DATE ARCHIVES : September 2016

Bad Sea Share Sublime New Single ‘Solid Air’

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Having utterly bewitched us with their last single I’d Want U’, Dublin duo Bad Sea – aka Ciara Thompson and Alan Farrell – are at it again with their brand new single ‘Solid Air’.

As with before, Bad Sea’s sound is born from the pair’s embracing a rich vein of influences and styles to produce a smooth, smokey, alt-country sound. Moving at a leisurely, unhurried-pace ‘Solid Air’ is warm and alluring (even if the lyrics would suggest otherwise). It revolves around a steady, groovy drum beat, wiry guitar stabs and impressive pop hooks, which offer a perfect backdrop for Thompson’s rich, crisp vocals to come to the fore. At just over three minutes, this is an exquisitely crafted and delivered number, that channels the likes of Tennis et al and will leave an indelible mark on your soul.

Definitely looking forward to hearing a whole lot more from Bad Sea but for now, check out their sublime new single ‘Solid Air’. It is out now!

Bad Sounds Share Bright & Brassy New Single ‘Wages’

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Despite their self-deprecating handle, Bad Sounds bring the party vibes with deliciously catchy and funky, kaleidoscopic pop.

Much like the Bath 5-piece’s previous single, ‘Avalanche’, ‘Wages’ is insanely catchy, extremely addictive and pretty brilliant. Occupying a similarly luminescent space on the landscape as The Go! Team at their best, ‘Wages’ is a syrupy brew of big, brassy disco-funk, hip-hop and fun fun fun. Fusing bright pop hooks, fuzzy guitars, high-pitched harmonies, with an irresistible groove, sing-a-long lyrics and more horns than a randy goat – we’re treated to a fun-filled barrel-roll through the genres and decades. Impressively, ‘Wages’ joins ‘Avalanche’ as two of the most thrilling, fun-filled and addictive singles of 2016, and sure to leave an indelible mark on your soul. Not bad for a band starting out, no?

You can listen to the bright and brassy ‘Wages’ below and it is out now. It does not disappoint!

Trails and Ways Share ‘Get Loud’, New Album Out on October 7

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Trails and Ways have been drip feeding us tunes from their forthcoming new record Own It, penned for release on October 7th.

The California foursome are one of the best in the business when it comes to sun-drenched, chipper indie-pop. Something emphatically laid out by their wonderfully infectious debut LP, Pathology and most recent singles taken from the new record; ‘My Things’ & ‘Happiness’. Baring in mind the high standards they have set thus far, their latest single ‘Get Loud’ might just be the best thing they’ve produced to date. Lofty praise indeed but this three-minute pop nugget is divine. This is the most charming, smooth and sprightly of indie-pop. ‘Get Loud’ whizzes and fizzes by with mildly skuzzed guitars, delightful fuzz and smiley melodies. Infectious? Undeniably. Brilliant? Most definitely. This is sparkling indie-pop perfection.

‘Get Loud’ is the final single from their forthcoming LP, Own It (out Oct 7) – listen below. Also, the band are running a Kickstarter to get support for pressing the album, making new videos, and doing an autumn tour across the US and Canada. Check the dates here.

The Undertones Celebrate 40 Years & Share New Kevin Shields Remix of ‘Get Over You’

 

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This year, legendary Derry punk outfit The Undertones celebrate the 40th anniversary of the birth of band; a fairly impressive milestone by anyone’s standard.

To mark this auspicious occasion, The Undertones are re-releasing the self-titled 1979 debut and its 1980 follow-up, Hypnotised, on heavyweight vinyl and remastered from original tapes, and original replicated artwork. Two fantastic records (and personal favourites) which contain between them such glorious moments as ‘Teenage Kicks’, ‘Here Comes The Summer’, ‘Jimmy Jimmy’, ‘My Perfect Cousin’, ‘Wednesday Week’ and ‘There Goes Norman’. As part of a 40th anniversary remaster / digital release, Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine has remixed the band’s 1979 single ‘Get Over it’ mixed from the original multi-track. It’s not a ‘remix’ as perhaps we would normally expect, instead certain elements are cleaned and polished up, with the guitars in particular given a crunchier, meatier feel. It sounds less rough than the original while keeping true to its spirit and essence. You can listen to both versions below.

The reissues are out October 7th through Union Square Music on 180-gram heavyweight vinyl,  along with Kevin Shields’ 2016 remix of ‘Get Over You’, available on 7”, 180-gram heavyweight red vinyl.

 

Cal Folger Day – ‘Rawking Chair’

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Cal Folger Day is an American songwriter who has been based in Ireland for a while now, if you cast your mind back you may remember her 2013 Drom-d’reau EP coming in for some well deserved praise?

Well, Folger Day is back and casts a woozy spell over listeners with her latest single ‘Rawking Chair’. Inspired by her long-held position as a nanny – and the dichotomy between being part of a family and working for one – it showcases her marvellous way with words and equally glorious way of delivering them. Backed by a gentle, intricate but spritely strum, a stomping beat and jaunty bass line, making for a wonderful, whimsical and irrefutably infectious three-minutes plus. Wonderful, simply wonderful.

You can listen to ‘Rawking Chair’ below. If you’re in Dublin on Sunday, October 2, you can catch Cal Folger Day live with New Pope & Ray Brown in Beerhouse on Capel Street. All the details for that, are here.

Half Man Half Biscuit to Release Rarities Compilation ‘And Some Fell On Stony Ground’

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For over 30 years Half Man Half Biscuit, their lo-fi, post-punk/indie stylings and satirical, sardonic and sometimes surreal, observations, ramblings and creations from frontman Nigel Blackwell have consistently proven to be brilliant, unique and essential.

