• A Litany Of Failures Vol. II Announced

    July 3, 2018 - By 

    Following the limited release of cross-Ireland Little L Records compilation, 2016’s A Litany of Failures – featuring Oh Boland, Shrug Life, That Snaake and Junk Drawer – an expanded second edition has been confirmed for release on July 13. Set to be released on 180g gatefold double vinyl, as well as through Bandcamp, Spotify and the usual outlets, it features 18 acts from Belfast, Cork, Derry, Donegal, Dublin, Galway & Limerick. The DIY, co-op endeavour aims to provide an opportunity to perform outside each of their hometowns, shortening the mental distances between bands, and encouraging a cross-pollination of musical communities. Splitting costs between artists and the organisers, a sense of…

  • Track Record: Maija Sofia

    June 7, 2018 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record we spend time with Maija Sofia in her home for a look through some of her favourite records, from Nick Cave to CocoRosie. Photos by Zoe Holman  Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Murder Ballads  There are loads of Nick Cave albums I could have put on this list, anyone who knows me personally at all know’s I’m pretty obsessed, so many of his albums are completely incredible, but I think Henry Lee and Where the Wild Roses Grow were the first two Nick Cave songs I ever heard and was like … wow,…

  • Track Record: Just Mustard

    May 31, 2018 - By 

    In this special installment of Track Record all five members of  Just Mustard select two records each to discuss, from Sufjan Stevens to Aphex Twin. Mags Godflesh – Post Self Inspired by the dreary urban landscapes of Birmingham, Godflesh are the band who pioneered the fusion of industrial and heavy metal together into a dsytopian whole. It was upon hearing their 1989 seminal classic masterpiece ‘Streetcleaner’ that enamoured me with their music and though I do not yet own it on record, their 2017 album ‘Post Self’ is arguably just as powerful. Post Self is an outstanding achievement in that…

  • Track Record: Hannah Richardson (Cherym)

    May 23, 2018 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record we hang out with Hannah Richardson of Derry based punk/noise pop band Cherym, while she discusses some of her favourite records from Sleater Kinney to Fugazi. Photos by Mickey Rooney Shop Assistants – Safety Net Everything about this is so real and I love how catchy Safety Net is, although somehow listening to it online doesn’t even come close to how good it sounds on vinyl! The idea of punk bands with female vocalists really appeal to me as someone in a similar industry. Sleater Kinney – One Beat This album was given to me…

  • Record Store Day Set To Take Over Bangor High Street

    April 17, 2018 - By 

    As we well know, Record Store Day takes place this Saturday, April 21st, and in celebration, Bangor’s leading the annual day of wax in the North with a series of events on High Street.  Unfortunately for Belfasters, the closure of Belfast mainstays, Head & Sick Records has left them with no local outlets. Thankfully, Bangor’s Bending Sound Records is just a quick train ride away, and will open from 9am-5pm to help. Across the road, the MG car showroom hosts another record fair from 9am-3pm, from which point Flea Market Soul takes over just two doors down, offering up that rare treat: vinyl-only DJs, through the evening on…

  • VINYL Set For Royal Hospital Kilmainham

    March 27, 2018 - By 

    Billed as a unique music culture event, VINYL is a brand new, three-day event set to be held on the May Bank Holiday weekend at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin. A self-proclaimed salute to all things vinyl, it will present “an immersive theatre of the mind comprising musicians, producers, designers and filmmakers specially convened to celebrate the rich history and enduring legacy of vinyl, its landmark recordings and key personnel, the groundbreaking labels and studios that fostered such talent, with contributions and insights from some of its most perceptive champions.” Revolved around specially-programmed talks, panel discussions, curated collections, music performances,…

  • Track Record: Ruairi Paxton (Galants)

    October 17, 2016 - By 

    In the latest installment of Track Record, Ruairi Paxton from Dublin noise-pop band Galants lets us into his homestead to have a flick through some of his all-time favourite records, including Guided By Voices, Thee Oh Sees and Galaxie 500. Photos by Pedro Giaquinto. Guided By Voices – Bee Thousand There was a phase between 2006 – 2008 when I was obsessed with this band. There is a documentary called Watch Me Jump Start about GBV. I must have watched it 100 times. I just love this early 90’s lo-fi period. I eventually gave the DVD to a friend Patrick…

  • Track Record: Jess Kav (BARQ)

    October 8, 2016 - By 

    Dublin musician and BARQ frontwoman Jess Kav handpicks a selection of records that have left an indelible imprint on her music and life, including Chaka Khan, Jape, Ella Fitzgerald and Flying Lotus. Photos by Moira Reilly. Hiatus Kaiyote – Choose Your Weapon Future-Soul deliciousness from Australia or, to quote them, “polyrhythimic, multidimensional gangsta shit”. The album kicks you in the face with glitchy vocals and operatic intensity from the first song ‘By Fire’. Nai Palm’s voice can hold so much sass and vulnerability simultaneously, god I fucking love her. I feel like she’s life-coaching me with her lyrics. Listen out…

  • Track Record: Cian Ó Cíobháin (An Taobh Tuathail)

    May 30, 2016 - By 

    Presenter of Ireland’s best radio show, An Taobh Tuathail on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, Cian Ó Cíobháin reveals some of his all-time favourite records. Photos by Sean McCormack. Sonic Youth – EVOL Looking back, it now seems to me that this was the album that ‘trained’ my ears to appreciate more experimental sounds.  Picture it.  Prior to discovering this, one of Sonic Youth’s strangest records, originally released in 1986, I had been mostly listening to what was on the radio and perhaps just been eased into ‘indie’ music by The Stone Roses and Happy Mondays.  I can’t recall how or…

  • Track Record: Ian McFarlane (Squarehead / Kid Karate)

    May 4, 2016 - By 

    In this installment of Track Record we hang out with Ian McFarlane, bassist extraordinaire with Squarehead and Kid Karate. Here he selects the albums that have left a huge impression on him, from Parliament to Prince. Photos by Aidan Kelly Murphy. Parliament – The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein As far as I am concerned Parliament are the greatest funk band of all time. George Clinton masterminded a situation where the best musicians he could find were free to experiment and collaborate thus producing some of the most incredible music you could image. At the core of Parliament were the James Brown…