DATE ARCHIVES : August 2016

Introducing: Our Hero From Horse Country

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Our Hero From Horse Country is the new project from Knoxville Morning / Band On An Island rabble-rouser, Ciaran Dwyer.

Under this new moniker, Dwyer will release a trilogy of solo, acoustic albums. The first of which of is ‘A Horse Walks Into A Bar’, a carefully curated a selection of 11 acoustic jams that celebrate his favourite Newbridge pub, Con Cummins. Each song has a relevance to his favourite local boozer, either written there, sang there or have some sort of sentimental attachment to the place. Recorded in a single day in the heart of Horse Country itself – The Curragh of Kildare – with Karl O’Neill (who also mixed it with Rubber Keogh). There are some old tunes, some new ones and some cover versions, including one of his all-time favourites ‘Blue Murder’ by Brian Brannigan. Introducing his new project, Dwyer has shared a first single ‘Buster Blue Eyes’ – a personal favourite I must hasten to add. Ponderous and reflective, ‘Buster Blue Eyes’ shifts seamlessly through the gears, from a gentle acoustic strum to a stirring, rousing and triumphant crescendo. A side-project created with love, care and attention and as far as intros go, ‘Buster Blue Eyes’ is perfect.

You can listen to ‘Buster Blue Eyes’ below. And if you’re down with that, the whole A Horse Walks Into A Bar album is here.

Jagwar Ma Confirm New Album Details, Share ‘Give Me A Reason’

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Jagwar Ma‘s new album must surely be one of the most hotly anticipated new releases of the year – such was the sheer brilliance of their debut. So with that in mind, the Aussie electronic-psych-pop outfit have announced their forthcoming second album Every Now & Then will be out on October 14 via Future Classic.

After sharing lead single ‘OB1’ earlier this summer, Jagwar Ma have bestowed upon us, new track ‘Give Me A Reason’. A sprawling and enthralling seven minutes, ‘Give Me A Reason’ gradually unfolds, revealing layer upon layer of euphoric joy. Channelling everything and anything, it descends into a hazy, feel-good tunnel of dubby Madchester and acid-house inspired melodies and deep house grooves. Emphatically brilliant and utterly irresistible, ‘Give Me A Reason’ will have you coming back for more, again and again.

Listen to the groovy as ‘Give Me A Reason’ below. The new album is out on October 14.

Every Now & Then Tracklist:

01. Falling
02. Say What You Feel
03. Loose Ends
04. Give Me a Reason
05. Ordinary
06. Batter Up
07. O B 1
08. Slipping
09. High Rotations
10. Don’t Make It Right
11. Colours of Paradise

Trails And Ways Share New Single ‘Happiness’; The Second From Their Forthcoming LP

Trails and Ways are gearing up to release their new album, Own It on October 7th.

There is no one better when it comes to sun-drenched, tropical-tinged indie-pop – something laid out emphatically by their wonderfully infectious debut LP, Pathology. The California foursome’s latest single ‘Happiness’ – the second to be lifted from the forthcoming record, following ‘My Things’ earlier this summer – is a blissful, buoyant synth-filled track. ‘Happiness’ with its crisp and bright guitar melody, bubbly chorus, joy-inducing hand claps, powerful rhythmic bass lines and charming male/female vocal interchanges, on the surface at least, everything seems blissfully all right. Lyrically however ‘Happiness’ delves into the challenging issue of whether human pursuit of happiness is impossible and it it is the juxtaposition between this and the carefree sound that makes this tune what it is; magnificent!

Trails and Ways also have a massive tour coming up too, so check here to see if they are playing a town near you soon!

You can listen to ‘Happiness’ below and the new LP, Own It is out on October 7th.

Mirror Test Share Jangle-tastic New Single; ‘You’ll Never Get The Things In Life You Deserve’

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Earlier this month we were introduced to the delectable talents of Mirror Test. The Aussie outfit aren’t wasting any time and have unveiled a brand new single, ‘You’ll Never Get The Things In Life You Deserve’.

Comprised of friends from various Melbourne bands – including psych-popper Wilding, Tam Vantage & Grand Prismatic – brought together through a shared love ’80s British indie like The Pale Fountains and The Smiths. It is hardly surprising that like their debut single, ‘Washed Up’, ‘You’ll Never Get The Things In Life You Deserve’ is cut from a similarly, classic indie mould. It is a jangle-tastic piece of retro-guitar-pop. Generally bright, buoyant and infectious, ‘You’ll Never Get The Things In Life You Deserve’ is tempered with moody, hushed vocals that add a certain tone of melancholia. For want of a better description, it sounds a lot like the long lost lovechild of The Smiths and The Coral – as good enough as reason as any to give it a listen.

