• Track Record: Caoilian Sherlock (The Shaker Hymn)

    June 27, 2014 - By 

    In the latest installment of Track Record – a feature looking at the record collections of Irish musicians and artists – photographer Brid O’Donovan shoots Caoilian Sherlock, lead singer and guitarist for Cork alt-rock four-piece The Shaker Hymn choosing and selecting some of his all-time favourite records, everything from legendary West Coast rappers and local psych-rock masters. The Clash – London Calling This is the only Clash album I actually like. When myself and my friend Oran were fifteen we went to Kerry for a holiday and we had two albums. Oran was the first person I met that knew about records…

  • Stream: Spies – Moosehead

    June 24, 2014 - By 

    Bursting straight out of the traps, ‘Moosehead’ by Dublin five-piece Spies is nothing if not a sonic statement of intent from a band tipped to go far over the next few months. A gazey post-punk effort brimming with confidence and purpose, the track – produced by Rian Trench of Solar Bears – sees subtly soaring guitar textures, propulsive rhythms and Matthew Broderick’s sublime vocals merge to form one of the most impressive songs from an Irish band we’ve heard this year so far. Check out Spies’ forthcoming gig dates and the video for ‘Moosehead’ below. July 26: The Old Blue Last, London July 28: The Sebright Arms,…

  • Watch: FLAWS – Feels Like Home

    June 23, 2014 - By 

    Ahead of their debut EP launch on Wednesday night, Belfast-based three-pieceFLAWS have released their video for their first single, ‘Feels Like Home’. Evoking the stadium-worthy melodic rock of In Case of Fire – a band that two thirds of FLAWS, Steven Robinson and Thomas Camblin, were once members – the track is an infectious three-and-a-half minutes of melodic alt-rock, redolent of a certain increasingly bygone sound of in Northern Irish music, Indeed, according to the band’s label, OLD FANG, FLAWS “pack a welcome punch not seen in Belfast this side of the late-noughties banjo haze”. A battle cry in favour of…

  • Inbound: Dear Desert

    June 19, 2014 - By 

    In this installment of Inbound – a feature introducing some of the country’s finest fast-rising musical talent – we chat to newly-formed Dublin-based band Dear Desert about how they got together, their influences and plans for the future. Hi guys. Can you tell us a bit about yourselves individually? Brendan: We are a Dublin based band but we all come from different parts of the country. We’re all working in Dublin and doing our best to make time to write and head to gigs. I work in music, so its easy to keep an ear out for new bands to see.…

  • Watch: Tucan – As It Was

    June 18, 2014 - By 

    In the very best sense possible, Sligo instrumental band Tucan have released easily one of the most gloriously messed up videos we’ve seen in quite some time for their new single, ‘As It Was’. Directed by Bobby McGlynn and Bryan Quinn, the video – featuring some extraordinary acting by Jonathan Gunning – features cinematography by Peter Martin and was filmed at The Model in Sligo last year. We challenge you to find a video featuring such an array of facial expressions – some more maniacal than others – from a single actor. Taken from Towers, ‘As It Was’ sees Tucan reinvent themselves…

  • Watch: Michael Mormecha – Mixtapes

    June 18, 2014 - By 

    Lifted from his forthcoming debut solo album, Mojo Fury frontman Michael Mormecha has unveiled the video to his first ever solo single, ‘Mixtapes’. A wonderfully idiosyncratic affair, nicely placed between Mojo’s symbolic sorcery and Mormecha’s more acoustically-inclined work as Clown Parlour, the track’s intrigue and charm resides in its masterfully stripped-back approach. Watch the video for ‘Mixtapes’ – directed by DogKennel productions, and featuring Mormecha perform the song in the woods – below.  

  • EP Stream: SertOne – Mouthful

    June 16, 2014 - By 

    Liverpool-based, Portadown-derived beatmaker SertOne has released a tasty new five-track EP, titled Mouthful. Available in both digital and cassette form, the EP – released via Fly High Society – is a brilliantly bass-led effort, layering warm textures with skittering rhythms and stabs of balmy synth. According to SertOne’s Bandcamp page, the EP “fuses the sounds of modern electronic music with the exciting new sounds emerging in the forms of Chicago’s Drill & Footwork.” And fuses extremely well at that, we reckon. Stream the EP below now. Mouthful EP by SertOne

  • EP Stream: Making Monsters – Attention

    June 16, 2014 - By 

    Having released the stellar ‘Nosebleed’ just last week, Derry alt-metal band Making Monsters have released their new five-track EP, Attention. Produced, mixed and mastered by Neal Calderwood at Manor Park Studios, the EP – an extremely impressive and powerfully attacking release – is the follow-up to the band’s promising 2012 self-titled debut EP. Check out the band’s forthcoming tour dates and stream Attention via Bandcamp below. Attention by MakingMonsters

  • Stream: Dear Desert – Give It Up

    June 13, 2014 - By 

    Comprised of Richie Fenon, James O’Donnell of Hush War Cry and Brendan Millar of Futures Apart, the band , new-fangled Dublin electro/indie-pop trio Dear Desert have unveiled their debut offering, ‘Give It Up’ – and what a resounding first offering it is. Conjuring the likes of Belfast band Go Wolf and The Radio Dept., the track betrays a real confidence and command that is often lacking from debut singles, the track’s lush amalgam of balmy synth lines, echoing beats and soulful vocals melding to deliver a subtly spellbinding four-minute track. Stream the track – produced by Darragh Nolan – via Soundcloud below.

  • Watch: Go Swim – Animal

    June 11, 2014 - By 

    The follow-up to their February single, ‘Call Sign’, Belfast-based indie pop five-piece Go Swim have released the video to ‘Animal’. Filmed in Belfast’s Belvoir forest, the video – featuring Jennifer Marshall and Dan Cullen – was directed by Darren Lee of Maverick Renegade. The concept of the video – which we shan’t ruin for you – was created by the band’s singer, Steve Smith. The track is taken from the band’s forthcoming EP of the same, set for release at White’s Tavern, Belfast on Friday, June 27. Go here to buy tickets and watch the video below.