• Monday Mixtape: PANIKATAX

    April 22, 2024 - By 

    In the latest installment of Monday Mixtape, Rob Walsh and Rían Trench of Dublin noise-punk masters PANIKATAX fly the flag for Underground Resistance, Clarissa Connelly, Big Black, Nitzer Ebb, This Heat and more Rob Walsh Underground Resistance – Final Frontier This track from Mad Mike and Co. at Underground Resistance is a seminal classic. It sparked my love for Detroit techno and continues to have an overwhelming effect on me to this day. The nostalgia level is off the charts on this one, reminding me of growing up in the Irish dance scene, the first place where I felt accepted.…

  • Monday Mixtape: Pissed Jeans

    March 4, 2024 - By 

    It’s early days but if Pennsylvanian hardcore heroes Pissed Jeans didn’t just return with one of the records of the year in Half Divorced, recorded sound – I’m afraid to report – is officially over. Released on Friday, it doubles as the band’s first album in seven years and delivers a dozen sludge-punk face rippers that rank right up there with their very best. Good luck finding fucked-off finesse more compelling than this in 2024. Which is to say we seriously wouldn’t advise that you pass on the band’s show in Dublin next month. Taking over Whelan’s main room on…

  • Monday Mixtape: Trá Pháidín

    February 19, 2024 - By 

    In our debut – that is long overdue – Monday Mixtape as Gaeilge, Connemara’s many-headed experimental enigma Trá Pháidín takes us on a sonic traipse via Astrid Sonne, Little Simz, Mabé Fratti and more Image provided: The Human Bridge of Carrick-on-Suir, sponsored by Paolo Soprani An 424 by Trá Pháidín Floyd Tillman – I Love You So Much it Hurts Chuala mé seo don chéad uair ar cheirnín de R. Stevie Moore darbh ainm “Glad Music” agus tháinig mé ar aríst i bailiúchain ceol tíre darbh ainm “Colombia Country Classics” ar útube. Cíneal gas é cloisteáil i gcomhthéacs eagsúil den…

  • Monday Mixtape: Stray Planets

    January 15, 2024 - By 

    Off of the back of ‘Glowing Rectangles’—his stellar new single featuring Dara Kiely of Gilla Band—John Butler of Dublin collective Stray Planets delves into a small selection of his favourite songs, from Judee Sill, Gabriel Faure and Supergrass to The Supremes, Haruyo Oguro & Tomoko Sasaki Photo by Justin Young Sagittarius – Glass An evocative track from an album I love called Present Tense. Good one to listen to on headphones walking in town through a tide of faces. Harpers Bizarre – High Coin This track is more up my street than where I live. A perfect marriage of beauty…

  • Monday Mixtape: Connor McCann

    September 18, 2023 - By 

    Following the release of his new single ‘Hard Times,’ the fast-rising Belfast singer-songwriter waxes lyrical about a handful of his favourite songs, from Big Thief and Unknown Mortal Orchestra to John Martyn and beyond Big Thief – Masterpiece The core line of this song made a list of my favourite lyrics of all time, and it might not be the best line in the song. An incredible and heart-breaking song which is no surprise if you follow the work of Adrianne Lenker Hozier – Like Real People Do Playing a few covers in sessions around Belfast, this generally never fails…

  • Monday Mixtape: Psychic Graveyard

    May 15, 2023 - By 

    Ahead of their debut Irish shows this weekend, Psychic Graveyard (featuring former members of Arab on Radar, Some Girls, All Leather, Chinese Stars, etc) select the tracks that have left a lasting impression on their lives. Six Finger Satellite – Laughing Larry Laughing Larry is one of my favorite songs off Six Finger Satellite’s Pigeon Is The Most Popular Bird. To celebrate its 30th birthday, Sub Pop is reissuing this gem this. This album is still in my top ten albums of all time. My first thought when hearing this album was, this is the music I had been waiting…

  • Monday Mixtape: YARD

    March 6, 2023 - By 

    It’s been a very promising few weeks for Dublin electro noise quartet YARD. Off the back of supporting both Shame and Scalping, and ahead of dropping their new single ‘Ecdysis’ (feat. YinYang) next month, they select some of the tracks that have influenced their emphatic craft Dan Mogwai – Remurdered This track takes a simple idea and slowly progresses it into what is arguably one of the best instrumental transitions from Mogwai. Great synth lines and bass, a recurring guitar riff over the top and a heavy beat to tie it all together. A great example of the interesting possibilities that can…

  • Monday Mixtape: M Stevens & The Ghasts

    November 21, 2022 - By 

    Popical Island founder and M Stevens & The Ghasts main man Mike Stevens reveals some of his all-time favourite songs, from Silver Jews and Weyes Blood, to Wilco and Lankum Birds by M Stevens & The Ghasts Brigid Mae Power – ‘Mother in the Sky’ At the end of a recent gig of hers in the Bello Bar, I said to an embarrassed Brigid Mae Power that it was maybe the best gig I had ever seen. In the cold light of the next morning, I cringed not a bit, realising it wasn’t just the drink talking, that it was…

  • Monday Mixtape: Beauty Pageant

    November 7, 2022 - By 

    Dublin indie-rock sextet Beauty Pageant delve deep into some of their all-time favourite songs, by Cocteau Twins, Osees, Slowdive and more Ash – Angel Interceptor Several members of the band have been Ash fans for a long time. I’ve always loved their blend of chunky fuzzy layered guitars with Tim wheelers naive-romantic lyrics and power pop melodies. Angel Inteceptor I think has always been my favourite. Cariño – Si Quieres I stumbled upon this Spanish indie-pop band last summer while looking through the small-print names on the twice postponed Primavera Barcelona line-up. I find the mix of analogue drum machine…

  • Monday Mixtape: Waldorf & Cannon

    October 1, 2022 - By 

    Off the back of their new single ‘Cut Loose’, Derry/Donegal alternative duo Waldorf & Cannon wax lyrical about some of their favourite tracks, featuring Osees, Pixies, Ty Segall, Link Wray, Devo and more Osees – Perm Act Been listening to this album flat out since it came out last month, they’ve really fuzz punked it up this time, the whole thing only lasts 22mins. Went to see them in the Button Factory recently, was the best gig I’ve been to since the last time I saw them. Probably the best band about now if you’re into that sort of thing…