• The Best Releases of 2015 So Far

    July 6, 2015 - By 

    We’re halfway through the year so we asked our contributors to select five of what they believe to be the very best releases so far, picking out personal sonic highlights from each of the great albums and EPs of 2015. Some reoccurring favourites include Courtney Barrett, Young Fathers, Kendrick Lamar and Sleater Kinney. Niall Cregan Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly A true great rap album that will be remembered years down the line as a game changer, with such a varied instrumentation, the complexity of each song is proportional to how hard to dive into the record.   Turnover – Peripheral Vision A…

  • Track Record: Gib Cassidy (Girls Names)

    June 25, 2015 - By 

    When we came up with the idea for Track Record as a feature, Gib Cassidy was top of our list. He has spent years working in all the best record shops in Dublin and even set up his very own, Elastic Witch (sadly missed) so his taste is unparalleled. We’re delighted we’ve finally pinned him down due to his busy schedule playing with Girl Names for a rummage through his records. Here, he selects the key choices representing his broad collection, from Arthur Russell to Alice Coltrane. Photos by Aaron Corr. The Slits – Cut (Island, 1979) The Slits debut album is…

  • Track Record: Veda

    May 22, 2015 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record, we go backstage at The George in Dublin with Veda, one of our favourite drag queens to discuss the records that have influenced her own music and act. Photos by Brian Mulligan. Soft Cell – The Singles Soft Cell have some great albums, but I don’t think it’s philistinism to say that they’re really a singles act. There’s something about the short, sharp shock of the single that works for Soft Cell. What’s great about them is that however shamelessly pervy they get, there’s always a sincerity and heart to their music. You can hear that on…

  • Track Record: Kieran McGuinness (Delorentos)

    April 29, 2015 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record, we hang out with Kieran McGuinness from Delorentos to discuss some of his favourite records from Arcade Fire to Television. Photos by Derek Kennedy. Paul Simon – Graceland People talking about this album often talk about the politics of it, and the controversy, or the African influences, but I love it because of the melancholy heart that lives below the happy surface. The title track alone never fails to give me goosebumps. This is the second album with African influences on this list, but I dunno why. Beach House – Teen Dream This is…

  • Record Store Day, Belfast

    April 23, 2015 - By 

    We spent Record Store Day at Sick Records and then made our way down to our own show in association with Head Records at The Bar With No Name featuring Skymas, Freedom 35s, Hot Cops and Documenta/Belfast Music Club DJs. Photos by Ryan Richards and Colm Laverty.

  • Track Record: Paddy Hanna

    April 23, 2015 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record, we poke around the house of Paddy Hanna in search of his favourite records. Photos by Brian Mulligan. Kevin Devine and The Goddam Band – Bubblegum I played a show with this dude at the Roisin Dubh in Galway, following the performance he and I went back to the apartment which is provided for the bands. We spoke for about three or so hours, I drank ice cold Zaconey left in the freezer by the previous nights band while he enjoyed herbal tea and a packet of cheese and onion hunky dory. after another ill…

  • Track Record: Tape Waves

    April 17, 2015 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record, we hang out with Kim and Jarod from South Carolina based dream pop band Tape Waves as they select their favourite records from Beach House to Brian Wilson. Photos by Jen Stevens. Kim Mary Timony – Mountains This is one of the first LPs I ever bought. I bought it my first year of college. I had been listening to Helium all through High School and when I got this album I felt like it was such a transition for Mary Timony. There are more simple songs with pianos and keyboards, and less guitars. Helium always sounded magical…

  • Track Record: Stephen McCauley

    April 2, 2015 - By 

    In the latest installment of Track Record, Derry radio broadcast and bona fide music savant Stephen McCauley selects and talks about some of his all-time favourite records. Stephen presents Soundscapes – featuring a mix of contemporary classical, electronica, ambient and acoustic music – on BBC Radio Ulster every Wednesday night. Photos by Colm Laverty. The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) I was slow to mention this record because it’s popularity is almost a cliché in itself but it had a profound impact on me when I first heard it and it still does. I was 15 and…

  • Track Record: David A. Tapley (Tandem Felix)

    March 24, 2015 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record we hang out with David A. Tapley from Tandem Felix who after a slight line-up shuffle are on the cusp of releasing their new EP Comma and currently listed as The Guardian’s new band of the week . From the sprawling sounds of Yo La Tengo to his own idol Beck, David’s choices are a huge reflection and  influence on the music he puts out. Photos by Aidan Kelly Murphy. Talk Talk – Laughing Stock My friend Felipe introduced me to Talk Talk at a party many moons ago. I immediately picked up their two final albums,…

  • Track Record: Brian Kelly (So Cow)

    March 10, 2015 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record we head to the little blue house in Galway to hang out with Brian Kelly  from So Cow to chat about the records that influence his daily life. Photos by Sean McCormack Disclaimer: These are not my ten favourite albums of all time, though I’d say four of them would be on that list. These are the ten records I play most when cooking, sweeping or pottering about. They are the go-tos. I have about 180 LPs on my shelves, or Two Ikeas worth, as is the official measurement. About 100 or these are honest-to-goodness purchases made…