You can listen to ‘You’ll Never Get The Things In Life You Deserve’ & ‘Washed Up’ below – that’s plenty of quality to keep us going till Mirror Test work on a debut EP.

Introducing: Asa Moto

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Asa Moto are the Ghent-based duo of Olivier Geerts and Gilles Noë.

The Belgian pair recently released their very first EP on DEEWEE, the label created by the Dewaele brothers – you might know them better as the men behind 2ManyDJs and Soulwax. This excellent effort features two incredible, irresistible tracks. Firstly – ‘Wanowan Efem’ blends touches of disco and house into a nice neat package with an undeniably danceable groove. It draws it’s unearthly, cosmic powers from a funky analogue bassline, bongo-infused beat shuffle and polished off with a ‘Wanowan Efem’ vocal chant. ‘Stay Awake’ meanwhile, harnesses a much more down-tempo rhythm. Combined spaced-out synths, phased drones and metallic percussion, with a sort of slo-mo state of hypnosis and a groove that reaches into the realms of late ’80s / early ’90s Balearic acid house. Two highly danceable tunes that captivate entirely, from two rather promising producers to key an eye on.

Asa Moto’s debut EP ‘Stay Awake’ / ‘Wanowan Efem’ is out now and it comes highly recommended. Check it out below and buy it here.

Fold Return With New Single ‘Something Gives’

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Experimental Hip-Hop/Trip Hop outfit Fold have solid credentials when it comes to producing incredible music. Blending this enviable creativity with a social consciousness, they create something powerful and unique.

Fold have returned with their first new material since last year’s superb self-titled debut album. The new single is called ‘Something Gives’ and will be released on September 12 via Bandcamp. The Leeds based quartet felt compelled to respond, somehow, to the heavy sociopolitical escalations of late on both sides of the pond. This breezy, easy on the ears slice of fresh, jazzy hip-hop, is their way of bridging the distances & expressing universal solidarity as human beings. Essentially a vehicle for the eloquence of James Baldwin whose voice, along with that of Alice Walker, is the basis of the track; which is dedicated to the memory of James Baldwin and all that he articulated so beautifully. Fold don’t ever disappoint, and they ain’t about to start now. Absolutely stunning work from one of the most unique and exciting acts around.

‘Something Gives’ will be out on September 12 via Bandcamp. Until then, you can familiarise yourself with it below.

Introducing: Phare

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Known for his work as one half of atmospheric duo Lyttet, Peadar Kearney, has a new solo-project, Phare.

As Phare, Kildare native Kearney, is leaving the softer elements to one side, preferring instead, to zone in on clubbier sounds, and to say it is fruitful would be an understatement. Phare gracefully floats in an ambiguous hinterland between subtly euphoric and vaguely ambient, sustaining the rhythm and protracting the promise of a euphoric climax, while captivating through repeated propulsive beats and swirls. Mixing warm sounds with a crisp frosty elegance, he creates a hypnotic, comforting sound collage, and none more so than with twinkling crystalline grandeur of debut single ‘UP’. While ‘UP’ chimes and shimmers with a glacial-like sheen, ‘Monday’ continues the trend but raising the tension and intensity somewhat. Chiming notes resonate through every track and the beats are delivered with pin point accuracy – as sublime introduction as there ever could be.

Check out ‘UP’ & ‘Monday’ below. If you’re EP bound next month, Phare will be gracing Saturday’s Oxjam at Electric Picnic, @ 1 am (in association with HomeBeat).

TOY announce New Album ‘Clear Shot’, Share ‘Fast Silver’

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UK psych-rock outfit TOY have announced news that their new album, Clear Shot – the group’s third studio LP – will be released on October 28th via Heavenly.

Following last year’s collaborative album with Bat For Lashes’ Natasha Khan and producer Dan Carey as Sexwitch, Clear Shot is a proper follow-up to 2013’s Join The Dots. Heralding the new record is single ‘Fast Silver’; a playfully fuzzy, mid-tempo six-minute psych excursion. Shrouded in broodiness and punctured with stabby keys, it takes its time to develop into a hypnotic swirl of guitars and hazy atmospherics, punctuated by flickering electronics and percussion. As far as indications of what we can expect in future, you can’t ask for any better than this; moodily atmospheric yet optimistic and impeccably pieced together.

