DATE ARCHIVES : February 2012

Gaz Coombes – ‘Subdivider’ | Former Supergrass man debuts new material

Gaz Coombes is set to release his debut solo album,  Here Come The Bombs, his first material since Supergrass announced their split in 2010.

The album was produced alongside Sam Williams, the man with whom he worked with while in Supergrass and is said to have been inspired by the soundtrack works of John Barry and John Carpenter. Heralding this announcement we have ‘Sub Divider’, a taste of things to come perhaps. Broken essentially two distinct parts, beginning slowly before kicking into a climactic guitar driven finale, it sounds different yet very familiar at the same time.

It’s great to see the return of Coombes distinctive drawl and that famous love of melody that marked some of Supergrass’s finer moments. 

Coombes’ debut solo record, Here Come The Bombs, will be released on May 21st. You can stream his new track ‘Sub Divider’ below.

Gaz Coombes – Subdivider

The Vagabonds / TV Split | Last Material

It was with great sadness that I discovered The Vagabonds (recently changed to TV) have decided to call it a day, citing “too many problems that were too large to ignore and we felt that we could no longer continue”.

Regular visitors to the blog may remember The Vagabonds came in for quite a bit of well deserved praise on the blog. They remain one of my favourite bands to emerge in recent times, one I’m glad to say I was lucky enough to catch live a number of times. Though there was little in the way of releases, their fantastic debut EP, Another Victory for Hysteria, deserved to be heard by more. Sounding  like the bastard child of The Pogues, Stiff Little Fingers, The Clash and Whipping Boy, the EP was a fantastic blend of bash-em-out punk and stirring renditions of personal heartache and strife.

The band recently re-located from Dublin to London, sporting a name change (TV), they had finished recording a double a-side single, ‘We Gave Up’ and ‘Oh My! Why?’, with Stephen Street (The Smiths, Blur, Babyshambles). While obviously only two tracks, it seems they had honed a sound, moving further into more varied territory. Whether or not the single gets released remains to be seen but it seems kind of ironic that the single was titled ‘We Gave Up’.

It’s a real shame. These guys will definitely be missed, by more than myself, hopefully they’ll find success in whatever they turn their hand to in future. 

Give ‘We Gave Up’ and ‘Oh My! Why?’ spin below and grab the EP for FREE via bandcamp below.

TV – We Gave Up

TV – Oh My! Why?

Mondkopf | Ease Your Pain

French producer Mondkopf has a canny ability to eek out a sound dissonant between the classical and industrial grime of electronics.

Just months after the eerie Rising Doom comes his new EP, Ease Your Pain, via his own In Paradisum label. It is another rather intense listening experience which demonstrates his  propensity to create dark and sinister atmospheres. 

Title track ‘Ease Your Pain’ leads this charge, laden with reverb and filthy grinding synths, while ‘Fading Rainbow’ flits calmly by with a soft but equally dark ambiance. Meanwhile closer, ‘Ease Your Pain (Somfay ‘Erase Your Pain’ Refraction)’ is an almost eight and a half minutes barrage of clattering and grinding beats, strewn with pulsating ravey sounds.

Further excellence from Mondkopf. No word on any further new material but no need to worry, you can check out the full EP here, with the 12″ vinyl to follow next week.

Mondkopf – Ease Your Pain

Mondkopf – Fading Rainbow

Introducing: SlowPlaceLikeHome

Donegal-based SlowPlaceLikeHome (aka Keith Mannion) released his second EP, Coastal Hubs for Chivalry in January.

This is rich electronic music which slowly builds through vast wandering instrumentals, coupled by expansive, seductive and swirling arrangements to create relaxing, thought provoking music. Mannion isn’t afraid to mix things up a little, preferring to work through different electronic styles rather than committing to just one in particular. Take the perfectly chilled-out ‘Carte Blanche’ with it’s warm, relaxing ambient beats or ‘We Learned To Tilt At Windmills’, which sounds like the result of night of passion between Air and Unkle.

You can try a few choice cuts below or grab Coastal Hubs for Chivalry in it’s entirety, for free, from bandcamp.

You forgot a username for the YouTube shortcode

 SlowPlaceLikeHome – Carte Blanche

Download: SlowPlaceLikeHome – We Learned to Tilt at Windmills

REID | Ver

‘Ver’ is the first new material we’ve heard from Cork produced REID since his terrific debut EP last summer. 

