DATE ARCHIVES : July 2016

Watch Fauna Twin’s Video for Sublime New Single ‘Water on Mars’

artworks-000156991591-rzhlqg-t500x500

Having recently re-branded from Pankhabilli to Fauna Twin, the duo of Parisian singer-songwriter Claire Jacquemard & Hippies vs Ghosts‘ Owain Ginsberg introduced their new moniker with a sublime single, ‘Water on Mars’.

As with their previous output, their latest musical endeavour is deserving of great praise. A dark pulsating synth alt-pop track that unfolds with a brooding atmosphere and eerie sense of forbidding. Growing at pace, on the back intoxicating rhythm and some darker tribal beats, which conspire with Jacquemard’s gripping vocals, to leave a truly indelible mark. Accompanying the single is their first and excellently shot and crafted video, which only accentuates the vibe of track. A superb debut single, with an excellent first video to boot. Lot’s to look forward to from this talented duo.

‘Water on Mars’ is released on May 6th through Crammed Discs, with an EP to follow this autumn. For now? Check out ‘Water on Mars’ below:

Johnny Feeney’s Albums of 2016 So Far….

237892_1

The ever knowledgeable Johnny Feeney returns to the blog once again, sharing an eclectic selection of his favourite records from the year so far.

Always insightful and interesting, his guest posts always add an extra flavour the blog and I for one look forward to reading them – surely I’m not alone?

A huge thanks to Johnny as always, and on that note, I’ll leave you in his very capable hands.

10. Car Seat Headrest – ‘Teens Of Denial’

Virginia’s Will Toledo has been releasing albums prolifically as Car Seat Headrest for a few years now but this is only his second full release on a major label. Seriously overlong at almost 70 minutes, this is by no means perfect, but it also retains the capacity to absolutely blow you away with cracking rock songs such as ‘Fill In The Blanks’ or ‘Drunk Drivers / Killer Whales’.

09. Band of Horses – ‘Why Are You OK’

The fifth studio album from Seattle’s Band of Horses harkens back to the band’s finest moment – 2007’s Cease to Begin – after a not entirely unsuccessful foray into stadium rock over two albums in the interim period. There’s a welcome return of the shimmering guitar lines and melancholic Americana/alt-rock that made them such a beloved band in the first place. Gorgeous.

08. Savages – ‘Adore Life’

The second album from the London-based all-female foursome doesn’t veer wildly from the brooding post-punk of its predecessor, 2013’s Silence Yourself, – all dark basslines, loping guitars and lead singer Jehnny Beth’s anguished vocals. This is certainly not party music. However, there are chinks of light threatening to break out through the pervading gloom.

Continue reading →

Jagwar Ma Return with Swirling New Single ‘OB1’, and News of a New Album

Jagwar Ma - 2

Aussie psychedelic trio Jagwar Ma have returned, bringing with them the feel-good vibes and unveiling superb new single, ‘OB1’.

The new single is taken from Every Now & Then, Jagwar Ma’s forthcoming second LP, due out this autumn via Marathon / Mom + Pop / Future Classic. ‘OB1’ leads the charge in following up their stunning 2013 debut, Howlin’. An utterly divine five-minutes-and-some, it’s a heady swirl of baggy beats and high-flying, hazy, feel-good vibes, electronic squiggles and syrupy sweet melodies. Pretty much all the reasons why we so consumed by their debut LP, as the Australian trio’s musical vision is overwhelmingly uplifting, calming, optimistic and carefree, taking in psych, indie, early-90s dance and dub tones.

It’s all so damn good, we’re most grateful for their return. Check ‘OB1’ out below and keep your eyes peeled for news of the forthcoming LP.

New Pope Shares ‘Love’ from New EP, Album to Follow in 2016

 

11080977_1556521481267213_7112494750013936002_n

New Pope, the Galway-based project fronted by Dave Boland, has released a brand new single, ‘Love’.

‘Love’ is New Pope’s first new material since the splendid YOUTH EP & LP, released toward the end of last year. The new song is the opening track from the Love EP, a precursor to the album of the same name, due out in October. Some rather delightful acoustic guitar work drives the pace, with the gently undulating organ drone and soft and precise percussion joining Boland’s distinctive vocal in setting the warm and lush atmosphere. A thing of layered, lush and beguiling beauty, ‘Love’ is topped of with the cymbals toward the end, akin to waves crashing into the shore. Yet further evidence, if that were needed, of Boland’s profoundly wry, introspective and brilliant songwriting ability.

‘Love’ is available for your listening pleasure below, now. You can find the EP here, and keep an eye (and an ear) out for the LP later in the year.

New Pope play ‘Whelan’s Summer Watch 2016’, this Sunday, July 24th. The door tax is €5 and you can check out the full lineup here.

 

Jamie T Announces New Album & Shares ‘Tinfoil Boy’

img_0805

Time to rejoice! Jamie T is set to return with his fourth album later in the year. Entitled Trick, it follows 2014’s Carry On The Grudge which broke a five year absence from music, and followed it with the Magnolia Melancholia EP last year.