Clear Shot is out on October 28th via Heavenly. Listen to ‘Fast Silver’ below.

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Hard Working Class Heroes 2016 Line-up Announced

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The line-up for Hard Working Class Heroes 2016 festival has just been announced today.

The annual festival will return to Dublin once again, running from Thursday, October 6th to Saturday, October 8th in venues across Dublin, incl. The Workman’s Club, Wigwam, The Chocolate Factory, Odessa, Tengu and The Mezz, with more to follow.

Having been away for the past few years, I’m excited to check out a whole host of acts I’ve not had the pleasure of seeing yet. And of course, discovering some new music too. On a first glance a couple of names immediately jumped out; Oh Boland, New Pope, whenyoung, Eoin Dolan, A.S. Fanning, Adultrock, Galants, EXPLODING EYES, R.S.A.G, Slow Riot & Rusangano Family.

The full line-up for Hard Working Class Heroes 2016 is as follows:

HWCH 2016:

A.S. Fanning / Adultrock / AikJ / Ailbhe Reddy / Alana Henderson / BARQ / Basciville / Beach / Birds of Olympus / Bitch Falcon / Black Wing Bird / BlueMusic / Brian Casey / Buffalo Woman / Callum Stewart / Chris Kabs / Clarence & The Winters / Comrade Hat / Cormac O Caoimh / Craig Gallagher / Cult Called Man / Dammy Ari / Damola / Daniel McDermott / Davina and the Messengers / ELE / Elephant / Ella Naseeb / Elm / Eoin Dolan / Erica-Cody / Evvol / Exiles / EXPLODING EYES / Fangclub / Fontaines / Galants / Ger Fox Sailing / HAIL THE GHOST / Half Of Me / handsome eric / Harbouring Oceans / HAWK / Hiva Oa / JAFARIS / Jealous of the Birds / Junk Drawer / Kid Karate / Le Boom / Loah / Maija Sofia / Maria Kelly / Miles Graham / moossmann / Naoise Roo / New Pope / New Portals / New Valley Wolves / Nocturnes / Oh Boland / Oh Joy / Orchid Collective / Paddy Dennehy & The Red Herring / Paddy Mulcahy / PALE RIVERS / Participant / Patrick Freeman / Paul Creane / Peppy / Petty Youth / R.S.A.G. / Rocstrong / Rosie Carney / Rusangano Family / Samyel / SARAMAI / Search Party Animal / Slow Riot / Soule / Stephen Robinson / Strength / Super Silly / swords / Tablets / Talos / Tara Lee / Tebi Rex / The Blizzards / The Ocelots / The Shaker Hymn / Tiz McNamara / TOUTS / Train Room / Tuath / Video Blue / Vulpynes / Wake America / Wastefellow / We, the Oceanographers / whenyoung / Whim / WOLFF / Wyvern Lingo / Yonen / Young Earth

Early bird tickets to HWCH 2016 are €35 via DICE until August 10th. After that, weekend tickets will cost €45.00 & €20 for nightly tickets (excl. booking fees).

Hippies Vs Ghosts Returns With Scintillating New Single, ‘II’

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Time after time, Hippies Vs Ghosts (aka Owain Ginsberg), has monumentally blown us away with his explosive and experimental union of kaleidoscopic, krautrock sounds. Needless to say, any signs of new material is cause for great excitement!

With that in mind, Hippies Vs Ghosts have returned with a brand new scintillating single, ‘II’, and it is SUBLIME! Possessing all the typical Hippies Vs Ghosts’ brilliance – part psychedelic, part krautrock – ‘II’ is thrust forward through a freewheeling and colourful kaleidoscopic world, with an irresistible groove, blistering instrumentals and scintillating guitars. A ferocious, exhilarating and imaginative four-and-a-half-minute trip; and yet another outrageously awesome tune. Such a unique and vital talent, under the careful stewardship of Ginsberg, this is something we’ve become accustomed to when it comes to Hippies Vs Ghosts – and long may it continue.

You can check out ‘II’ below and if you’re looking for more, why not pop over here and check out Hippies Vs Ghosts’ most excellent back-catalogue?