• Annual Irish Festive Single Round-up

    December 14, 2016 - By 

    Let’s face it: it takes a veritable sleigh-full of brass to release a festive single in this day and age. Thankfully, though, we’re blessed with a handful of homegrown artists that know how to do it and do it right. So, from now until Saturday, December 24, we’re going to update this very post with every single festive single of note from a small medley of inspirited Irish artists. To kick us off, we have Aghagallon’s Ciaran Lavery, Derry’s Our Krypton Son, Belfast’s Rory Nellis and Die Hexen, Kilrea’s Robyn G Shiels and Dublin’s No Monster Club. Ciaran Lavery – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas…

  • Stream: No Monster Club – Start The Carvery

    December 14, 2016 - By 

    Having released both I Feel Magic back in February (one of our favourite Irish records of the year, no less) and their Where Did You Get That Milkshake? EP in October, it’s safe to say Dublin indie maestros par excellence No Monster Club have earned some end-of-year downtime. But before reaching for the crackers and sherry, Bobby Aherne and co. have offered us a little yuletide parting gift in the form of ‘Start The Carvery’, a wonderfully (and typically) virulent slice of festive song from the Popical Island bunch. Check that out below and hit up the band’s episode of New Jersey musical webseries Do…

  • Video Premiere: Malojian – This Is Nowhere (Aren’t You Lonely)

    December 14, 2016 - By 

    The title track from the band’s stellar, Steve Albini-produced, Northern Ireland Music Prize-nominated third album, ‘This Is Nowhere’ by Malojian confines within its three and a half minutes precisely what has always enthralled us when it comes to the Belfast band’s craft. As with many of the tracks on This Is Nowhere – which is available to buy now via Kilkenny’s mighty Rollercoaster Records – this is music that is born when the soul seeks solace through song in a world that doesn’t always reciprocate the simple hopes and wishes of good people. Featuring footage shot both at home, but mainly at Albini’s Electrical…

  • Watch: Franklyn – Friends

    December 12, 2016 - By 

    Having played a pretty emphatic Thin Air Tuesday Throwdown at Lavery’s in Belfast back in October, Franklyn – a fast-rising quartet comprised of members of General Fiasco and The Jane Bradfords – have been drip-feeding a series of punchy, earworming singles since forming in late 2015. Set for release as part of a double a-side with ‘Tongue Tied’ via No Dancing on January 13, new single ‘Friends’ is a sublime slice of bobbing, Bombay Bicycle Club-esque indie-pop confronting one of the shittier, seemingly unavoidable aspects of getting older: the unreliability and disappearance of (some) one-time good friends. Check out Declan Gallen’s video for…

  • EP Stream: Gnarkats – Waves Collide

    December 8, 2016 - By 

    Belfast-based indie rockers Gnarkats have just released their debut EP proper, Waves Collide. With sonic touchstones including anthemic, yet stilted alt. rock in the vein classic Biffy Clyro or Foals, a touch of the sharp, hook-laden Bangor sound made famous by Two Door Cinema Club, through to the guitar-led tonal bliss of recent ASIWYFA, it’s a more carefully crafted follow-up to their garagey early tunes. Never short on atmosphere or tone, the EP was tellingly produced by Mojo Fury’s Michael Mormecha at Millbank Studios. With this behind them, the young foursome look to have an exciting year ahead. Stream Waves Collide below:

  • Stream: Overhead, The Albatross – Our Youth Our Younger

    December 8, 2016 - By 

    Dublin instrumental behemoths Overhead, The Albatross have premiered their first new track since the release of their debut LP in May of this year. The track, ‘Our Youth, Our Younger’ is a deftly assembled mix of glitchy electronics, ferocious post-rock guitars and percussion, longing strings and curious, philosophical audio cuts of children’s voices. It is the first track the band have recorded since the departure of their previous bassist Joe Panama, with Twiggy taking over duties on this particular track. The strings and vocals are performed by Lia Wright. This release comes a day before the band play their biggest…

  • Inbound: Jesse Heffernan

    December 8, 2016 - By 

    Jesse Heffernan’s musical style has developed and matured naturally with each experience and influence met by the Dublin singer songwriter throughout his varied trajectory. The laid back, atmospheric tendencies of his expanding catalogue draws from the modes of articulation perfected by classical figures (Marvin Gaye, Van Morrison and John Martyn) and specific elements of contemporary musicians such as the lo-fi guitar reverb of King Krule’s early single, ‘Out Getting Ribs’, which is re-enacted on Heffernan’s ‘Electric Shoes’ This diversity gives density to his mellow melodies and soulful vocals which effortlessly lull you into a state of uninterrupted calm, a rarity…

  • Premiere: Cal Folger Day – Song From A Party

    December 8, 2016 - By 

    Born in Washington D.C. and an occasional resident of NYC, Cal Folger Day has steadily established as one of the more idiosyncratic and consistently nonpareil musicians in Ireland over the last few years. Taken from her brand new four-track compilation 2016 singles, ‘Song From A Party’ is a song Folger Day says she, “wrote this song many years ago, which should be evident from the strength of my emotions about boys at parties!” Featuring footage from a Brooklyn house show shot by Cameron Kelly and Nick Lerman, the track – which conjures Julia Holter via the South – features features Nick Boon on…

  • Exploding Eyes – Exploding Eyes

    December 7, 2016 - By 

    Dublin progressive psychedelic garage-rock trio Exploding Eyes release their eponymous debut album through US label Big Neck Records on December 9. Exploding Eyes was produced by Jim Diamond, who has worked on sonic titans like Dirtbombs, White Stripes & The Sonics. The LP is launched upstairs at Whelan’s on February 3, with support from psych-doomsters Wild Rocket and nugazers Galants, More details here. Prior to this, the band released two singles on Bandcamp. Channelling the likes of Hawkwind, Love & Pentagram, check out the album’s lead single, ‘Something Critical‘.

  • Inbound: Pale Rivers

    December 6, 2016 - By 

    Cork’s Pale Rivers burst into life at the start of October with the track ‘August 6th’.  As far as debuts go, this came with an immediate energy and purpose, straight away showcasing the band as a future force to be reckoned with. Built on big synths and rousing guitars it boldly leans toward a sound suited for a larger stage, the ambition oozing from every note. Eoin Hally’s vocals begin with a feeling of reservation but it’s not long before they become an uninhibited, visceral plea of sorts. The raw, honest lyricism allows the track to avoid the possible pitfalls…