• Stream: The Jepettos – Troubles EP

    Officially launched at the weekend at Belfast’s wonderful Sunflower Bar, Troubles, the latest EP by Northern Irish twee-folk collective The Jepettos is available to stream and purchase via Bandcamp. Featuring the singles ‘Chemicals’ and ‘Water’ (featuring Alana Henderson and Scott Jamison of Go Wolf) the four-track EP is a brief but brilliantly burrowing release brimming with the band’s instantly recognisable brand of lullaby folk. Stream (or buy for a mere £3.00) the EP via Bandcamp below.

  • Stream: Benihana – Patterns EP

    Kildare electronic duo Will Molloy and Billy Archbold AKA Benihana have unveiled a stream of their debut EP, Patterns. Having released a couple of tracks throughout the year – including the spectral ‘Vanish’ – the pair’s five-track release veers between understated techno and synth-driven electronic pop, serving as a brief but brilliant introduction to a duo likely to concoct great things over the next while. Stream (or pay what you like for) the EP via Bandcamp below.

  • Stream: My Tribe Your Tribe – Vol. II EP

    Dublin-based singer-songwriter and producer George Mercer AKA My Tribe Your Tribe is streaming his second solo EP, the aptly-titled Vol. II. Formerly of Boy Lights Fire, Mercer released Vol. 1 back in April. Vol. II is mainly comprised of material written since the musician moved to Dublin from Laois in June. Speaking of the release Mercer said “My direction felt like it was changing. A lot of the previous influences and styles of music I has been listening to over the past couple of years were surfacing in my writing.” “I wanted to bring the immediacy of folk and popular music into play,…

  • EP Stream: Chocolate Love Factory – Pickle & POG

    Ahead of its launch at Belfast’s Radar tonight, Thursday November 14, Belfast-based four-piece Chocolate Love Factory have released a digital stream of their latest EP, Pickle & POG. A six-track release featuring the single ‘Motivator’, the EP was recorded between Clark Phillips and Ben McAuley over the last year and a half. Following the departure of bassist Pearse McClelland, the band have recently expanded to a four-piece, incorporating members of the equally progressively-inclined Yellow Car No Return and The Institute* into the fold. Go here for the event page for the band’s EP launch, also set to feature The Big…

  • EP Stream: Little Matador – Liar Liar

    Ahead of supporting Queens of the Stone Age at Belfast’s Odyssey arena this day next week, Little Matador have unveiled their debut EP, Liar Liar A four track release, currently available at the merch stall on the band’s current tour with Jimmy Eat World, the EP serves as fully-realised introduction to Little Matador’s sound, from the charging alt-rock of ‘Boom Boom’ to the anthemic ‘Swagger’ of ‘Give Me All You’ve Got’. Check our interview with the band’s frontman Nathan Connolly (also guitarist with the up-and-coming Snow Patrol) here. Stream Liar Liar below.

  • EP Stream: Sea Pinks – Exploded View

    Released via frontman Neil Brogan’s own label – CF Records – Belfast band Sea Pinks have unveiled their new EP, Exploded View. Featuring the double A-Side ‘An Exploded View’ and ‘Magpies Eyes’, the release also features the tracks ‘PST’ and ‘Pretty Pass’. The follow-up to last September’s fantastic Freak Waves, the EP is limited to 100 7″s. Purchase one here. Stream (or buy) the digital EP via Bandcamp below.

  • Alarmist – Pal Magnet EP track-by-track interview

    On the day of its official release, Dublin instrumental quartet Alarmist talk us through each track on their brand new – not to mention exceptionally good – EP Pal Magnet. Read their words and stream each track individually below! Aztec Dreams In this song we were trying to be quite intense but in an unconventional way, with these old-school guitar tones and blippy melodies rather than heavy rock riffs. A couple of us had gotten really into the 1950s producer Joe Meek and his albumI Hear a New World, which is full of these twangy slapback sounds and primitive early synths, and that…

  • Exclusive EP stream: Katharine Philippa – Broken To Be Rebuilt

    Ahead of its release tonight at Belfast’s McMordie Hall, we are delighted to present an exclusive stream of the spectacular Broken To Be Rebuilt, the eagerly-anticipated new EP from singer-songwriter Katharine Philippa. Co-produced, mixed and master by Matt Duke, the six-track EP features extra instrumentation from five different musicians, including Duke himself. The closing track is an orchestra quartet version of the album’s title track, bookending a release that perfectly captures Philippa’s spectral and sublime craft. Stream the EP in full below.

  • EP Stream: The Mighty Stef – Iveagh Flats

    With hints of everyone from Queens of the Stone Age, Echo and the Bunnymen and Mark Lanegan, Dublin band The Mighty Stef are streaming their extremely impressive new EP, Iveagh Flats. Serving as a sampler of their forthcoming new album – produced in Los Angeles by none other than Alain Johannes of Queens of the Stone Age and Them Crooked Vultures repute – the three-track release really underlines the band’s forward momentum at the moment. Stream the three-track EP via Soundcloud below.

  • EP Stream: Paper Man – After Effects

    Showing huge potential, young Ballyclare-based alt-rock four-piece Paper Man have unveiled their debut EP, After Effects. Produced by Michael McCluskey, the five-track release (including a live track, ‘Hieroglyphics’) the EP “demonstrates,” in the band’s own words, “the roots from which the band have been influenced to write and play their alternative style of indie rock music.” Paper Man count the likes of local band A Plastic Rose, The Beatles and Smashing Pumpkins as three of their main influences. Stream After Effects via Bandcamp below.