Having recently been in the studio recording new material, Belfast five-piece R51 will release a blitzing new single, ‘Heavy Friends’ and a b-side titled ‘Vitamin C’ on May 23. A song “about the realisation that all your friends are depressed weirdos”, it’s another starry-eyed – almost celebratory – blast of gaze-drenched alt-pop from the band. Accompanied by a DIY video (which has become something of a forte for the band), check out our premiere of the single and its artwork below.
Released earlier this month, we said ‘Bram Toker’ by Dublin neo-psychedelic five-piece Beach was an effort confirming their arrival as a band to be “considered alongside fellow Irish sonic diviners The Altered Hours and Elastic Sleep“. A few short weeks later, the single – one of our favourite by Irish act this year – comes bearing a visual accompaniment, directed and animated by Ross Ryder. Have a first look at that below. Beach will play a Knockanstockan Presents show in Whelan’s on May 12, as well as their first headline in London on May 18 at the Islington.
London based, Dundalk native Jim O’Donoghue Martin AKA Video Blue has unveiled the video for ‘Hold Muzik’, taken from his album Love Scenes. Following from ‘Dusk Moves’ in March of this year, ‘Hold Muzik’ is yet another slice of snappy, indie-pop with minimalist guitars, subtle keys and vocal work that will remind you of those times you actually really liked the way Bono sang. Video Blue’s knack for earworm hooks and infectious melody shines through on this track as it does across Love Scenes and The Graduate inspired visual accompaniment directed by Freddie Leyden is an equally charming addition. Speaking of the…
Hands down one of the country’s finest alt-rock propositions right now, Dublin three-piece Oh Joy first caught our attention last year with their single ‘Habits and Recreations’. Having come on leaps and bounds in the four years that have passed, the threesome are back with the video for their latest – and quite possibly great – single effort to date, ‘So Swell’. Accompanied by a perfectly throwback video courtesy of Carrot Gold Enterprises, the track is a fuzzed-out blast of pining indie rock conjuring the likes of Sebadoh via Built To Spill’s more ardent efforts. Have an exclusive first look and listen right below.
Having wowed us back in 2015 with her thrilling debut ‘Running’, Wicklow vocalist Joni has made a long awaited return with ‘292’. Like on ‘Running’, breezy, organic atmospheres once again course through the track’s hard-hitting garage and R&B foundations. There is a distinct sense of the urban permeating its four minute runtime, distorted by a mesmeric haze of coloured smoke and late night fog. Joni’s lyrics, carried by her soulful and mesmeric voice, are an ode to a particular house that witnessed many an aftersession. Combed with resignation of a long gone romance, the track was written, as Joni puts it ““following…
Set to play their first ever all-ages gig at BIMM Institute’s showcase at Workman’s Club on April 1, Dublin quartet THUMPER unveiled their fuzzed-out latest single, ‘The Loser’, at the start of the month. Arguably the foursome’s finest effort to date, it’s a starry-eyed burst of noise-pop harking back to Blur’s more riotous earlier efforts, filtered through the the Dublin band’s own brand of bubblegum scuzz. The first single to be taken from the band’s upcoming POP! GOES THE WEASEL EP, have a first look at Alan McCarthy’s tripped out visuals for the track below.
Dublin based experimentalists Tongue Bundle will release the follow up to their 2015 LP Bungee Untold on March 4th in the form of Peppery Talk. The band, known for their frenzied and mind-boggling live shows, now reveal the video for ‘Bobby’, a glitchy number from the forthcoming album. Steering away from the Mr.Bungle style carnival-mania of their previous efforts, ‘Bobby’ is a much more electronic affair that still manages to retain their punkish energy. Chock with jarred keys, ominous spoken samples and frenetic percussion, it seems Tongue Bundle are opting to venture even further down the rabbit hole for this latest venture. Fine by us. Tongue…
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.
It being Valentines Day and all, Tayne, the brand new project from Matthew Sutton, guitarist from It Was All A Bit Black And White, has unveiled the spick and span video for his debut single ‘Heartbeat’. The Galway native, London based musician first debuted his new musical endeavour back in December with a suitably glistening cover of Fleetwood Mac‘s ‘Dreams’. Stepping further into the light then, Tayne’s debut original track is a dazzling synth pop romp that will satisfy fans of All Tvvins and The Naked and Famous. With more to come from the artist in the coming months, enjoy the flashy video for ‘Heartbeat’…
Having popped up on the likes of Hard Working Class Heroes and Other Voices last year, Co. Meath duo Samarai straddle a wonderfully inviting line between longing chamber pop and straight-up balladry. The third track on their sublime Magnetic North EP, the ‘Heavenly’ distils the duo’s essence to a song conjuring the subtle, gossamer-like emotive power of This Mortal Coil’s ‘Song to the Siren’ and ‘Mysteries of Love’ by Julee Cruise. Currently working on a new single which they will release in the coming weeks with their eyes on a full-length album, Saramai play Dublin’s Workman’s Club on Tuesday for Syrias…