Described as a “brave and eclectic rock/punk/reggae/rap/pop celebration that only Jamie T could make”, ahead of the album’s release on September 2nd, we’ve been afforded a glimpse at new single, ‘Tinfoil Boy’. The new cut does exactly what it says on the tin; a larey, raucous, noisy fuzzed up four-and-a-half minutes, and comes complete with a creepy-as-fuck video. Having long been one of the most enigmatic figures in British music, it’s great to have him back and firing on all cylinders. Don’t ya just love a good surprise?

He has also announced an extensive Ireland and UK tour, see those in full here, Mr. T visits Dublin for the first time in six years on September 27th, in The Olympia.

Check out ‘Tinfoil Boy’ below:

 

A C C Ü – ‘Adain Adain’

snip11111

A C C Ü is the solo project of Cardiff-based musician and producer Angharad Van Rijswijk.

Formerly one half of Welsh folk-electronica duo Trwbador, she announced her new project on some style earlier this year with a number of distinctive cuts of otherworldly electronica. A C C Ü has returned with a brand new offering, latest single ‘Adain Adain’, and it is divine. It is a delicate, subtle and intricately weaved exploration of moods, sounds and textures. The crystalline dynamics mingle with soft-edged synths, blissed out Krautrock, palpitating percussion and heavenly, hushed vocals, creating a heavenly symphony. Sonically, it isn’t to dissimilar to fellow Welsh maestro Gwenno’s alluring kraut-tinged synth pop, and equally compelling. A C C Ü has impressed at every juncture so far and is continuing to forge something distinct, brilliant and rather unique. Hopefully tunes of this calibre keep coming and perhaps, we’ll get something a little more substantial too.

For now? Look no further than ‘Adain Adain’, it is out now and you can listen to it below.

Peaness to Release Limited 7″: ‘I’m Not Your Problem’ / ‘Fortune Favours the Bold’

13584651_632093413614719_2957283403836995339_o

Over the past 18 months or so, Chester indie-pop trio, Peaness have been one of the most reliable sources for irresistible top quality, 3-minute indie-pop gems.

Having impressed at every juncture thus far with a slew of tight releases, the trio have teamed up with Vancouver-based, Canadian DIY indie record label Kingfisher Bluez for a special 7″ release. Limited to 300, the release is comprised of two songs from their debut E.P. No Fun – ‘I’m Not Your Problem’ / ‘Fortune Favours the Bold’ – both offerings display their knack for indie-pop brilliance with two charming, addictive and perfectly formed songs bursting with cheery, chipper and uplifting vibes, the kind of tunes guaranteed to raise a smile. The latter in particular, is a doozy. The super buoyant ‘Fortune Favours The Bold’ unleashes a three-minute, sunkissed blitz of catchy riffs, melodies and sweet heavenly harmonies,  all coated in a light fuzz and imbued with youthful energy and assuredness.

You can listen to ‘I’m Not Your Problem’ and ‘Fortune Favours the Bold’ below. Both songs will be available on a very limited 7″ release (300 copies) from July 30th.

 

Introducing: The Intelligence Service

12718089_881013142008737_8848307217804594331_n

The Intelligence Service – Alex P., Heather Campbell, Sam Daoust and Dror Zur – are a four-piece psychedelic garage rock band from Vancouver, BC.

The brand of psych-rock this foursome pedal is a crazed delight for your ears; for a rather lazy comparison, it’s a catchy concoction of The Doors meets The Velvet Underground with a dash of Frank Zappa. Having already released their latest and great EP, Maladies back in April, their debut album Transgressions and West Coast tour, is set to follow in October. As a taste of the former, ‘Driving To My Sun’ is pumped with a real air of positivity and optimism. Swaggering along a smooth groove set out by the vintage organ work, it is met by a wall of fuzz, solid drums and delightful harmonies, with the kind of hazy, nonchalant drawl of the lead singer atop. ‘School Me’ meanwhile, is an altogether rowdier, scintillating sonic burst of psych. Fuelled by relentless hammering drums, the guitars remain fuzzy and the organ catchy, but the vocal interplay between Alex and Heather is the key; the juxtaposition of the dreamy and the manic is divine.

Maladies is out now and available here, with their debut set to follow in October.

Millions Like Us Podcast – Episode #19

12743796_674492013278_2758067139373444652_n

We’re thrilled to share another Millions Like Us with you all, Episode #19!

Podcast #19 does however mark a milestone, it is the final show produced solely on Canadian soil with my return to Ireland. There is no need to fret, Messr Beats and myself intend on normal service resuming very soon, albeit in transcontinental fashion.

Every two weeks, Justin & I, in conjunction with Vancouver news & culture site 604now, deliver an eclectic, hand-picked selection of top class music. There’s plenty to chew on with a bumper episode #19, 90 minutes in fact, of great tunes and plenty of chat.

You can read more on it over here and of course, listen below (and the tracklist (with links) is after the jump too). You can subscribe to ‘Millions Like Us’ on iTunes & Podcast Republic, Mixcloud & SoundCloud, or find us on Facebook & Twitter. Or you can email us at millionslikeuspodcast[at]gmail[dot]com.

As mentioned previously, Justin has been busy compiling tracks featured in the series. If you’re a Spotify user, then you can access this 6 hours plus playlist here.

Continue reading →