DATE ARCHIVES : September 2017

Something for the Weekend: New Music Playlist #26

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A regular slot on blog, a relatively short weekly Spotify playlist featuring some of the finest new music to prick my ears over the course of past seven days.

Clocking in at just over an hour, it’s an easily digestible slice of new music, just in time for the weekend. There’s a nice mix of genres and styles too, allowing me to share even more crackin’ tunes. Well, without further ado, here’s #26 – Something for the Weekend: New Music Playlist. Get stuck into the tunes & enjoy the weekend! You can follow me on Spotify here.

Jumanji – ‘Higher’

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Jumanji are a six-piece indie pop band based the south coast seaside town of Brighton.

What they do, and they do it rather bloody well too, is craft bright, breezy and highly melodic indie-pop with dreamy riffs and really infectious feel – and are sure to be stuck in your head for days. Following in from the release of their previous single ‘Shindig’, Jumanji have ushered new one ‘Higher’ into the world – and it is simply exquisite. Aside from the bright and upbeat energy, dreamy riffs and catchy-as-hell melodic aura, what connects with the listener is Neneh Atkins’ soft melodious voice, bringing their delightful indie-pop sound to life. Jumanji manage to craft a sound that combines and intertwines catchy indie pop with a mature, rockin’ and perfectly formed sound; providing addictive, easy listening packed with plenty of punch.

Listen to ‘Higher’ below, you won’t regret it and that’s a guarantee.

Introducing: Holy ’57

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Holy ’57 is the moniker of London-based artist Alex Mankoo, who is gearing up to release his forthcoming mini-album L.

Holy ’57’s forte appears to be that of warm, inviting and feel-good vibes, adorned with good old-fashioned, hearts-on-sleeves songwriting. Providing substance to this assertion, Mankoo has afforded us with two gems lifted from the forthcoming mini-album. Latest single ‘Canary’ swoons with sinuous melodies as it slinks along its oh so merry way, above some seductive beats. Previous single ‘Water // Chrome’ is no less joyous and entrancing as bobs along punchy drums and low bass, and like ‘Canary’, you’ll find yourself succumbing to its allure. Another consistent charm across both sublime single is the vocals, which have a soft and inviting quality to them that brings to mind something approaching Vampire Weekend or Tim Burgess, on his own solo work. A wonderful and truly refreshing listen, which you will be all the better for letting into your life.

Check out ‘Canary’ and ‘Water // Chrome’ below.

Introducing: Plain Zebra

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Plain Zebra are Derry six-piece – Vadim Zeberg (Vocals, Harmonica & Accordion), Graham Baldrick (Guitars & Vocals), Mick McCafferty (Bass & Vocals), Caolán McLaughlin (Keys & Vocals), Jason Feenan (Drums) & Aaron Mc Callion (Percussion) – who deal in brilliant bluesy/folky rock ‘n roll flavours.

‘In The Town’ sets out their stall, revolving around some stomping bluesy beats, licks a la The Black Keys with some sweet, sweet backing harmonies and some ‘Superstition-esque’ bass notes. Let’s get this clear; after the opening 10-15 seconds, these guys mean business. ‘Brickland’ continues with the bluesy-rock vibe, with an added element of mildly dubby tones, we’re left with another sublime piece of work. If you dig licks, riffs and stomping grooves, well then Derry six-piece Plain Zebra don’t disappoint. Top stuff indeed.

You can check out ‘In The Town’ & ‘Brickland’ below, and if that’s too your liking, there’s more where that came from here.

Freedom Fry – ‘Strange Attraction’

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For a long time now, we’ve been bestowing lavish and much warranted praise upon Freedom Fry – and why not?

Over the past few years, the LA based indie pop duo have become serial offenders when it comes to catchy, bright and lovable cuts of indie-pop. And in keeping with this very welcome tradition, Freedom Fry have repeated the trick with their latest single ‘Strange Attraction’. Unbelievably addictive, it sparkles with a buoyant disco vibe and shimmers with a sugary sweet goodness. The summery sheen, catchy hooks and  gorgeous and nimble  gorgeous boy/girl vocal interplay make it impossible to resist its allure and will, no doubt, plaster a smile on your face. A wonderful and utterly divine piece of guitar-pop which sits nicely alongside their previous singles.

Listen to ‘Strange Attraction’ below and if that is to your liking, and it will be, their new EP, Strange Attraction, is out now.

Johnny Kills – ‘End Game’

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Brighton/London-based garage-surf trio Johnny Kills have been delighting our ears with a series of infectious and scuzzed-up singles; ‘Let’s Talk About Me’ & ‘My Shirt Guy Is High’.

The trio have returned with a scintillating, razor-sharp single ‘End Game’. A fizzy sub-three-minute blast of fuzzed-up and scuzzy alchemy. Vocals flicker in and out between meaty bass, crunchy riffs and searing percussion, all the while maintaining a sweetly melodic core. Clocking in at just under three minutes, it does not mess about and it will certainly brighten your day.

