• Watch: White Sage – Kassetten Stimme

    September 22, 2015 - By 

    Citing Cluster, Harmonia and Neu! as key influences, the Kraut-soaked dream-psych of Dublin artist Andy Walsh AKA White Sage is right up our Kosmiche-inclined street. Following on from his debut EP under the moniker, Way Beyond Our Means, ‘Kassetten Stimme’ – the first track to be lifted from his forthcoming self-titled LP – is a cunning canvas of weaving cosmic sounds, analog synths, found conversations and braying guitar shapes, driven forth by palpitating drum machine rhythms throughout. Released via Little Gem Records this Friday, September 25, the video for the track – a suitably warped, phantasmagoric affair – was also produced by Walsh. Speaking about…

  • Stream: The Altered Hours – Way of Sorrow

    September 21, 2015 - By 

    To say we have intently dug The Altered Hours‘ summoning psych wizardry over the last few years would be something of a towering understatement. Not unlike their fellow rebel county alchemists The Vincent(s), the band have always tapped into something primordial and rooted in darkly spectral, deeply charismatic allure; a conjuring that has only grown more potent and steadfast over time. With their fervidly-sought debut album, In Heat Not Sorry, set for release via Art For Blind Records/Penske Recordings in January, the Cork band have whetted our psych-inclined appetite yet further with ‘Way of Sorrow’, a brisk and purposeful burst of chugging force…

  • Stream: O Emperor – Switchblade

    September 21, 2015 - By 

    Back in 2013, Brendan Fennessy from Waterford five-piece O Emperor took part in our Track Record feature, selecting the likes of Tame Impala and The Stooges as some of his most treasured records. Two years on, his band have distilled the spectral psych-pop of the former and the pounding punk panache of the latter on their new single ‘Switchblade’. Set to feature on the band’s forthcoming, Trout Record-released EP Lizard, the track is a prismatic slice of throwback alt-pop, suggesting we might well be in for something rather special with the new release. O Emperor play the following shows over the next few months:…

  • Watch: Robocobra Quartet – Iwazaru

    September 18, 2015 - By 

    Set to be released on lathe cut 7″ via Smalltown America on October 16, ‘Iwazaru/Mizaru’ is the latest double-single by Belfast’s Robocobra Quartet, a band who have grown in several leaps and bounds since first coming to our attention at a Battle of the Bands competition in the city’s Pavilion Bar last July. Accompanied by a skilfully enshrouded video by Sarah Plunkett, the former track is yet another rapt and ruminating slab of sorcerous jazz-noise from the Chris Ryan-fronted band, further revealing the heterogeneous prestige of their ever intrepid craft. Check out ‘Mizaru’ here, pre-order the release here and check out forthcoming RQ tour dates…

  • Stream: Le Galaxie – Love System (Young Wonder Remix)

    September 17, 2015 - By 

    Having took on the guise of an unofficial anthem for the Irish Marriage Equality referendum earlier this year, Le Galaxie’s ‘Love System’ has received a new, rather brilliant reworking courtesy of Cork’s Young Wonder. With a new video for the original mix set to be unveiled to accompany its re-release on September 25, the single will also feature a remix of ‘Put The Chain On’ by John Gibbons Speaking about the remix of ‘Love System’, Ian Ring from Young Wonder said, “I really loved the sonics and 80’s feeling that Le Galaxie had in the original. I wanted to pay tribute to that in the…

  • Stream: EMBRZ – ‘Lights’ (Feat. pennybirdrabbit)

    September 14, 2015 - By 

    Sprawling in its own delicate way, ‘Lights’ by Kildare producer Jack Casey AKA EMBRZ is a deftly composed slice of electro-pop. Featuring wonderfully warped vocals courtesy of Los Angeles singer pennybirdrabbit, the new single was released on Friday via Slow Down Records. Stream the track below and keep up with Casey’s future stirrings here.

  • Stream: Mons Olympus – Incognito

    September 10, 2015 - By 

    Let it be known: Mons Olympus don’t exactly shy away from the riffs. With an ever metamorphosing hybrid of space prog and funk, the latest phase of the Belfast-based three-piece’s evolution has taken form in the punchy, groove-laden ‘Incognito’, a track that sees the Rory Dee-fronted band trimming the proverbial fat and aiming straight – and most tenacious – for the jugular. Featuring some wonderfully subtle violin work by Aidan Kelly of Affleck, the track – the purest distillation of the band’s vision to date, including their previous incarnation as Chocolate Love Factory – was recorded, mixed and mastered by Stephen O’Hagan and…

  • Watch: Empty Lungs – Medicine

    September 9, 2015 - By 

    With its launch set to take place at Belfast’s iconic Empire Music Hall on Wednesday, October 7, alt-punk quartet Empty Lungs have unveiled the video for their new single ‘Medicine’. Revealing the band’s more saccharine side – and we mean that without any unfavourable connotations  – the Kev Jones-fronted four-piece once more fuse rousing refrains with an earnestness tempered with a keen balance of weight and restraint. Following the single launch at the Empire, the band will also play the following East Coast dates: October 07: Empire Music Hall, Belfast, Ireland October 23: Philadelphia, PA (Empty Lungs Acoustic) October 24: New York, NY October 26:…

  • Watch: Ciaran Lavery – Shame

    September 9, 2015 - By 

    Having originally featured on his 2013 debut album, Not Nearly Dark, ‘Shame’ by Ciaran Lavery is on the verge of hitting 10 million streams on Spotify – a pretty mindblowing and fully deserved feat for one of the country’s hardest working and most naturally gifted artists. Shot in Dublin by ROC (also responsible for this wondrous thing) the song now has a suitably simple yet perfectly poignant video, once more managing to strike a faultless balance between heartfelt sentiment and droll humour. Ciaran Lavery plays the following UK shows in October. 16 Glasgow Nice N Sleazy 17 Newcastle Upon Tyne The Cluny 2 18 Leeds Games Room, Brudenell Social…

  • Watch: PORTS – Gameplay

    September 8, 2015 - By 

    It feels like a lifetime ago that Derry band PORTS went under the moniker Little Bear. Having very much underlined that interim period in the sublime evolution of their rousing indie rock sound, the quartet’s latest single ‘Gameplay’ is a wistful and cunningly layered mini masterstroke, with a perfectly balanced ratio of sleep and release. Check out the band’s forthcoming tour dates and video for the aforementioned single below. September 25: Whelan’s, Dublin September 26: EchoEcho, Derry September 27:  Monroe’s, Galway October 2: Black Box, Belfast October 3: HWCH, Dublin October 4: Cyprus Avenue, Cork