Like any HMHB fan, a new release from four lads who shook the Wirral is something to be celebrated and cherished. On November 4 (or October 21st – depending in who you believe it is Nov 4th) HMHB will add to their impressive collection of thirteen albums and numerous EPs with And Some Fell On Stony Ground; a collection of hard-to-find tracks only previously available on long-deleted releases. While new material would be preferable – bringing together some much-loved non-album material from long-deleted releases as it does – it is a very welcome addition. Compiled of tracks from the band’s four EPs, a B-side and a track contributed to a charity record, it includes classics such as ‘Bob Wilson – Anchorman’, ‘Tending The Wrong Grave For 23 Years’ and ‘Vatican Broadside’. Hopefully we’ll not be waiting for new material for long, but And Some Fell On Stony Ground is a very welcome addition nonetheless.

More details here and the album will be available from Probe Plus Records.

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Amber Arcades shares ‘Turning Light’ TVAM Remix

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Amber Arcades is the moniker of Dutch-born musician Annelotte de Graaf.

Earlier this year de Graff released her sublime debut album Fading Lines, on Heavenly Recordings. If you haven’t checked out the album yet, you should do so – it is fabulous and you’re missing out – it is one of 2016’s finest releases. De Graaf’s musical vision works like a dream but it hasn’t stopped her from sharing a rework of one of the album’s many high-points, ‘Turning Light’ by producer TVAM, aka Joe Oxley, who has remixed the track. Harnessing all the power from the original’s beautiful blend propulsive beats, krautrock drums and shimmering guitars, TVAM expands the blissed-out Krautrock and Motorik rhythms, while enveloping everything in a cosmic cascading sequence of crackling, frazzled electronics, spirited synths. What we are left with is something rather special indeed. A six-minute kaleidoscopic wonder of imagination and ideas that burrows into your consciousness, building into an enthralling ride of euphoric rushes, whooshes and spiralling melodies. Awe-inspiring stuff, just wow!

If there are two things you do today, make them this TVAM remix of ‘Turning Light’ and Amber Arcades debut LP, Fading Lines – you will not be left disappointed.

Eoin Dolan Shares ‘Dear Brian’, Ahead of Releasing His Debut LP This Week

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Without a shadow of a doubt, one of the finest finds from the past 12 months, Galway-based singer-songwriter Eoin Dolan, is releasing his self titled debut album this week.

Out through Citóg Records on September 22nd, Dolan has previewed his debut LP with ‘Dear Brian’ – a timely reminder of the dazzling brilliance of Dolan’s charming, surfy psych-pop. ‘Dear Brian’ radiates all the hallmark’s that have marked out Dolan and his work thus far. It is a playful, easygoing and enchanting blend of woozy, soothing sounds, sinuous melodies, SFA-esque synth work, giddy-pop-playfulness and reverb-drenched vocals. We already knew from his previous releases but ‘Dear Brian’ reaffirms that Dolan has a real flair for twinkly and whimsical, good old fashioned pop gems, with a healthy dose of Brian Wilson, Syd Barrett and Lennon/McCartney (moments) threaded through the fabric of his sound. His brand of surfy psych-pop is totally charming and entirely irresistible, and his debut LP coming this week promises to be just that, and more. Not to be missed.

You can check out ‘Dear Brian’ below and Eoin Dolan’s self-titled debut LP is out on September 22nd, through Citóg Records.

Eoin Dolan also plays Dublin’s Hard Working Class Heroes festival on Thursday, October 7th @ 19:40 in Tengu Downstairs.

The Statics To Release Debut Album In October, Share ‘Say’

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Dublin Indie trio The Statics have been charming us with their signature indie-pop-jangle for a while now.

Over the past few years they released numerous wonderful singles and EPs, played a whole host of great shows but the journey has been building towards this point; the release of their debut album and that time has come, that time is now. The Statics will release their long-awaited debut album, See Right Through on October 28th. Recorded live to capture their raw and energetic sound, the first taste of the new album comes in the shape of new single, ‘Say’. It continues their trajectory away from from their jangle-pop beginnings, toward rockier climes. Rawer and grittier it may be but, ‘Say’ retains the bright melodies, twangy rhythmic guitars, bobbing bass and stomping drums that endeared The Statics to us from the start. The album has been a long time in the works, but the wait is almost over.

See Right Through is out on October 28th and you can get a little sample of what to expect with ‘Say’, below.

The Statics play Canalophonic this coming weekend, at The Barge, Friday Sept 23 @ 23:00.

Martha Ffion To Release Debut EP ‘Trip’ In October

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Irish-born, Glasgow-based singer-songwriter, Martha Ffion is set to release her debut EP, Trip, next month through Turnstile Music.

The record, which will include the previously released and sublime singles ‘Wallflower’ and ‘We Disappear’, is due to be with us on October 14. We’ve been keeping tabs on Ffion for a while now and the young singer-songwriter hasn’t put a foot wrong, nay, she has impressed at every opportunity. If you’re in need of any reassurances to why this impending EP is wonderful news, perhaps take ‘Wallflower’ as a gauge of the delightful sounds Ffion whisks up. Coated in a light sparing, wash of reverb and an infectious use of melody, ‘Wallflower’ is shimmering guitar pop with a slight ’60s twist. Imbued with forlorn sense of melancholic longing, her powerful croon cuts through it’s gentle surroundings, followed closely by a tougher, grittier and meatier guitar-line. There is something compelling in the way Ffion sings, heavily invested emotionally, what she is saying, needs to be heard. Undeniably infectious, and just one reason to look forward to Martha Ffion’s debut EP.

You can check out ‘Wallflower’ & a stripped-back version of ‘We Disappear’ below. Ffion’s debut EP Trip is out on October 14 via Turnstile and she’s announced a load of UK live dates for October too – check them here.