• Classic Album: Ash – 1977 (1996)

    April 27, 2016 - By 

    For a moment, it seemed like anything could happen. Three teenagers from Downpatrick are staring blankly from the pages of Smash Hits magazine, fresh from appearing on Top of the Pops. And in 1996, this kind of thing just didn’t happen. Ash were breaking rules left right and centre, and it seemed like they could only go higher. As Oasis and Blur duelled it out with each other in the charts, the Little Band from Northern Ireland that Could seemed hell bent on one thing: destruction. I was 15 when 1977 came out, and it still seems as fresh now…

  • Killing Mockingbirds: An Interview with Jordan

    April 27, 2016 - By 

    As regular fixture and co-founder of Aether & Echo’s Nocturne and The Night Institute parties, Jordan has been at the centre of a lot of what’s been happening in Northern Irish dance music over the past few years. Killing Mockingbirds, the debut EP from the homegrown DJ-producer who cut his teeth in the electronic music world as a student in Leeds, is a five–track house music affair which drafts in Adesse Versions and Borrowed Identity to lend their sensibilities to the record in the form of two remixed tracks. Killing Mockingbirds (which was made available to the public last week)…

  • Track Record: A Tribute to Prince

    April 22, 2016 - By 

    In the wake of his death, we’ve searched through our archives for the Prince records that have left an indelible imprint on the music and life of the artists featured, from Wounded Healer to Cave Ghosts. Photos by Aaron Corr and Ian Pearce. Tim O’Donovan // Buffalo Woman- Purple Rain I never saw the movie the first time round. But the music was just too powerful to ignore. All the songs are so different and have such a personality of their own, but they still all sound like Prince. I love the fact that ‘When Doves Cry’ has no bass in it. I love the fact…

  • Sometimes It Snows In April: Remembering Prince.

    April 21, 2016 - By 

    There will never be another artist like Prince. And ‘artist’ is the only word that one can use to describe him. Whether it be in his visionary approach to recording music, his concept of himself as a multi-media master, conquering the stage and screen, or his almost perfect grasp of song craft, Prince approached every aspect of his life as if it were art. First garnering attention as a boy wonder, writing, producing and performing every instrument on his debut album, the first signs of Prince’s genius were exposed when he performed the incredible trick of unearthing the very magma…

  • Not Gospel: Don’t Fear The Reaper

    April 22, 2016 - By 

    Time, they say, is a great healer. Unfortunately, as has been so visibly proved this year, it can exact a heavy cost. The world of rock and roll has lost a handful of the greats, with Lemmy, Bowie, The Eagles’ Glen Frey, and Jefferson Airplane’s Paul Kantner all going to that great gig in the sky within a matter of weeks. But is there anything sinister about all this? After all, people day every day, and occasionally, some of them are rock stars. But with a certain section of the rock fraternity all approaching a certain age, we can be…

  • DIY Dublin: Tropical Popical

    April 20, 2016 - By 

    In this installment of DIY Dublin we pop into Tropical Popical, a vibrant nail salon on South William street in the city centre, positively oozing with colour and kitchiness. Aidan Kelly Murphy chats to Andrea Horan about setting up the salon with her sister Michelle and the rise of creative nail art. Photos by Abi Denniston. How did the idea of opening a nail salon in Dublin come about? These ideas always come from a selfish need or requirement I think, especially when it’s not just a ‘Get Rich Quick’ idea. Myself and my sister were bopping around the States…

  • Odessey & Oracle: An Interview with Colin Blunstone

    April 19, 2016 - By 

    Colin Blunstone is the lead singer of the legendary British band The Zombies, and has enjoyed a successful solo career since the band split in 1969. Eimear Hurley caught up with the singer fresh off of his solo tour in the UK and Holland, and ahead of a busy summer touring schedule with his solo band and the Zombies. Hi Colin. You have enjoyed a fantastic musical career so far, spanning five decades. Can you tell me about your experience of being an artist in the 21st century compared to when you first started? The business is almost unrecognisable from…

  • Record Store Day 2016

    April 18, 2016 - By 

    In the early years of Record Store Day, depending on where you lived in Ireland your choice of independent record shops to visit may have been limited or even nonexistent. But despite the growth of downloads and streaming in the eight years since the day started, while some old shops have died away, many more have sprung up in their place, and many of those who had nowhere to go in 2008 are now spoiled for choice. As the number of limited edition releases grow and major labels further muscle in on the event it’s easy to grow cynical and…

  • The Liberation of Loss: An Interview with Guy Garvey

    April 18, 2016 - By 

    The rest of 2016 is shaping up to be very busy for Guy Garvey. In between winding down his sojourn in support of solo debut Courting The Squall, the Elbow front-man is curating this year’s Meltdown Festival at the Barbican before rejoining his band mates to write a follow-up to 2014’s The Take Off And Landing Of Everything. Jonny Currie chats to Guy about cathedrals, etymology, and being a bit of a community freak. You’ve played Belfast a number of times over the years. Do you have any particular memories that stick out? I love Belfast! One memory that sticks in…

  • Rave New World (15/04)

    April 15, 2016 - By 

    Aidan Hanratty gives you the week’s best gigs, tracks, mixes and releases. Gigs Zehr Gut present Dana Ruh at Bar Tengu, Dublin Friday 15 April Homebeat, the guys behind Another Love Story and more, are kicking off a new event called Zehr Gut. In collaboration with Goethe-Institut Irland, its aim is to promote German musicianship and artistry in Ireland. First up in that regard is German DJ and producer Dana Ruh. She’s put out countless records in the past decade, and plays at home and away pretty much constantly. Expect a heady mix of house and techno. Bodytonic present: Neneh Cherry (DJ Set) at…