JOHNNY FEENEY’S ALBUMS OF 2017

Aside from compiling my own end of year lists, I really do enjoy checking out other people’s take on the past 12 months and none more so than Mr. Johnny Feeney.

A reliably insightful musical sage, Johnny’s guest appearances are always interesting and add an extra flavour to the blog and I look forward to reading – of which, surely I’m not alone?

A massive thanks to Johnny for taking time out to compile this list, and on that note, I’ll leave you with his Mr. Feeney’s favourite records of 2017.

10. Grandaddy – Last Place

Previously split up in 2006, Grandaddy’s first album in eleven years saw the ever-eccentric, cult Californians return with a bang with their trademark, electronica-tinged alt-rock. The familiar sounds of Jason Lytle’s distinctive, melancholic vocals, chugging guitars and synth flourishes are all present and correct on a wonderful comeback album that was well worth the wait.

09. Fangclub – Fangclub

Dublin rockers, Fangclub, have been tearing up stages around the country and further afield for a while now and, thankfully, their self-titled debut album delivers on the promise of their raucous live shows. In a classic guitar/bass/drums set up, the trio display a keen ear for an infectious hook and make a thunderous racket not dissimilar to Nirvana. If you like it loud then look no further.

08. Wolf Alice – Visions Of A Life

The London four-piece’s sophomore album sees a fine follow up to 2015’s commercially successful, Mercury-nominated My Love Is Cool. The adaptability of vocalist Elise Rowell means the group are equally comfortable on the melodic, anthemic indie-rock side of things (‘Beautifully Unconventional’) as they are on the heavier material (‘Yuk Foo’) and anything in between. It’s this broad range that makes Wolf Alice such an interesting proposition.

Continue reading →

BarryGruff’s Albums of the Year 2017

Yes, it’s that time of year again, lists, lists and well, more lists – and from every angle possible. That said, compiling an annual list of my favourite records from throughout the year is one of the most enjoyable aspects to the blog.

There was lots of great music in 2017 (as with every year) but here are my 20 favourite records from the year. Also, I’m hoping the festive period will provide time to catch up on some records I’ve missed throughout the year, so feel free to recommend some listening material.

Without further ado, here are my favourite records from 2017:

20. Czarface – ‘First Weapon Drawn’

For album number four, Czarface (Esoteric, Inspectah Deck and 7L) teamed up with Marvel Comics to create a soundtrack to an actual hardcopy comic of the same name. The previous installments have featured rapping from Esoteric, Inspectah Deck and other guests, however, on this occasion it’s just the superbly evocative instrumentation, with narration tacked on throughout. In fact, 7L’s production is some of strongest found throughout all the releases. Not quite at the level of albums 1 – 3, it provides an excellent little stop gap while we await a new album proper.

[Stream on Spotify]

19. Nouveaunoise – ‘Nouveaunoise’

Galway duo Nouveaunoise – Conor Gaffney & Niall Conway – had earned themselves a rep for finely crafted electronic productions, intricately weaving crackling samples, jazz-sampling percussion and warm melodies and crisp beats a la Four Tet or Boards of Canada. The pair released their debut back in 2010 and their self-titled follow-up sees them continue to shine when it comes to elegant, lush and intricately produced pristine electronica. Eight years is a long time but it was worth the wait!

[Stream on Spotify]

18. The Courtneys – ‘The Courtneys II’

With their 2013 debut, The Courtneys peddled lo-fi fuzzy slacker garage-pop with the ’90s casting a pretty long shadow and for the follow-up, the Vancouver trio have repeated the trick. Endearingly ramshackle, the dreamy vocals and laid-back sunkissed vibes are pumped with fuzzed-up distorted guitars, sweet licks and heavy, driving bass lines. Rarely has ramshackle indie been so appealing and so pretty damn irresistible. This is the sound of long, hot summers.

[Stream on Spotify]

17. Girlpool – ‘Powerplant’

Girlpool’s sound gets bigger on their second LP, beefed up with addition of a drummer crafting that classic alt-rock loud-quiet-loudness throughout but Girlpool know where their true power lies: Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad’s voices still sit front and centre. The unsettling magic that exists between makes them Girlpool distinct, lending their patented fragility and vulnerability. Powerplant is sparse and explores the energy and shape of contrariety and emptiness.

[Stream on Spotify]

Continue reading →

Seazoo – ‘Dig’

It’s been said many, many times on here but Welsh five-piece Seazoo are an absolute treasure.

As one of the finest purveyors of indie-pop on the planet, they have consistently conjuring up majestic slices of smile inducing indie-pop bursting with exuberance, fizzing with energy.

The North Walian outfit are seeing out 2017 with ‘Dig’, the third single lifted from their forthcoming debut album, confirmed for release on January 26 2018. The new one is another effervescent piece of perfectly primed pop perfection, emblazoned with their signature and unrivalled fizzy, smile inducing and quirky tendencies with driving guitars, splashes of synth and infectious vocals. Quirky, catchy, infectious and undeniably brilliant, in four minutes flat ‘Dig’ displays the many delightful attributes that have marked them out as something so special from day one. Try get through to end of this catchy, upbeat beaut without bopping your head or smiling; impossible.