The track will feature on the Dreams compilation from LYFSTYL music blog and will be available in full on February 14th. ‘Ver’ is quite different to what we’ve heard a lot more at ease than what we’ve heard previously, breaking softer ground it draws you into a dreamlike trance, carrying you above the clouds.

REID takes to the road soon with some of Ireland’s finest electronica artists right now for seven dates across the country as part of the Lightbox tour.

Download: REID – Ver

Coki – ‘Tree Trunk’ | Dark distorted saw-toothed Dubstep

This latest offering from London producer Coki should refresh a few memories of how Dubstep is supposed to sound.

‘Tree Trunk’ is an absolute whopper of a track and the standout from the Don’t Get It Twisted EP without doubt. It’s dark and menacing, lurking in the shadows, waiting to unleash a barrage of distorted serrated sawtooth bass, reverb and brute force.

You can listen to it below or but it from here.

 Coki – Tree Trunk via Prodygy

The Lost Brothers | So Long John Fante

Simplicity is often an overlooked and unappreciated virtue in music, one not lost on The Lost Brothers.

This as before remains their forte, on So Long John Fante, the duo’s second album. As does their capacity for soft and delicate folk songs, underlined by delicious, harmonious vocal interchanges between Mark McCausland and Oisin Leech and wonderful acoustic guitar-picking. We are treated to a tantalisingly experience from the sweeping sound of opener ‘In The City’, we visit dark folk tales of ‘Pale Moon’ and ‘Hollow Call’, golden era Rock ‘n’ Roll of ‘The Goodbye Kid’ and melancholic heartche and loss with ‘Bells They Won’t Ring’.

So Long John Fante is a beautiful collection of inoffensive and timeless songs which passes with a whisper rather than a roar, delivered with warmth and confidence. A perfect companion for cold and blustery nights, safely nested away in a comfortable armchair beside a roaring fire.

The Lost Brothers – Goodbye Kid

The Lost Brothers – Pale Moon

Ghost Estates | October

Dublin 5 piece Ghost Estates made quite an impression in the latter half of last year through a number of tasty live shows and two stellar singles, ‘Paris’ and ‘Forever or Never’.

They have been quick to introduce 2012 to their delectably tight indie sound, releasing a brand new single, ‘October’. If you liked what you heard from Ghost Estates previously, you will love this. ‘October’ is the most impressive and rousing number yet with a frenetic drum beat leading a charge towards the hands in the air and shout it loud indie territory.

They launch the single in The Grand Social, Dublin on February 17th w/ support from The North Sea, Bouts and White Collar Boy. Doors are at 8pm and it’s €10 in w/ with a limited edition CD (only 100 ) featuring the three singles released so far.

Download: Ghost Estates – October

Letthemusicplay – Space | Mysterious Italo-Disco from London

Everyone loves a good mystery, don’t they? Who are Letthemusicplay? No bloody idea.

This mysterious duo from London have been playing around with big room italo-discoy tunes and have so far received support from the likes of 2 Bears, Jacques Renault, A-Trak and Pete Tong.

They have generously decided to give away ‘Space’, their debut ‘deep house meets disco’ vibey track. Being entirely unconventional, they’ve only gone and remixed their own tune, which is of course available for free too.

You can download both tracks below gratis.

Download: letthemusicplay – Space

Download: letthemusicplay – Space (letthemusicplay remix)

(Video) Eugene McGuinness | Shotgun

Eugene McGuinness‘ recent output has been outstanding. Not wasting any time he has revealed yet another thrilling track, a further appetizer of what’s to come on his forthcoming new album.

Of the previous tracks, ‘Lion’ was lively and bursting with brawn while ‘Thunderbolt‘ was a little more subtle, new single ‘Shotgun’ is a mixture of both styles. From the bassline in the introduction ‘Shotgun’ exudes a sense of danger and suspense, something enhanced by the James Bond / ’60s film noir detective flavoured video.

His new record is expected sometime in the first half of 2012 and on this startling form his new record cannot come quick enough.

You forgot a username for the YouTube shortcode

 Eugene McGuinness – ‘Shotgun’