• Premiere: Strength NIA – 1956 Olympics

    December 15, 2016 - By 

    Their first single as Strength NIA, ‘1956 Olympics’ by the Derry band formerly known as Strength is a song inspired by ‘Creggan Shops‘ by Australian band The Shifters. Rory Moore, frontman from Strength NIA, said, “None of the Shifters have ever been to Derry or Northern Ireland for that matter but I believe they have written one of the finest Northern Irish songs to date. Our song is a response to the ‘Creggan Shops’ as I’m originally from Creggan and I felt compelled to write it after hearing this cynical pop gem.” Strength NIA will release their debut album next September. With all…

  • 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…

  • Album Premiere: Fixity – The Things In The Room

    December 1, 2016 - By 

    Back in August we rather giddily shared two new releases from Cork experimental musician Dan Walsh AKA Fixity. Now, fourth months later, we’re very pleased to present a first listen to Walsh’s new, rather special four-track album, The Things In The Room. Recorded in Malmo in February, the release features Walsh on drums alongside Swedish improvisers, tenor saxophonist Emil Nerstrand (Brigaden/Heavy Water/The Nod), guitarist Nils Andersson (Ljom/Ava) and bassist Fredrik Persson (Sista Bossen/The Good Morning Spider/Leo Kall/Cassus). Comprises four pieces composed by Walsh explored in collective improvisation with other individuals, each performance was captured in one take with everyone in the…

  • Video Premiere: Cian Nugent – Lost Your Way

    November 30, 2016 - By 

    One of many gems to be found on his stellar third album, ‘Lost Your Way’ by Cian Nugent is a masterful tale that blends Loaded-era VU harmonic sensibilities with a breed of lyricism conjuring the personal introspection of Blood on the Tracks-era Dylan. Now, ahead of forthcoming European and UK dates (which are listed below) Nugent has unveiled Aoife Nessa Frances’ sublime, black-and-white video for the single. Here’s an exclusive first look. 25. Jan – Stockholm, SE / Obaren 27. Jan – Aalborg, DK / Northern Winter Beat 29. Jan – Copenhagen, DK / Huset w/ Promised Land Sound 30. Jan – Berlin, DE…

  • Premiere: Conor Mason – On The Surface

    November 23, 2016 - By 

    Conjuring the wistful wanderlust of both Grandaddy and Villagers ‘On The Surface’ by Derry singer-songwriter Conor Mason is a song that “looks at feelings that arise when considering things that we can’t yet explain, the mystery of the unknown”. Taken from a forthcoming EP set for release at the end of January, it’s a real gem, too: mining solace from uncertainty, culminating in a call to recognise the beauty outside the static in our heads, it makes for a wonderfully crafted five minutes, revealing Mason to be a master of hook, harmony and heart.

  • Video Premiere: Son of the Hound – I.O.U.

    November 22, 2016 - By 

    Not an artist to get too comfortable in one guise, Belfast-based musician Michael McCullagh AKA Son Of The Hound resurfaced back in August with quite possibly the darn catchiest song we’ve heard from an Irish artist this year, ‘I.O.U’. Something of a curveball when compared with the Omagh artist’s previous, more trad and folk-leaning output to date, its 50s swagger and twang revealed yet another colour on McCullagh’s wonderfully varied sonic palette. Whether you missed it the first time around or fancy a fresh listen, check out the single via Colm Laverty’s brand new video for the track – culminating in…

  • Premiere: Fears – Blood

    November 21, 2016 - By 

    Fears is the solo project of Constance Keane, drummer of Dublin feminist and animal welfare noise/post-punk quartet M(h)aol, and November 25 sees the release of new single ‘Blood’, following last year’s ‘Priorities‘, through her own label, Fears Records. In stark contrast to M(h)aol’s raw power, ‘Blood’ is an exercise in intense restraint and silently brooding alternative pop. Its brooding synth is evocative of the likes of John Carpenter (minus the timestamp), accompanied by claustrophobic, dissonant beats, with Constance’s lyrics and vocal performance lending the track the kind of somnambulist atmosphere to accompany a sleepless night. Ever the elusive entity, Fears’ first show takes place in Belfast on December 2 at a…

  • Video Premiere: Tuath – Who Do You Want Me To Be

    November 21, 2016 - By 

    Something that they have good reason to pride themselves on, very few Irish acts tread a path as singular as Donegal-based experimental noise band Tuath. A highlight taken from their Existence Is Futile EP (which we reviewed here), their new single ‘Who Do You Want Me To Be’ is a shoegaze-soaked garage psych gem that – combined with Nartystation’s wonderful, albeit slightly NSFW accompanying video – sifts through the murky depths of identity in a swirl of fuzz, groove and howling sax. Truth be told: this is right up there with our favourite Irish tracks of 2016. Have an exclusive first look at…

  • Premiere: Our Krypton Son – Everything Reminds Me Of You

    November 16, 2016 - By 

    Last month Derry songsmith Chris McConaghy AKA Our Krypton Son penned a column for TTA reflecting upon the somewhat unorthodox – yet seemingly very effective – songwriting process for his forthcoming second studio album. Bounding with the self-effacing spirit and wondrous lyricism that has defined his output to date, it well and truly piqued our interest in what lay in store for album number two. Now, a handful of weeks later, we’re very pleased to premiere the ‘Everything Reminds Me Of You’, not merely just the lead single from the release but easily one of McConaghy’s most focused and masterfully crafted…

  • Premiere: Dowth – Dowth

    November 16, 2016 - By 

    Every once in a while something lands in our inbox that makes us punch the air in quiet “fuck yeah” abandon. In the case of Dublin’s self-proclaimed “greatest pagantronic duo in the universe” Dowth, their debut self-titled LP induced that precise reaction on our first listen this morning. Comprise of John Kelleher (Rats Blood, GRIT) and Tim Ording (Melodica Deathship), the pair fuse acoustic instrumentation from melodica and fiddle to sample-based beats and synth drones, the pair conjure heavy, atmospheric sounds that draw “inspiration from the concept of ‘the otherworld’ in Irish folk and mythology.” Ahead of its release on hand screenprinted 12″…