You can listen to ‘Dig’ below – along with a wee demo of said gem that Seazoo kindly provided for the GruffWuff compilation.

Martha Ffion Announces Debut LP; Shares ‘We Make Do’

Irish-born, Glasgow-based singer-songwriter, Martha Ffion is set to release her debut LP Sunday Best early next year, through exceptional Welsh indie-label Turnstile Music.

Last we heard from Ffion was with wonderful debut EP, Trip about this time last year but she’s broken the silence with this album news which is accompanied by new, and lead single, ‘We Make Do’. It is a melodic piano-led pop song with a slight ’60s twist, as lush instrumentation combines with soft shakers, piano melodies and mellow acoustic guitars to create gentle surroundings for Ffion’s utterly compelling vocals; delivering detailed and uplifting lyrics. As ever, Martha Ffion beautifully crafted a wonderful, compelling and memorable song – delivered with aplomb. It is both familiar and warm; akin to being perched in front a glowing fire on the coldest of winter’s eves or an embrace from a cherished old friend.

You can listen to ‘We Make Do’ below – and keep an eye out for the LP in the new year – it promises to be a rather wonderful record.

Alan Maguire – ‘Time is Tension’

‘Time is Tension’ is the latest single from Dublin producer/musician Alan Maguire.

There is a touch of the epic, dramatic even, as ‘Time is Tension’ simultaneously exudes an aura of ethereal wonderment and suspense building tension. A beautifully crafted exploration, it endeavors to enthrall and captivate, winging your thoughts a million miles away from the dullness of daily drabness. Crisp neon beats, phasing guitars and synths, and deep groove are expertly employed by Maguire to bring about an atmospheric, spacey-disco adventure. Delivered with a deft touch, pin point accuracy and flair for the atmospheric; this is a broody, thought-and-emotion evoking and immersive listening experience. In short; ‘Time is Tension’ will dramatically improve your day, no doubt about it.

Listen to ‘Time is Tension’ below and if that is to your liking, there’s plenty more where that came from, over here.

Milano Sun – ‘Eldorado’

We might be in the depths of December but Swedish foursome Milano Sun are still chasing the summer with their shimmering new single, ‘Eldorado’.

Milano Sun – David Axelsson, Johan Jonasson, Love Sivik & Zackarias Ekelund – have served us with an unseasonably sunny slice of summery, psych-infused indie-pop. ‘Eldorado’ bobs along a snappy Peter, Bjorn & John-beat and bubbling bassline which mingles with an utterly infectious confection of swooning melodies, dreamy hooks and warm, delay-drenched vocals. A gleaming, bright and irresistible piece of psych-pop perfection, ‘Eldorado’ will have you pining for sunnier climes and paste smiles on faces, no doubt about it.

‘Eldorado’ is out now on VÅRØ as a double a-side single, backed by ballad ‘Romeo & Juliet’.

Milano Sun are planning the release of a full-length album in 2018, and in the meantime check out ‘Eldorado’ below.

AKWUAR – ‘Millions Of Same Faces’

AKWUAR is the kaleidoscopic-pop project of Patrick Braun, hailing from Cologne in Germany.

Braun is taking his first furtive steps as AKWUAR with an eponymous LP penned in for release on January 8 2018. Ahead of its release in the new year, AKWUAR has shared lead single and the album’s opening track, ‘Millions Of Same Faces’. It is three-and-a-half-minutes of dream inducing, melting instrumentation, frazzled electronica and twinkling synth filtered through a gauze otherworldly textures and layers of mild fuzz and topped off with drifting, soft focused vocals. ‘Millions Of Same Face’ is an always welcome wave of calmness and tranquility that will have you suitably reclined and refreshed as it washes over you with a gentle, fresh breezy brilliance.

You can listen to ‘Millions Of Same Faces’ and ‘Do You Deserve My Mind’ (equally delightful) below.

Continue reading →

Ave Maria Overdrive & Skiba Shapiro – ‘Shabba’

Ave Maria Overdrive were born in Zurich in 2016, the creative brainchild of Caccia Schiacciatore (Guitar, Synths & Drums) and Captain Bitrage (Bass, Synths & Drums), the pair do a fine line in off-kilter alt-pop.

The duo’s most recent release is EP, Photogenic Melodies of which latest single ‘Shabba’ is lifted from. The track is marked by a sense of balance between pop and experimental. Albeit a bouncy pop song, within the fabric of ‘Shabba’, there are a variety of disparate musical strains; disco, post-punk, electro, bossa nova and pop. These strands are bound together and intricately woven and adorned with an ear for infectious pop hook, buoyant melodies and an under-stated hint of electro and synth-pop nous. The result is something broody, beautiful and dramatic – an altogether different, intriguing and exploitative sound.

A big thumbs up for ‘Shabba’ – which you can listen to below. And if that is to your liking, why not get acquainted with the duo’s Photogenic Melodies EP? Listen to it here.

BARRYGRUFF

Music and other warblings from the man who should have shot JR

DATE ARCHIVES : December 2017