• The Thin Air’s Top 50 Irish Releases of 2015 (50-41)

    December 14, 2015 - By 

    Ahead of our annual Top 100 Irish Tracks of the Year countdown later this month, we’re counting down our Top 50 Irish Releases of 2015 (that is to say EPs and albums) every day this week. And rather than giving the game away too soon, we’ve opted for the age-old descending option, starting with 50-41. Dig in. 50. Screamingparent – The Completist Back in April, Dudley Colley of Dublin’s Dudley Corporation AKA Screamingparent released his ten-track debut of “spare-room recorded bedroom classics”. Call it his first solo “misadventure”, it was recorded in between school runs and nappy changes. True story: The Guardian SC somewhere…

  • Irish Tour: Therapy?

    December 13, 2015 - By 

    With words from Conor Callanan at the former, Ste Murray and Liam Kielt capture the mighty Therapy? at The Button Factory, Dublin and Belfast’s Limelight 1 (AAA). The Button Factory, Dublin One of the main qualities of a band such as Therapy? is their pure and unadulterated unwillingness to compromise. During their 26 year career they’ve never shied away from sticking steadfastly to their guns when it comes to releasing what they’ve wanted. No matter what the response may be from fans or critics alike. With the release of 1994’s Troublegum it seemed like Therapy? were on the cusp of something…

  • Rave New World (11/12)

    December 11, 2015 - By 

    One year on from their first installment, Antoin Lindsay and Aidan Hanratty return for their latest look at the very best electronic gigs, tracks, mixes and releases of the week. GIGS Shine Pres: Robert Hood at Limelight 1, Belfast Friday 11 December The undisputed master of techno is making an appearance in Belfast tonight and he’ll surely blow some socks off. You don’t become as revered as Robert Hood without good reason. He’s consistently incredible with a dizzying array of classics under his belt. Local rising stars Schmutz in support should top off a stellar night. AL Out To Lunch presents…

  • Interview: Butterfly Child

    December 11, 2015 - By 

    Will Murphy chats to Belfast born, LA based Joe Cassidy of seminal 90’s dream pop act Butterfly Child about releasing his latest record – his first since 1997 – John Peel and discussing Northern Irish politics with Scott Walker. Hi Joe! How has it been getting back into the releasing an album routine? It’s been really weird. I don’t know how much you know about what I did because it’s all old news, but I haven’t put out a Butterfly Child record since 1997. It wasn’t like I stopped making music though. I’ve been working on multiple other things with a…

  • Monday Mixtape: Jason Loewenstein (Sebadoh)

    December 14, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Monday Mixtape, Jason Loewenstein of lo-fi legends Sebadoh and Fiery Furnaces selects live versions of some of his all-time favourite tracks from the likes of Deerhoof, Unsane and Devo. Dummy Dumpster – Hatchet Sebadoh wandered into the swamps of Louisiana last year where my mind was blown by this band. Chaotic energy is addictive. Deerhoof – Flower Definitely one of the most exciting live bands of all time. This is the “classic lineup” with Chris Cohen still on guitar. NRBQ – Get Rhythm The best bar band of all time. What a rhythm section. Antelope –…

  • Mixtape: 30 Years of Dinosaur Jr.

    December 7, 2015 - By 

    Currently celebrating their grand 30th anniversary with a seven-night run at the Bowery, Dinosaur Jr. have long laid claim to being bona fide indie rock dignitaries. From their 1985 self-titled debut as Dinosaur and almighty 87-89 heyday to Lou Barlow’s acrimonious departure shortly thereafter and the founding threesome of Barlow, J Mascis and Murph’s Second Coming in 2007, they have time and again re-asserted their peerless status. With every glorious hook, “Come on down/over” and fuzzed out, wailing guitar solo in mind, we’ve compiled a thirty-track Spotify playlist of our very favourite Dinosaur Jr. songs in chronological order. Check it out and keep up…

  • Interview: White Collar Boy

    December 2, 2015 - By 

    Dublin duo White Collar Boy have been turning heads of late. With an increasing focus on their live show over the past few years, the pair have already impressed with their warped electronica; from the leftfield garage of 2013’s SUUU/Tide EP, to the accessible slow burn of 2012’s Kinsale. Having met each other at Primavera and subsequently forming in 2011, the pair have supported the likes of Factory Floor, Com Truise and Creep on tour, and are ready to mark the apex of their journey so far by releasing their debut LP in 2016. Euphoric lead single ‘Away From Reality’…

  • Independents in Paris: Tricatel

    December 1, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Independents in Paris – his feature looking at some of the city’s finest indie imprints – photographer Tom McGeehan chats to Bertrand Burgalat and Céline Lepage of boutique label Tricatel Records, which has become synonymous with futuristic retro-chic, innovation and a fierce attachment to independent spirit, as well as having helped define the “Burgalat sound”, a major influence on acts including Air and Daft Punk. A label that is coming up on it’s twentieth birthday, tell us a bit about how it came to exist?  Bertrand Burgalat (Tricatel Head): I started Tricatel more as a production company than as a proper label,…

  • Rave New World (27/11)

    November 27, 2015 - By 

    Antoin Lindsay and Aidan Hanratty return for their latest look at the very best electronic gigs, tracks, mixes and releases of the week. GIGS Maya Jane Coles at District 8, Dublin Levon Vincent & Fred P aka Black Jazz Consortium at District 8, Dublin Friday 27, Saturday 28 November Levon Vincent courted controversy in the wake of the recent Paris attacks. Encouraging his Facebook fans to carry weapons to protect themselves and deleting dissenting views, he dug himself several holes. He’s now left Twitter (for the time-being). It’s tough to plug this gig, but it’s hard not to as plays…