DATE ARCHIVES : September 2016

Introducing: Whenyoung

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Whenyoung are a London-based Irish trio – Aoife (vocals/bass), Niall (vocals/guitar), and Andrew (vocals/drums) – who’ve got quite the flair for urgent, driven and fiery punk-flavoured garage-rock.

They sound brash, fiery and driven by a furious intensity. With their debut single ‘See How They Run’ / ‘Show Me How’ earlier in the year, they have made one hell of a first impression for themselves. ‘See How They Run’ is a ferocious two minute burst of vitality that fizzes and crackles amid crunchy guitars, relentless percussion and knockout vocals – fierce and raspy yet simultaneously pleasant. This vocal trait carries over into ‘Show Me How’ which is just as bold, brash and brilliant a squall of screeching guitar noise. Not only is Whenyoung’s sound blisteringly ferocious. it is catchy, hooky and totally irresistible!

You can check out ‘See How They Run’ / ‘Show Me How’ below. Whenyoung will be in Dublin next month, they play Hard Working Class Heroes on Friday, October 7th (The Workman’s @ 22:30).

Mt. Wolf Share New Single ‘Golden’ Featuring St. South

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Mt. Wolf have shared a new single ‘Golden’ – featuring Australian vocalist St. South – it follows this year’s excellent Hex EP and precedes the London trio’s debut album, which is to be expected in early 2017.

‘Golden’ is a majestic, delicate and deeply atmospheric electro-acoustic gem. Perfectly backed by warm, delicate and silky sounds – from soft steely guitar chords and light electronic percussion – the true irresistible nature of this song is derived from the mesmerising vocal duet between the St. South and Fox. Mt. Wolf and St. South should make a habit of collaborating. All in all, this is utterly beautiful, elegant and sophisticated sound.

You can listen to ‘Golden’ below – an excellent bridge between Hex EP (from earlier in 2016) and their forthcoming debut LP, coming in early 2017, we hope.

Juice – ‘Angel Of The Azure’

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Birmingham band Juice are hardly what you would call prolific, I mean, it’s been three singles in three years after all. That being said, putting the regularity of their output to one side, what they do deal in is quality.

Following on from ‘Sugar’ (2014) and ‘Acid Kids’ (2015), Juice have released their third single ‘Angel Of The Azure’. It sees them continue their flirtations with ’90s style British indie (not necessarily Britpop) in a song that’s not a million miles away from where their story began, while there is also a definite progression bubbling away underneath. Loaded with a feverish energy and attitude ‘Angel Of The Azure’, half hushed vocals (with a hint of menacing rasp) to soars above a swirl of distorted fuzz of screeching guitars, scorching riffs and pounding percussion is meted out. As noted above, they ain’t prolific but when they come out to play, they shine an abundance of indie-rock goodness on us.

‘Angel Of The Azure’ is out now – hopefully (*fingers crossed) we hear from them again soon….. ish.

Milburn Are Back: Return With New Single ‘Midnight Control’

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Almost 10 years since releasing their wonderful debut LP, Well Well Well, Sheffield indie merchants Milburn are back in business.

Having gone their separate ways in ’08, Milburn recently reformed for some shows in their native Steel City, selling out four nights in a row and over 10,000 tickets in the process. Re-invigorated, they hit the studio with Bill Ryder-Jones to work on some fresh material and ‘Midnight Control’ is the result. The new single is relaxed, melodic and confidently as good as anything from their utterly lovable debut LP. In short; it is just a really, really good indie tune. While there is no shortage or reunions, many half-hearted and half-baked, this one seems legit and done for the right reasons (some unfinished business and a general love and affection for playing music together). They were an excellent band in their day, and superb live to boot so it’s a definitely a welcome return (for me anyway).

You can check out ‘Midnight Control’ below. It will be accompanied by ‘Forming of a Fate’ when the band release the double A-side single later this month – more on that here. They have announced a pile of live dates (see here) but there are no Irish ones yet, but hopefully they will grace us with their presence on these shores too.

