• Track Record: Al Higgins (Le Galaxie)

    October 13, 2015 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record, we call into to Al Higgins from Le Galaxie for a cup of tea and a chat about some of his most favourite and influential records from The Cars to Chromeo. Photos by Francisco Michel. Deutsch Electronische Musik – Volume 1 I bought this after watching one of those BBC4 music documentaries on Krautrock. That’s term that still doesn’t make sense to me and it’s also a bit offensive, but then I suppose it is easier to say than Deutsch Electronische Musik. This always goes down well at parties and I am constantly having to…

  • Monday Mixtape: James McNew (Yo La Tengo)

    October 12, 2015 - By 

    Ahead of their highly-anticipated return to Dublin at the National Concert Hall on Thursday night (October 15), Yo La Tengo’s James McNew reveals eight tracks “that roll through my head almost every single day of my life”, including Cornelius, Grateful Dead & El-P. EL-P – Deep Space 9mm  Every detail, and there are ones I’m still discovering, has gotten me to the end of every day since 2002. This guy somehow finds the exact humor/ humanity in the scariest of shit, just when you need it. Grateful Dead – Live on Beat Club   Like a dream where you discover new…

  • Inbound: The Cujo Family

    October 13, 2015 - By 

    The story of The Cujo Family is a familiar one. Since their conception eight years ago they’ve amassed a serious, almost fervent fan base through their poetic song writing and knees-up live shows. Yet despite wide acclaim, full widespread attention remains elusive. Then life does its thing, and nips at your time with work, children, the day to day. And though music may remain the centre of your world, it’s one that has to be shaped around the very real needs of being a normal human. Yet that doesn’t mean you should give up, because here they come again. With…

  • EP Premiere: Grassfight – Please Don’t Tell

    October 8, 2015 - By 

    With influences as downright venerable as Spacemen 3, The Brian Jonestown Massacre and Spoon, New York quartet Grassfight meld cosmically-inclined indie-pop with a subtly anthemic moxie that’s positively strewn across their new EP, Please Don’t Tell – a release which we’re delighted to premiere in full ahead of its release tomorrow (Friday, October 9) Tempting the semi-inevitable Fleetwood Mac comparison (no bad thing in itself, surely), their new five-track EP documents the break-up between two of the band members. Naturally, then, a certain weight of import permeates the length and breadth of the release – the latter word faring pretty operative in the EP feeling not…

  • Lingo Festival Interview: Saul Williams

    October 7, 2015 - By 

    Saul Williams as an artistic figure is a force of unshakeable power. His ability over the course of his career to tackle social, personal and political issues with verve and master craftsmanship has been insurmountable and defiant of any possible pigeonholing. From poetry to music, from acting to journalism, William’s medium defying career has turned him into an artistic totem in the sphere of social commentary. I spoke to him about his recently published poetic commentary on the state of America, US(a.) – a work that began when he returned to the States having lived in Paris for several years…

  • Hyperbolex with Ray Wingnut: The Alternative Radio Times

    October 7, 2015 - By 

    “What do you mean you didn’t do much? You taught a generation of broadcasters that you needn’t be an asshole to be on TV!” This reassuring compliment to a self-deprecating Dónal Dineen hits me right in the sweet spot. The comment was by Ger Gilroy, host of the Saturday Panel segment of Newstalk’s Off The Ball sports radio show.  Dineen is on to talk about Kerry football but the subject has swung briefly to his days on the seminal No Disco music television show.  I’m loving all of this. The discussion has beautifully tied together three of my outspoken passions;…

  • Vault Lines: The Evangelists

    October 5, 2015 - By 

    ‘Jesus Is Dead, Long Live… The Evangelists’, so says the sticker on my old record box. It has been there for 13 years or more, and every time I look at it still evokes feelings of nostalgia for both the band and for the time when I first came across them. It was back in 2002, and my friend Cathy Wright and I had just started doing a weekly radio show and website, both called Alternative Ulster. The whole show and site were dedicated to covering nothing but Northern Irish music. At this time the local music scene was still…

  • Monday Mixtape: Horace Panter (The Specials)

    October 5, 2015 - By 

    Artist and co-founding bassist of 2-Tone legends The Specials, Horace Panter reveals his ten all-time favourite tracks, including Laurel Aitken, Nirvana and The Rolling Stones. Spencer Davis Group – Trampoline The Bside to their 1966 Fontana release ‘When I Come Home’. Sounds like Booker T & the MG’s but was recorded by four young men from Kingstanding in Birmingham! When I was 13, I imagined myself as a pirate radio DJ. This was my theme tune – it still is! Robert Ward – Pour Me One More Drink  An out-take from his 1992 album on the New Orleans ‘Black Top’ label. Sarah Brown on…

  • Rave New World (2/10)

    October 2, 2015 - By 

    With Antoin struck down by the wifi devils, Aidan Hanratty delivers the lowdown on all the very best electronic gigs, tracks, mixes and releases of the week. GIGS Trade (Blawan + Surgeon) & Sunil Sharpe at District 8 Friday 2 October 2015 What a lineup. Techno heavyweights Blawan and Surgeon come together under their Trade banner, while their friend and associate Sunil Sharpe supports. This will be big. Out To Lunch presents Laurel Halo, Andras Fox and Aquarian at Bar Tengu Saturday 3 October 2015 Out To Lunch present another stellar lineup at Bar Tengu. Laurel Halo, a worthy draw anyway, has…

  • Interview: Wyvern Lingo

    October 2, 2015 - By 

    Having just released their stellar new single, ‘Subside’, Wyvern Lingo are really riding the crest of a wave at the minute. Touching on their formation, their creative process, touring with Hozier and their plans for the future, the Wicklow threesome chat to Robert Higgins. Hi guys. First off, how did the three of you originally meet? We met just before the start of secondary school. We all grew up quite close to each other in Bray. #brayisclass Who were some of your earliest influences? Were there any Irish acts that inspired you? It was a mixture of classic rock bands…