• Body Of Work – You Are The Light Of The World

    August 18, 2017 - By 

    You Are The Light Of The World is the title of Body Of Work’s new EP, a five track collection of improvisations from the Berlin based duo of UK and Ireland natives Tom Moore and darken malign. Released through the circle of dolphins collective, it’s the first work from this newly formed duo and is complimented by being equal parts a visual and musical project. It’s an interesting work, with the primary tone of the EP being one of unease. Both members are non-binary femmes and ex-catholics, whose interests range from a fascination with “wasted youths festering in subcultures” to “liberating…

  • Brand New – Science Fiction

    August 18, 2017 - By 

    What is it about Brand New that has allowed them to be one of rock music’s most enigmatic bands for 15 years now? Despite being raised from the same scene that birthed acts who’ve experienced fairly minimal critical fanfare over the years, Brand New have managed to eschew traditional press courting and yet maintain their role as a media darlings. And now in a sudden, startling drop, they release their fifth album, Science Fiction, after eight years in relative obscurity. For fans who were worried by their most recent single, ‘Mene’, Science Fiction is a return to the form that has…

  • NEOMADiC – The NEOMADiC Tape

    August 14, 2017 - By 

    As sub-genres go, Irish hip hop may have once sounded like a wilfully obscure one. In the past two or three years however it has grown to become a scene that is healthier and stronger than ever before, making it impossible to ignore. Rejjie Snow is a legitimate global star in the making, if his Joey Bada$$ featuring mixtape The Moon & You is anything to go by, with fellow Dub Damola not far behind. Limerick’s Runsangano Family are fast becoming one of Ireland’s most celebrated domestic acts. Dublin duo NEOMADiC then drift comfortably into this vibrant and diverse scene, forming when MC…

  • Randy Newman – Dark Matter

    August 11, 2017 - By 

    For over fifty years now, Randy Newman has been a mainstay of the American music industry, as a songwriter, a performer and a film composer. His songs have been covered by dozens of famous artists, several of his albums have met with critical acclaim, and he has made a comfortable living as the composer of choice for the likes of Pixar (to date he has composed the soundtracks of seven Pixar films). So he is that rare beast, both critically rated and ridiculously successful. Dark Matter, Newman’s 12th album proper, covers a lot of ground in its nine songs, using…

  • Loner Deluxe – Songs I Taped Off The Radio

    August 8, 2017 - By 

    The only way to discover something truly new in music is to experience it without any preconceptions as to what it could encompass. Remove all your expectations, clear your mind of any niggling biases, shut yourself off from any stimuli that could interfere and truly immerse yourself. It’s advice we could all do well to follow, but when the occasional press release promises the birthplace of a brand new genre it’s near impossible to stop your mind spinning with all possibilities of what’s about to happen. Songs I Taped Off The Radio, the second album by Galway-based Loner Deluxe does…

  • Caroline Says – 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t be Wrong

    August 7, 2017 - By 

    Growing up in Alabama, Caroline Sallee (aka Caroline Says) wasn’t within reaching distance of the formidable west coast. After college, she became a waitress in Yellowstone as an exercise in solitude and isolation, saving up to complete a journey of transfiguration along the aforementioned path. She returned to Alabama to record 50,000,000 Elvis Fans Can’t be Wrong in her parents basement, a debut album that captures the melancholic loneliness of such a journey within its nine tracks, just shy of 30 minutes. The thoughts that Caroline Says convey in this initial release are all felt in a passing manner. It’s…

  • Chirpy – Real Life

    August 7, 2017 - By 

    Rebecca Shannon, AKA Chirpy, is long due her time in the sun. Having been involved in various outfits and guises for much of the last decade, the Dublin native is owed acclaim. Her understanding of music is evident with her latest EP, Real Life. The release, which she wrote, recorded and produced, demonstrates her control over how she wants her work to be put forth. It’s delicate and raw with some truly gorgeous arrangements to boot. While it won’t set the world ablaze, it’s an extremely convincing attempt. At six tracks and a remix, it’s a tidy a little package which…

  • Arcade Fire – Everything Now

    August 4, 2017 - By 

    The most troubling time in anyone’s life is adolescence. And often, insecurities born during this time are masked by either acts of defiance or retreat as a way of coming to terms with the transitional phase. It is important then to note that Arcade Fire released their debut, Funeral, 13 years ago. Prior to the release of Everything Now, the fifth studio album from the Canadian band, they engaged in several viral marketing campaigns, each news story or act as incredulous as the last, all garnering substantial media coverage. It began with a fake Twitter profile presented under the guise of…

  • Childhood – Universal High

    July 31, 2017 - By 

    It’s important to recognise and give credit to any artist who is willing to pivot into the realms of complete “what the fuckery”. It’s all too easy to reiterate, recycle and remain trapped in a perfectly serviceable rut. These voyages into unknown have created the likes of Tilt, Homogenic and Velvet Underground. On the other hand, it’s also allowed turds like Metal Machine Music to worm their way into existence. But even a malformation as fiendish as MMM is preferable to something like VU’s Squeeze. Lou Reed and a not insignificant amount of heroin tried and failed where Doug Yule…

  • Lana Del Rey – Lust For Life

    July 31, 2017 - By 

    Change is considered an almost essential feature now but it’s not long ago that it was considered undesirable, maybe even impure. Bob Dylan picking up an electric guitar or The Beatles moving into psychedelia are seen as pivotal innovations now but were utterly derided from certain quarters at the time. It’s worth keeping in mind that Keith Richards only recently called Sgt. Pepper’s… “rubbish” (a fact which illustrates, your own feelings about Mr. Richards aside, he’s one of the all-time bad guys in music. It’s not hard to imagine him living with Mike Love in a dormant volcano in the shape…