Kelly Lee Owens – ‘CBM’

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In the select few songs released thus far, singer and producer Kelly Lee Owens has proven remarkably versatile and increasingly difficult to pigeonhole. Having oscillated somewhere between the avant-garde, pop, techno and almost everything in between, Owens’ is at it again with new single ‘CBM’.

The lead single from her forthcoming EP, Oleic, ‘CBM’ (or ‘Colours, Beauty, Motion’) hits a sweet spot between the two extremes of her music. Nestled somewhere between pop and techno, she infuses insistent, throbbing electronics with sumptuously textured atmospherics, as lush as she has produced to date. A magnificent and mesmerising return showcasing Owens’ impressive talent and versatility; on a side note, she is one of the most exciting, rising musical propositions out there.

Kelly Lee Owens will release her new EP, Oleic, on October 21 through Smalltown Supersound. Ahead of that, why not check out its lead single ‘CBM’ below.

Hooton Tennis Club Share ‘Katy-Anne Bellis’, Taken from forthcoming LP ‘Big Box of Chocolates’

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Hooton Tennis Club recently announced details of second album Big Box of Chocolates, due to be released on October 21st, through Heavenly.

With the new record looming large on the horizon, the Liverpool band have kindly seen fit to share new track ‘Katy-Anne Bellis’. The new one feels like a natural evolution of the group’s endearingly ramshackle indie-pop sound, carved out on their wonderful and much-loved debut. ‘Katy-Anne Bellis’ – a bittersweet ode to a former flat mate – casts their swirl of carefree, hazy guitar jangle and irresistible melodies amid a aura of profound sentimental mushiness.Oh, and those guitars, they are still scintillating when needs be. Yet another decidedly brilliant track from Hooton Tennis Club, which sets things up nicely for the new record.

Check ‘Katy-Anne Bellis’ out below. The new record – recorded by Edwyn Collins at his studio in the Scottish Highlands – is out on October 21st.

Hooton Tennis Club will be in Dublin’s The Grand Social on October 24 and the rest of their tour dates meanwhile, are here.

‘Big Box Of Chocolates’ Tracklisting:

1. Growing Concerns
2. Bootcut Jimmy The G
3. Bad Dream (Breakdown on St. George’s Mount)
4. Sit Like Ravi
5. Katy-Anne Bellis
6. O Man, Won’t You Melt Me
7. Statue Of The Greatest Woman I Know
8. Meet Me At Molly Bench
9. Lauren, I’m In Love!
10. Frostbitten In Fen Ditton
11. Lazers Linda
12. Big Box Of Chocolates

Electric Picnic 2016: 8 Recommended Acts to See

Electric Picnic 2016

Electric Picnic takes place in Stradbally this weekend (September 2 – 5) and there are no shortage of reasons to be excited. Tasty propositions abound, especially among the bigger names – Super Furry Animals, LCD Soundsystem, Daniel Avery, The Chemical Brothers to name but a few.

Aside from the attention grabbing bigger names, there’s plenty of quality among the smaller, perhaps lesser known acts. There really are some absolute gems amongst this year’s line-up so here are 8 highly recommended acts worthy of your attention this weekend.

Nialler9 has the full line-up here, if you haven’t seen it yet and there is a very handy, printable Clashfinder here too. Dead handy & does not require batteries. 

