories, partly due to loyal fans that have been following Falkous since his Mclusky days, but also because they’re a band that…

  • Primal Scream – Chaosmosis

    March 28, 2016 - By 

    Primal Scream are the definition of British indie-rock royalty: former Jesus and Mary Chain drummer Bobby Gillespie’s genre hopping crew – which has welcomed contributors as diverse as Kevin Shields, the Stone Roses’ Mani, Robert Plant and Kate Moss – have constantly evolved their sound, from the jangle of early singles such C86 standout ‘Velocity Girl’ to the generation defining acid house crossover smash Screamadelica. After refusing to cash in on its success with following records, the band have embraced Stonesy boogie – Give Up But Don’t Give Out, Riot City Blues -, pulsating Krautrock – XTRMNTR -, B-movie soundtrack – Vanishing Point–  and everything in…

  • Sheer Mag – III

    March 28, 2016 - By 

    Sheer Mag are essentially the Jackson Lo-Five; that’s not meant as a term of derision, rather one of the endearment. They’ve taken the best parts of the Jackson Five, which would be Michael’s vocal melodies, wrapped it up with early 1970s classic rock and punk music and filtered it through early 1990s lo-fi recording a la Pavement or Beat Happening. While there’s no denying that it is a great deal of fun, the group’s previous singles are a testament to that fact, with their most recent 7 Inch release, III, it’s becoming apparent that are signs of strain in their…