DATE ARCHIVES : April 2013

Mr Bligh – ‘Dub Star’

CaptureThe last time we dropped in on Mr. Bligh was back in 2011 with the release of his rather encouraging debut record Is This England?. 

His debut was an album of all things indie, punk, reggae and hip-hop, following the release of which, he decided to return to producing. Two years on, having spent a lot of time experimenting with his sound and style, the young Londoner has gone all in on the reggae and dub buzz. Working with a variety of reggae singers such as Ras Tweed & YT, he’s hit on something that works ever so well. It’s just the ticket with the sun finally reemerging following the long cold winter; it’s feelgood and happy, head nodding music. It’s pretty rare new Ska, Reggae or Dub material crosses my path so I’m pretty smitten with this at present.  

Mr. Bligh has a string of releases planned for 2013, both digital & vinyl. You can check out a few choice cuts below.

BarryGruff Presents #14: No Monster Club, The Dead Beat + Be Curious, Kid :: Saturday, April 20th :: Flanagan’s Bar, Newbridge

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‘BarryGruff Presents’ returns to Flanagan’s Bar for its 14th Newbridge installment on Saturday, April 20th. 

Over the course of the past 18 months there’s been some really special nights in Flanagan’s. Saturday night’s show promises to be another top night of live music with No Monster Club & The Dead Beat + Be Curious, Kid.

Dublin’s No Monster Club is without doubt, one of the finest and exciting live acts in Ireland right now. Their rough around the edges blend of surf rock/bubblegum pop/lo-fi indie has been compared to The Strokes, The Velvet Underground, The Unicorns and The Libertines and seen them share the stage with the likes of Ariel Pink, Squarehead, Wavves, Girls Names, Abe Vigoda and HEALTH. No Monster Club went down a storm the last time they were in Newbridge with We Are Losers, and this visit promises to be just as brilliant.

Fellow Dubs The Dead Beat are a four piece indie band, whose sound is firmly rooted in that classic indie sound. Far from being straightforward landfill indie, of which there is already too much; this is melodic indie/alternative rock done with a swagger and poise. The band is currently putting the finishing touches to their new EP, Your 19th Revolution, and take some time out for a first show in Newbridge. Joining them on the bill will be Kildare’s own Be Curious, Kid who has been steadily building a rep for themselves locally with their own indie-rock stylings.

It’s FREE in as usual & the show starts at 9pm. Another night of great music in prospect. [RSVP here]

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BarryGruff Presents #14: No Monster Club + The Dead Beat + Be Curious, Kid :: Saturday, April 20th – 9pm – Flanagan’s Bar, Newbridge

Attaque – ‘Warble’

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Attaque has been making waves over the past two years, impressing at every given opportunity with his heads-down, brain-crumpling kinetic electro.  

Attaque has proven himself quite prolific too, with a string of singles, EPs and an album in relatively short space of time. Ahead of some new EPs, he has returned with a new track, ‘Warble’. While this name is slightly misleading, as the track does anything but warble, it is yet another great track from the Colchester boy. ‘Warble is in fact a pretty brutal assault of thumping  electro / techno, pitted with some ragga style vocals. 

No dates as of yet for the release of the aforementioned EPs but for now you can download ‘Warble’ for free below. 

(Video) No Monster Club – ‘A Better Fit’ + ‘The Community Games’ Compilation

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‘A Better Fit’ is one of the three No Monster Club tracks on Popical Island’s The Community Games compilation, which features four EPs from four bands; No Monster Club obviously, Ginnels, Grand Pocket Orchestra & Cave Ghosts.  

There is something delightful about No Monster Club, their rough around the edges blend of surf rock/bubblegum pop/lo-fi indie is just so bloody lovable. Live or on record, NMC never disappoint, there is just a infectious sense of fun to everything they turn their hands too. ‘A Better Fit’ and it’s monkey-suited new video companion (by Narayan Van Maele & David Lester Mooney) is a case in point. The compilation as it goes, is rather excellent, with the Ginnels and NMC inclusions being the pick of the bunch. You can stream The Community Games in full here.

In case you didn’t know, No Monster Club will play ‘BarryGruff Presents’ #14 down here in Newbridge next Saturday, April 20th, but before all that, get to Whelan’s on Saturday for the gig featuring live sets from all four bands. 

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Candice Gordon – ‘Before The Sunset Ends’

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Having featured many times on the blog in the past, it’s great to hear Candice Gordon news that she has an EP due for release soon. 

‘Before The Sunset Ends’ is the title track from the aforementioned forthcoming EP. It sees her unflappably sultry voice underpinned by a swelling horn section giving it a Gothic feel, or equally sounding like, as she says herself “straight out of an Ennio Morricone score.” Before The Sunset Ends is a six-track collection recorded with Shane MacGowan and will be released on May 6th. The title track suggests, as with previous singles, that she’s improving with each step – I’m looking forward to getting my hands on the EP in the near future.  