New Pope (Friday, 17.30-18.00 @ Earthship Stage)

New Pope is the Galway-based project fronted by Dave Boland who deal in truly beautiful, timeless and carefully crafted acoustic folk sounds. Passing with a whisper rather than a roar, New Pope’s songs are delivered with warmth and tenderness, as Boland’s distinctive vocal creates warm and lush atmosphere – and an overwhelming sense of sense of nostalgia. Yet to see them in the flesh but, on the evidence of last year’s splendid YOUTH EP & LP, they should be quite the proposition. Check out the layered, lush and beguiling beauty of ‘Love’ below:

The Altered Hours (Friday, 22:00 – 23:00, Body & Soul Main Stage)

For some time now, The Altered Hours have been eliciting much, and well deserved, praise for their frenetic and freewheeling psych/post-punk heroics. Everything they have done thus far has been gold – including debut album In Heat Not Sorry – and are reliable reputed to be one of Ireland most exciting live acts. For a glimpse of what mind-melting stuff Altered Hours are capable of, check out ‘Way of Sorrow’; a thrilling two-and-a-half-minute blast of turbulent post-punk influenced, driven, menacing and hazy swirl of psych-rock goodness.

No Monster Club (Saturday 18:00 @ Trailer Park: My Lovely Ranch Stage)

Easily one of the most reliable, inventive and brilliant bands in Ireland, No Monster Club bring their utterly lovable, rough-around the edges, lo-fi indie-pop hi-jinks to Stadbally. Live or on record, NMC never disappoint, there is just a infectious about everything they turn their hands. These fun-filled indie-pop adventures are just so damn endearing and guaranteed to brighten up your day.

Phare (Saturday, 01:00 – 02:00 am @ Oxjam)

Known for his work as one half of atmospheric duo Lyttet, Phare is the new solo-project from Peadar Kearney. On the clubbier side of things, 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. Check the hypnotic, twinkling crystalline grandeur of Kearney’s debut single, ‘UP’.

Slow Place Like Home (Sunday, 18.00 – 18.45 @ Body & Soul Main Stage)

Slow Place Like Home – the musical moniker of producer/musician Keith Mannion – has been treating us (and our ears) treating us to rich electronic sounds, crafted carefully from his Donegal base in the North-West of Ireland. Always inventive, imaginative and seductive compositions, Slow Place Like Home has already released a series of EPs and debut album Romola, to date. Now with a full band, 2016 saw the release brand new double A-sided singles ‘Tiger Lilly / Friday’, as they gear up for album number two next year. Another act who’s live shows have remained elusive, until this weekend hopefully.

The Dead Heavys (Sunday, 21:30-22:00 @ Body & Soul Main Stage)

The Dead Heavys are no strangers to receiving praise around these parts. Longstanding favourites, the Waterford five-piece are a great, great band, and an especially exciting live proposition. Their psych-tinged indie-rock is tempered with a catchy pop sensibility, rendering it utterly infectious for all and sundry. You can sample some of The Dead Heavys now characteristic combo of keys, guitars and vocals, anthemic surges and infectious sing-a-long moments, in ‘Liquidator’ – a bright, upbeat and rocking-groover that is very easy on the ears indeed.

ADULTROCK (Sunday, 21:25 – 22:10 Earthship Stage)

Under his ADULTROCK guise, Gavin Elsted (Super Extra Bonus Party & fellow Newbridge compañero) uses it as a vehicle to flex his dance music muscles, crafting magnificent dancefloor-ready, hypnotic and melodic electronic jams. His most recent EP Push and Pull came out in June through Bodytonic Music, and it is excellent. For a taste of it and Sunday’s service, check out the EP’s title track below. An enticing proposition.

Exmagician (Sunday, 22:00 – 22:45 Jerry Fish Side Show)

Exmagician is the latest musical adventure from long-time collaborators Danny Todd and James Smith; the musical partnership behind Cashier No.9. More urgent and rockier than their previous incarnation, still present, is their preference for shimmering psychedelics, echoed instrumentation and melodiousness. Falling somewhere between BRMC, Supergrass and yes, their previous band Cashier No. 9, ‘Kiss That Wealth Goodbye’ finds a band in fine form with its anthemic and quite cool vibe, amid a whirlwind of swirling melodies and catchy groove – as good a reason as any to catch them this weekend.