• Premiere: Switzerland – Waste of Time

    May 14, 2018 - By 

    A song about “the futility of arguments and going with the flow” ‘Waste of Time’ by Dublin quartet Brian Walsh, Shane Murphy, Al Condon and Enda Canavan AKA Switzerland is, hands down, the finest dose of sleepy, jangle-heavy, Pavement-leaning loveliness we’ve heard in quite some time. Comprised of members of Drunken Boat, Hello Moon, Land Lovers, No Monster Club and Paddy Hanna, Switzerland will launch the single at Thomas House on May 19. You should go to that, and have a first listen to the single (and look at its video) below.

  • Album Premiere: Switzerland – Long Gone

    January 19, 2017 - By 

    Set for its launch upstairs in Whelan’s on Friday, January 27, Long Gone is both the first release of 2017 from Popical Island and the debut album from Dublin quartet Switzerland, a band comprised of members of Drunken Boat, Hello Moon, Land Lovers and Paddy Hanna. Having premiered its stellar lead single, ‘Starting Out’, just last month, we’re pleased to present an exclusive first listen of the album, a ten-track release that goes some distance to confirm their arrival as serious contenders. Recorded with the help of Fiachra McCarthy, who has previously produced Squarehead, Brian Walsh from the band says of the early writing…

  • Stream: Switzerland – Starting Out

    December 15, 2016 - By 

    On the cusp of releasing their debut album, Long Gone, via Popical Island in January, Dublin quartet Switzerland have resurfaced with its lead single, ‘Starting Out’. Conjuring the likes of R.E.M. and The Byrds and The Cars in unison (as stated in the press release – absolutely spot on, we reckon), the track is a crisply-produced, wonderfully earworming effort hinting at special things for their full-length. According to the band, the single is “about finding your way in a new place and about making the most of what you have.” Hear, hear. We have this one on repeat. Dig below and keep an…

  • Track Record: Shane Murphy (Land Lovers/No Monster Club/Switzerland)

    March 10, 2016 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record we hang out with Shane Murphy to chat about his record collection, while he’s not too busy playing in three of Popical Island’s finest bands: Land Lovers, No Monster Club and Switzerland. Photos by Aidan Kelly Murphy. Elvis Costello – This Year’s Model I discovered Elvis Costello pretty late in life, and when I say discovered, I mean after Land Lovers were compared to him, Padraig of the band quickly gave me some homework to do. At his best with The Attractions, this was the first pairing of the two. It’s a frantic and…

  • Record Store Gay @ Outhouse, Capel Street

    April 23, 2015 - By 

    We spent last Saturday in Outhouse on Capel Street for the annual Record Store Gay celebrations featuring Crayonsmith, Little xs for eyes, Fierce Mild, Laura Ann Brady, Gross Net, Switzerland and The Former Soviet Republic. Photos by Isabel Thomas and Abigail Denniston.