• 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″…

  • Premiere: SpudGun – We Share This Space

    November 8, 2016 - By 

    Formed in January, Dublin based “music band from space” Spudgun smash elements of psyche rock, funk, jazz and punk to create something really quite captivating. The octet are now premiering the latter half of their debut release We Share This Space, an ambitious piece of theatrical noise preceded by the the cacophonous ‘Sandpaperteeth’. Fans of The Mars Volta, Mr. Bungle or the idea of Girl Band with saxophones will be immediately drawn to the sound of this “space goo” as the group refer to it.  The group will be giving the release its live debut this Friday November 11th at fellow Dubliners Beach‘s “Some Sort of Gathering” at The…

  • Premiere: Gnarkats – Running From You

    November 7, 2016 - By 

    Having been popping up on bills left, right and centre in North of the country over the last while, Belfast-based quartet Gnarkats are set to unveil a new EP, Waves Collide, on December 2. Produced and mixed by Mojo Fury’s Michael Mormecha at Millbank Studios in Lisburn a couple of months back, the four-track release – not least lead single ‘Running From You’ –  captures a band that continue to flesh out their own brand of earworming, fuzzed-out alt-rock. Ahead of their appearance at Spectrum Festival at Belfast’s Elmwood Hall this Saturday (November 12), have an exclusive first listen to ‘Running From…

  • Premiere: The Mad Dalton – Devil Came To Derry

    October 20, 2016 - By 

    Keeping the candle burning for the dying tradition of the Halloween single, Belfast-based Scots/Canadian singer-songwriter Peter Sumadh AKA The Mad Dalton’s ‘Devil Came To Derry’ is a slow-burning dose of malevolent Americana that puts sparsely plucked guitar guitars and a bleak, unravelling narrative centre-stage. Accompanied by a video shot up Derry way by Dog Kennel Productions, the single is the follow-up to Sumadh’s 2015’s The Little Belfry EP, which we reviewed here. Have an exclusive first look at the video for the single (“a song for people of all faiths and for people with no faith at all.”) below.  

  • Premiere: Beach – Ono Noh

    October 5, 2016 - By 

    One of our must-see acts at Hard Working Class Heroes this weekend, Dublin five-piece Beach aren’t likely to be neatly defined any time soon. Recently proclaimed one of the “most interesting prospects on the Irish scene” the Dave Barrett-fronted band certainly have a sturdy leg to stand on, blending dusky slacker rock, electronica and contorted psychedelia on tracks including ‘Moon Smoke’, ‘Arabia’ and, most recently, the brilliantly bastardised jazz-punk of ‘Donuts’. Exploring more ruminating territory, the band’s new single ‘Ono Noh’ conjures Black Heart Procession-like lamenting via Depeche Modesque atmospherics and – particularly Barrett and backing vocalist/lead guitarist Alex Conway’s vocals – Queens of the Stone Age at their more sober and restrained. With another single…

  • Premiere: Pale Rivers – August 6th

    October 3, 2016 - By 

    As debut singles go ‘August 6th’ by Cork five-piece Pale Rivers is a real statement of intent. Accompanied by a typically slick (and warning: flashing imagery-heavy) video by Brendan Canty’s masterful Feel Good Lost, the track – with its subtle synth textures, harmonic flourishes and burrowing chorus refrain – is cunningly anthemic alt-pop at its finest. The track is the first in a string of forthcoming singles produced with Gavin Glass in his studio and mixed by Kieran Lynch, who has worked with U2, Elvis Costello and R.E.M. With more shows soon set to be announced, you can catch Pale Rivers – who will almost certainly be…

  • Premiere: New Pope – The Claddagh

    October 3, 2016 - By 

    Almost like a victim of self-sabotage in the vein of Dostoyevsky or Sartre, Galway’s David Boland AKA New Pope confronts the sheer nausea of the dreaded next day in the Gavin Martyn-directed video for his new single ‘The Claddagh’. But despite the track’s shroud of heartbreak via wonderfully wearied reflections and crushing guitar shapes, Boland sieves gold from the quite literal stoney shore in subtle, masterfully soul-lifting fashion. Boland said: “The Claddagh, meaning “stoney shore”, was once an old fishing village in the heart of Galway city. It is still a little area with a lot of character and a confusing layout. The song is about falling for someone…