Gordon has a host of live dates in the UK, Germany & Ireland including The Workman’s Club, Dublin on May 1st, Bourke’s Bar in Limerick on May 2nd and Monroe’s in Galway on May 5th.

Double Dagger – ‘Heretic’s Hymn’

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Baltimore trio Double Dagger decided to call it a day back in 2011, which was a shame to say the least. I was lucky enough to see them play Whelan’s upstairs in 2010 to about 20 people, nonetheless it was a great gig and it certainly left an impression.

Double Dagger are being granted a final outing and will release the six-track 333 collection for Record Store Day, which coincides with the release of If You Shout Loud Enough, a documentary that follows the trio’s final tour. To provide a taste of 333 Double Dagger have kindly shared ‘Heretic’s Hymn’ with us. Part shout-a-long fury and part winding instrumental, ‘Heretic’s Hymn’ is the closing track off the EP. It sounds for all intents and purpose a farewell song, with frontman Nolen Strals declaring “But if this is my last song, these are the last words I ever write, I hope you won’t forget, you’re only free making art outside.” It’s a shame they aren’t around anymore but hopefully this will be a fitting farewell for the criminally underrated trio.

You can stream ‘Heretic’s Hymn’ below and you can cast an eye over the trailer for If We Shout Loud Enough too.

Miles Kane – ‘Don’t Forget Who You Are’

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Miles Kane‘s 2011 debut solo album, Colour of the Trap, was not only a hugely enjoyable record but it announced him as an artist in his own right for the first time.

Kane is set to release his second solo LP Don’t Forget Who You Are on June 3rd. Title track ‘Don’t Forget Who You Are’ follows on from ‘Give Up‘, providing further insight to what we can expect from the LP. With ‘Don’t Forget Who You Are’ we discover Kane in a lively, upbeat and remarkably positive mood. It is a lean sing-along indie classic complete with a cracking melody, hop-skip-and-a-jump kind of rhythm, spooky feedback and an athemic chorus. Kane keenly continues to express a deep and abiding love for the ’60s but in a different manner than before from the Wirral man.    

You can give ‘Don’t Forget Who You Are’ a spin for yourself below & the album of the same name is out on June 3rd.

The Mighty Stef – ‘Song For A Blind Girl’

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The Mighty Stef has recently returned to Irish shores following decamping to LA with his band, to record his fourth album with producer Alain Johannes (Queens of the Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys & Mark Lanegan).

Stef rarely, if ever disappoints. Suffice to say from hearing his intention to head off to the US to record with Johannes, I’ve been very excited to hear what the result would be. ‘Song For A Blind Girl’ is a sneaky peak of what this process has heralded, and offers an insight to what we might expect from the forthcoming album. It certainly doesn’t disappoint, it’s got a wide-eyed dusty feel with Stef arguably delivering one of his best vocal performances. 

No details yet to when we can expect the release of the new album but ‘Song For A Blind Girl’ should be enough to whet one’s appetite. Listen to it below.

Ghost Estates – ‘In Waves’ (Record Store Day Single)

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Ghost Estates are joining forces with fellow Dubliners Twinkranes for Record Store Day split 7″.

Ghost Estates’ contribution, ‘In Waves’ is their first release since their excellent self-titled debut album from last year. Ghost Estates are in fine form once more, losing none of the sparkle that made their debut so good. ‘In Waves’ combines a super catchy chorus, shimmering guitars and effects into a full blooded propulsive post-punk number. There are rumours Ghost Estates are currently working on a second album in their own Darklands recording studio, I for hope there’s substance to these whispers. 

Record Store Day takes place on on Saturday, April 20th, but you can listen ‘In Waves’ right now below. To launch the split 7″ both bands will be throwing a party in The Button Factory on Friday, April 19th to celebrate the release.

Gorilla Warfare Tactics – ‘drugDILLA’

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Gorilla Warfare Tactics have returned to the fold after what seems like an age. In reality it’s only been two years since they caused a mini-storm online with their superb debut EP, Premier, before shuffling off into the shadows.

The New York City trio’s time away has been fruitful, their recent absence should not be confused for a lackadaisical attitude, these guys have been putting in work and it certainly shows. The have reemerged with ‘drugDILLA’, the first track taken from their forthcoming album, Zoology, which will be released on April 30th. They continue their journey down an old-school path, appropriating the styles of past masters without sounding like rip-off merchants. ‘drugDILLA’ is a step up in class; breezy and feel-good, the rhyming and flow sounds so effortless and the beat, well, it’s got more bounce than Zebedee.

The time away has been well spent by GWT & when Zoology comes out on April 30th, it should be worth the wait. Check ‘drugDILLA’ below and see for yourself.