• Irish Tracks of the Week – April 30th

    April 30, 2021 - By 

    This week’s refreshingly eclectic releases include Loah’s incredible National Poetry Day release, Irish Refugee Council fundraising compilation European Endless – featuring Arvo Party, The Bonk, Fixity, Whozyerman? and more – Ghostking Is Dead, Soda Blonde, and many more. Loah – The Body to the Soul The Body to the Soul by Loah Ghostking is Dead – Biceps Biceps by Ghostking Is Dead Various Artists – European Endless European Endless: 12 by European Endless Bedrooms – Afterglow EP Afterglow by Bedrooms Ódú – Men Like Me Soda Blonde – In The Heat of the Night Small Talk by Soda Blonde Dani Larkin –…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – April 23

    April 23, 2021 - By 

    It’s been yet another banner week for Irish music. Dig into the best new sounds of the past seven days below, featuring new sounds from Ships, The Altered Hours, Villagers, TOYGIRL, Kojaque, Smoothboi Ezra and more The Altered Hours – All Amnesia All Amnesia by The Altered Hours Villagers – The First Day Ships – One to the Ward TOYGIRL – Water Kojaque – Town’s Dead SORBET – Only For The Young feat. Arborist BANYAH – Black Fires Pretty Happy – Sea Sea Sea Smoothboi Ezra – Stuck Seba Safe – Map Runner Amerik – Bouquet EP Bouquet by Amerik…

  • Watch: Cat – Slipping (Acoustic)

    April 22, 2021 - By 

    Having featured countless Irish artists of every conceivable mode over the years, we feel we’re pretty on the ball when recognising when a new act is destined for seismic things in the future. Dublin alt-pop artist Cat is one of those artists. Released last month, her debut single ‘Slipping’ is a feat of subtlety and pure, melodic poise. Taking centre stage is an extraordinary voice that we can’t wait to hear more of. Speaking about her approach to songwriting, Cat said: “I want to normalise the right to being emotional and unapologetic in your art and represent anyone out there who has ever felt judged for doing…

  • Villagers Announce New Album and Tour, Releases ‘The First Day’

    April 21, 2021 - By 

    Over the last few years, Conor O’Brien’s sublime output as Villagers has been nothing if not ecstatic, euphoric and escapist. Yesterday, the Dublin artist used those exact descriptors to introduce ‘The First Day,’ the first single to be taken from his forthcoming fifth album, Fever Dreams. Set for release on August 20th via Domino, it marks the follow-up to 2018’s The Art of Pretending To Swim. Accompanied by a Daniel Brereton-directed video, the coursing symphonic pop of ‘The First Day’ is peak Villagers and a strong indication that Fever Dreams could go down as a milepost in an already distinguished career. Pencilled in for…

  • Watch: piglet – mill

    April 21, 2021 - By 

    Belfast-raised, London-based songwriter & producer Charlie Loane emerged as a compelling voice fronting his past project, the DIY electronics duo Great Dad. Continuing to explore themes of queer/trans experience, further filtered through personal experience, the arrival of his debut solo EP as Piglet, alex’s birthday, last year revealed an artist fully forging their own path. Off the back of two collaborative tracks with Porridge Radio, which received coverage from Pitchfork among others in February, Loane returns today with their most emphatic single to date. Bridging woozy lo-fi solipsism in the vein (Sandy) Alex G with the swarming brass of Bowie circa Blackstar, it’s a triumphant, homespun…

  • Several Irish Acts Among The Great Escape Second Wave Line-up

    April 21, 2021 - By 

    Several Irish acts are among the second wave announcement for this year’s Great Escape. Set to make its debut digital outing across May 13-14, the annual Brighton festival and showcase have revealed Dani Larkin, Hazey Haze, Strange Boy, Conchúr White, New Pagans, Sinead O’Brien, Smoothboi Ezra (pictured), Soda Blonde, Sprints and Melts as part of their latest line-up reveal. This year’s online festival will feature performances from more than 150 acts across two days. Festival tickets are available via the Great Escape website.

  • Inbound: Amerik

    April 21, 2021 - By 

    In the early 2000s, Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello’s method of overcoming physical distance in musical collaboration was so unusual that they named the resulting project – The Postal Service – after it. In 2021, it’s the new normal. Funny, then, that Adam Booth, Belfast producer of instrumental music under the moniker Amerik, chose the current climate for his first collaborative effort. Perfectly timed as we all prepare to get a little closer to each other, his second EP, Bouquet, brings together Gareth Dunlop, Travi The Native, Little Rivers, and Pete Wallace for a richly seasoned collection of heartfelt sounds…

  • Stream: The Altered Hours – All Amnesia

    April 21, 2021 - By 

    Over the last ten years, Cork’s The Altered Hours have repeatedly underscored their reputation as one of the country’s most singular bands. A force to be reckoned with live, and always a fiercely distinctive proposition in the studio, they have flown the flag for psych-leaning experimental rock here like no other. Last week, the Elaine Howley-fronted band announced their return with the news that they’ve signed with Dundalk imprint Pizza Pizza Records, home to Just Mustard, Larry and others. Having released via Art For Blind, Penske and A Recording over the years, it cues the next chapter in the band’s…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – April 16

    April 16, 2021 - By 

    Here are the very best Irish tracks of the week, featuring Fears, Ra Gerra, KK Lewis, Joshua Burnside, Ferals, Strange Boy, The Bonk, Local Boy, Xona, Orla Gartland and more. The Bonk – Chore Loops EP Chore Loops by The Bonk Fears – Fabric Oíche by Fears Ra Gerra – Pressure Strange Boy – Waiting KK Lewis – First Bus Home Ferals – A Collection of Unreleased Works EP Joshua Burnside – Higher Places Local Boy – Thoughts Comrade Hat – Old Gods, Vol. 1 Old Gods, Vol. 1 by Comrade Hat Punching Peaches – Wristwitch Xona – Waiting Chxmist…

  • Premiere: chxmist – Waiting For You (feat Anna Mooney)

    April 15, 2021 - By 

    Like many independent Irish producers over the last few months, chxmist has found the headspace, and inspiration, to eke out art from strained times. Following on from remixing TOYGIRL and producing for rapper FYNCH, the Dublin-based artist has teamed up with Galway’s Anna Mooney for a slick dose of electropop that filters the promise of much brighter days to come. Bearing the imprint of the likes of Jon Hopkins and Jamie xx, ‘Waiting For You is a forward-pushing earworm that, in the words of chxmist, hopes to strike “a sonic balance between the darkness of a lockdown and the relief,…