• Stream: Sun Collective – Ogham Scars

    April 15, 2021 - By 

    Blurring the lines between chamber pop, indie rock and contemporary folk, the craft of Dublin’s Sun Collective strikes a midpoint between delicate and resolute.  Featuring from Saint Sister’s Gemma Doherty on harp, it’s an M.O. that their new single, ‘Ogham Scars’, takes and runs with. Marrying the gossamer beauty of a long-lost Cinematic Orchestra track with the burgeoning deep ambience of latter-day Massive Attack, it’s a triumphant return, produced by Ross Turner and recorded by Ber Quinn. Speaking about the song, the group’s frontman Caimin Gilmore says, “I robbed the title (& possibly the entire meaning) of ‘Ogham Scars’ from the work of painter, John Noel…

  • Premiere: Robin Olly James – Red Tor

    April 14, 2021 - By 

    As the bassist in Galway DIY metal/hardcore five-piece Ilenkus, Robin Olly James has played his part in melting a fair few faces over the years. In more recent times, however, collaborations with artists such as James Lonergan, Eoin Dolan and The BVs have revealed an artist versed in myriad guises and realms. Today, James drives that fact home with ‘Red Tor,’ a slowly unravelling dose of darkly, experimental electronica. A collaboration with James Sheridan, Philip Mc Mahon and Joseph Padfield, it’s a curiously entrancing effort, hitting like the claustrophobic inverse of Föllakzoid’s more recent explorations in cyclical, techno-inflected psych. Created and co-directed by award-winning visual artist James Sheridan, co-directed by Philip…

  • Stream: Chris Con – Around She Goes

    April 14, 2021 - By 

    As one of the country’s most accomplished drummers, working with the likes of Solar Bears, Contour, Leo Drezden and Pierce Turner, Chris Con has long been known for his dexterity and finesse. Now, the musician is stepping out on his own. Marking his first foray as a fully-fledged solo proposition, ‘Around She Goes’ is a deftly composed gem filtering that refined subtlety across a full spectrum of sounds. Taken from an EP, which is set to be released in the summer, the track is almost Wild Beasts-ian in its marriage of scopic pop and sublime falsetto. While it feels freeing –…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – April 9

    April 9, 2021 - By 

    It’s been another stellar week for new releases in every corner of the island. Delve into the best of the lot, featuring Katie Kim & Sean Mac Erlaine, D. McCabe, Beoga, Maria Kelly, TAYNE, Sinéad O’Brien, Elkin, James Bruce and more Katie Kim & Sean Mac Erlaine – Empire One Empire One by Katie Kim & Seán Mac Erlaine D. McCabe – The One They Couldn’t Fix The One They Couldn’t Fix by D. McCabe Maria Kelly – Martha Martha by Maria Kelly Sinéad O’Brien – Kid Stuff Beoga – Breathe EP James Bruce – Elephant Elephant by James Bruce…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – April 2nd

    April 2, 2021 - By 

    Happy Bandcamp Friday AKA the only day that means anything anymore. There’s a lot of great new Irish music out there this week, so we’ve whittled it all down ten of the best, featuring M.CAMBRIDGE, Cryan, Laurie Shaw, licehead, Comrade Hat, Amerik w/ Travi the Native & more. M.CAMBRIDGE – Land Songs: The Ballad of Sok le Boy EP Land Songs: The Ballad of Sok le Boy by M.CAMBRIDGE licehead – Beta Male Fever (Pilot Episode) BETA MALE FEVER! – Reality Climax (pilot episode -21 mins) by Licehead Cormorant Tree Oh – Zip Issues Cryan – Rodeo Queen Rodeo Queen…

  • Premiere: Cormorant Tree Oh – Zip Issues

    April 1, 2021 - By 

    Cormorant Tree Oh is the music-making moniker of Dublin-based multi-disciplinary artist Mary Keane. Three years on from the release of her self-titled debut album, today she confirms she’s one of the country’s most compelling experimental solo artists. Taken from her forthcoming second album, new single ‘Zip Issues’ mines Keane’s command of folk horror revivalism, and plays like a four-minute phantasm in song. Marrying skeletal balalaika and disembodied samples with low-lying synth organ lines and – a focal point here – Keane’s arresting vocals, it doubles as one of our favourite Irish tracks of the year thus far. According to Keane, the song – which in…

  • Praxis, A New Artists’ Union of Ireland Launches

    March 30, 2021 - By 

    A new artists’ union of Ireland has been launched. Launched as a trade union today (March 30th) Praxis was initially founded a year ago by a group of artists who came together to create a united democratic representation for their trade. A year on, 400 artists have expressed an interest in membership. The union aims to unite artists working across all disciplines, including visual art, theatre, literature, comedy, dance, circus, and craft, among others, to improve their living and working conditions. A central concern early on is the Arts Council of Ireland’s funding process, which has drawn considerable criticism from the Irish…

  • Premiere: Zizou – After It’s Done

    March 17, 2021 - By 

    You might have come across Mathieu Doogan’s Zizou project last year when we waxed lyrical about debut single ‘Living On A Plateau‘. The Dublin-based artist is back with the contemplative ‘After It’s Done’. Charmingly homespun and low-key unpredictable, it recalls the indie folktronica of Chad VanGaalen or something from the early noughties years of Merge & Matador Records. Resplendent with Doogan’s signature baritone, freewheeling indie-jazz guitar noodling, organic keys and a range of acoustic textures, it begs for repeat listening. He told us more: “The song came about when I was experimenting with acoustic and electronic instruments, trying to make banjos, violins and synths complement each other. Lyrically, the…

  • Download: Brigid Mae Power – I Had To Keep My Circle Small (Alternate Version)

    March 16, 2021 - By 

    A few months on from releasing one of the albums of 2020, Head Above The Water, Galway singer-songwriter and TTA favourite Brigid Mae Power is back with a new charity single. An alternate version of the subtly majestic ‘I Had To Keep My Circle’, the song has been released to raise money for Cope Domestic Abuse Services in Galway. Posting on Twitter, Power said, “This song was written reflecting on how important it is to support women in situations of abuse and assault. It was written in the heat of experiencing a lack of support, understanding and even implications of…

  • Irish Tracks of the Week – March 12th

    March 12, 2021 - By 

    It’s been another stellar week for new releases in every corner of the island. Delve into the best of the lot, featuring Maria Somerville, Sorbet x Maija Sofia, Invaderband, New Pagans, Amerik x Little Rivers, A Ritual Sea and more. Maria Somerville – Seabird SORBET – I Heard His Scythe feat. Maija Sofia Invaderband – I Won’t Remember You I Won’t Remember You by Invaderband New Pagans – Harbour A Ritual Sea – Desire Lines Neptune M. – AA AA by Neptune M. Sprints – Swimming Amerik x Little Rivers – Apricot Captain A & Ciara Ní É Queen Bonobo…