Everything from Johnny Kills thus far has been sensational, here’s to that trend continuing into the future.

For now though, you can take a listen to the superb ‘End Game’ below.

Something for the Weekend: New Music Playlist #25

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A regular slot on blog, a relatively short weekly Spotify playlist featuring some of the finest new music to prick my ears over the course of past seven days.

Clocking in at just over an hour, it’s an easily digestible slice of new music, just in time for the weekend. There’s a nice mix of genres and styles too, allowing me to share even more crackin’ tunes. Well, without further ado, here’s #25 – Something for the Weekend: New Music Playlist. Get stuck into the tunes & enjoy the weekend! You can follow me on Spotify here.

Eoin Dolan Announces New Album; Shares ‘Good Human Being?’

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Eoin Dolan, one of Ireland’s finest songwriters, has announced he will release his second full length album Ubique, on the September 22, in association with Citog Records.

Ubique is the follow-up to Dolan’s wonderful, self-titled 2016 debut, and as a taster for his forthcoming new LP, Galway musician and singer-songwriter has shared new single ‘Good Human Being?’ with us. Aptly described by the man himself as “an existential lament to a world of the future where humans travel to the stars, searching for comfort and solace in the darkness of space” – ‘Good Human Being?’ exudes all the brilliance that’s marked out Dolan and his work thus far. It is woozy, waltzing and enchanting psych-pop perfection, with an abundance of sinuous melodies. laid-back and spaced-out vibes. In truth, it is hard not to be taken by this wonderful, woozy number.

Ubique will be released on September 22 through Citóg Records and will be launched as part of the Notions Festival on Inis Oirr Island, followed by a tour Iceland from October 6 to 16.

Listen to ‘Good Human Being’ below now.

Introducing: Silver Liz

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Silver Liz are Chicago-based husband-wife duo of Carrie and Matt Wagner who delight, excite and enthral with their shoegaze-meets-dream-pop sound.

With the recording of their debut full length done and dusted, the pair are teasing us with some tantalising tasters. Latest single ‘Him’ captures the Silver Liz’s shoegaze-laden textures. Carrie Wagner’s haunting vocals lead the charge elegantly through a undulating sea of fuzz, distortion and whirring of guitars, which begin to wail piercingly with the introduction of percussion as we’re thrust into a world of enveloping spacey and shoegazey sounds. A stunning atmospheric, yearning and dreamy soundscape. Meanwhile, ‘One and Twenty’ continues with the dreamy charm but garnering a more refined, blissful and breezy lo-fi indie pop. The songs traded-off vocals have a way of transfixing and the combo of clashing guitars, electrified drums, and ambient synths find a sweet spot between pop and indie/alternative. Expect more where this came from on Silver Liz’s upcoming full length album, to be released at some point in the near future.

For now you can check out ‘Him’ & ‘One and Twenty’ below.

Incoming: A Quick Chat With The Burning Hell

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THE BURNING HELL is the alter-ego of Canadian songwriter Mathias Kom, and the band has been on the road in one form or another since 2007, playing everywhere from the chaos of Glastonbury to the loneliness of the Arctic Circle, popping up in bars, festival tents, living rooms, abandoned bunkers, and a mental asylum in rural France along the way.

Musically, the lineup and sound of the Burning Hell has been ever-changing, running the gamut from introspective folk to hyperactive rock and roll; meaning no two Burning Hell records sound alike.

In the company of incredibly witty, humorous lyrics and a real knack for storytelling, listeners are treated to a vivid adventure through hooky, upbeat pop songs, dark ballads about pet euthanasia, and anthems for barbarians, economic conferences, and love.

As The Burning Hell prepare to release studio album #8, they have embarked on a ferocious tour across Europe & N. America, and this Saturday, September 23, they roll into Newbridge town, for an intimate and special Broken Home show, with support from local indie merchants Fresco Future.

Ahead of the weekend’s show I caught up with The Burning Hell’s Mathias Kom, to chat about the project, touring and all things music.

Tell us a little bit about The Burning Hell. How did it come about? Where did the name come from?

“Ages ago, some lunatic religious zealot handed me a tract with a shitty-looking devil on the front that said “The Burning Hell” on it in fiery letters, and it was all about how good deeds won’t save you from Satan’s jaws, et cetera. At that exact moment I had been wondering what to call this new folky recording project I had started; the name seemed perfectly inappropriate, and it’s been that way ever since.”

Your lyrics are all incredibly witty, humorous and you’ve a real knack for storytelling? Is that something that’s particularly important for you to get across when writing the songs?

“Thank you, and yes—I find it amazing how many songwriters treat lyrics as an afterthought, since to me there’s not a lot of point in singing intelligible words if they’re not going to be compelling or at least not completely asinine. To paraphrase Thumper the cartoon rabbit: if you can’t sing anything interesting, don’t sing anything at all.”

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