• Video Premiere: Strength NIA – La Floresta

    February 14, 2017 - By 

    Hands down their strongest single effort, ‘La Floresta’ by Derry outfit Strength NIA is a track that perfectly sums up the beating heart of the Rory Moore-fronted band’s experimental alt-pop craft to date. With its uncanny melodic surge and rhythmic panache, it makes for an extremely transmitting three-and-a-half-minutes from the fast-rising act. The single – which is set for official release on February 28 – also comes accompanied with rather brilliant video courtesy of Conor McFeely. Have a first watch and listen below now.

  • Premiere: Looking Svelte – Evolve

    February 14, 2017 - By 

    If you’ve been at least moderately au fait with the Irish alternative scene over the last few years, the name Ryan Burrowes is likely to ring a bell. From his work as main-man in Banbridge purveyors of scuzzy post-hardcore noise, Abandcalledboy, up until his recent membership in Belfast’s Robocobra Quartet, he’s tread a busy, involved path that’s always hinted at some autonomous experimentation bubbling beneath the surface. Serving as confirmation of that suspicion, his new-fangled, solo moniker Looking Svelte is a self-proclaimed pop project that will yield self-produced debut EP, Gelatine, this Friday (February 17). Featuring the influence of Triphop, noise…

  • Watch: No Monster Club – Sion

    February 13, 2017 - By 

    Not exactly an outfit to needlessly sit on or tease out new material, Dublin’s No Monster Club are a band whose prolific output has never been cause to wonder about quality or consistency. Released as a single back in February last year, the slinking art-pop of ‘Sion’ is a perfect case in point, something we’ve been happy to re-visit in the form of its brand new video, an accompaniment featuring what main man Bobby Aherne calls words “vaguely meta” video footage featuring the very parade the song is written about. Sure enough, it syncs up wonderfully well.

  • Stream: Slow Riot – Pink December

    February 10, 2017 - By 

    Much like The Twilight Sad, Joy Division, Editors, Interpol and many others besides, Limerick three-piece Slow Riot have always had a strong knack in forging a stark, post-punk aesthetic with authentic pop sensibilities. Set for release on Monday, their new single ‘Pink December’ – which melds building minimalism with claustrophobic patterns reminiscent of early Cure – is no exception to that rule. We’re fans. Check it out.

  • Premiere: Scenery – Fool For You

    February 10, 2017 - By 

    Counting their main influences as Jeff Buckley, Amy Winehouse, Tame Impala, Matt Corby, Mac DeMarco and The Beatles, new-fangled Derry outfit Scenery have already struck a keen balance between throwback and contemporary. A slickly-produced single conjuring at least a couple of the aforementioned acts, ‘Fool For You’ is a swooning ballad that, falling comfortably into the former camp, reveals the band’s pop prowess and melodic flair. Scenery launch ‘Fool For You’ alongside Orchid Collective and Emer McLaughlin at Bennigans in Derry tonight. Have a first listen to the single via Soundcloud below.

  • Watch: Gross Net – Still Life

    February 9, 2017 - By 

    An outright highlight from his first-rate debut album, Quantitative Easing, ‘Still Life’ by Belfast’s Philip Quinn AKA Gross Net is a song that wrestles dark tidings and psychic pain in impervious fashion. With its creeping Numan-esque bass-synth climb and stark drum machine patterns, a perfect maelstrom of noise is woven across the song’s masterfully suffocating six-and-a-bit minutes. Check out Autumn Andel’s new video for the single below and make sure to check out Quantitative Easing via Belfast imprint Touch Sensitive.

  • 17 For ’17: Rue

    February 9, 2017 - By 

    With groups like the Gloaming making some not insignificant waves, Irish trad music seems to be gaining more and more ground, in a crossover context. It’s within a framework that a band like Rue can finally get the respect and due recognition they deserve because lord knows the Dublin-based group has earned it. Made up of Lynched alumni Cormac MacDiarmada, Brian Flanagan, and Radie Peat, the trio specializes in carefully crafting their own reinterpretations of classic standards from both sides of the pond. While they may not have much in way of material at present, what they do have is…

  • Watch: BARQ – Bear

    February 8, 2017 - By 

    Having been tipped from many corners for big things in 2017, Dublin’s BARQ commanded our attention early last year with their slick debut single ‘Gentle Kind of Lies’. A busy, increasingly impressive year followed, culminating in the release of ‘Bear’, a single – their strongest to date – confronting themes of loss and coming of age. Recorded at Westland Studios by Alwyn John Walker, mixed by Scott Hallidy and mastered by Andrei Eremin, the single now has a visual accompaniment courtesy of Crooked Gentlemen. Dig it below.

  • Download: J. Cowhie – New Life

    February 9, 2017 - By 

    Having released one of our favourite Irish albums of 2016 in Veil, Dublin’s J. Cowhie joined many artists around the world in contributing to the ACLU fundraiser on Bandcamp last Friday via his single ‘New Life’. With 100% of the proceeds for the pay-what-you-like single going to the Union (who are working to fully oppose the Executive Order barring immigrants and refugees from seven Middle Eastern countries from entering the United States) it finds Cowhie –  who formerly made music as GOODTIME/Goodtime John – in typically ruminative, Papa M-esue form, relaying a tale of uncertain days and sin. New Life by J. Cowhie

  • Premiere: Milky Teeth – Sleepiness and Weary Wit

    February 6, 2017 - By 

    Currently on some downtime from Cork’s The Shaker Hymn and John Blek & The Rats, lead guitarist and vocalist Robbie Barron has been busy writing and recording his own material under the solo moniker Milky Teeth. Conjuring the likes of his main influence in The Beatles, as well as Ed Harcourt, Elliott Smith circa XO/Figure 8, Friendly Fire-era Sean Lennon and Jon Brion, debut single ‘Sleepiness and Weary Wit’  is a first-rate slice of woozy throwback-pop, propelled by hooks, harmonies and a stellar full-band production. With a full-length album primed for release, have a first look and listen to the single.