DATE ARCHIVES : July 2020

Bee Bee Sea – ‘Gonna Get Me’

Italian garage-psych trio Bee Bee Sea specialize in loud, propulsive and guitar-driven psych infused garage rock stompers – something patently clear from their latest single ‘Gonna Get Me’, taken from their upcoming new album ‘Day Ripper’ which is due on October 9 via Wild Honey Records.

Following along the same lines as previous single ‘Daily Jobs’, new one ‘Gonna Get Me’ is a wildly addictive blast of scuzzy, hyperactive and incredibly catchy garage rock. The Italian trio combine their trademark upbeat, frantic and frenzied tempo with sunny vibes, cheery melodies and huge hooks; all bathed in a haze of warm fuzz and distortion. This is, like ; ‘Daily Jobs’ before it, hugely addictive stuff – but the kind of addiction that leaves you better for it.

Tune in to ‘Gonna Get Me’ below:

Slim Tin Fox – ‘Feed Me’

We were introduced to Slim Tin Fox‘s energetic and no nonsense rock ‘n’ roll with ‘Molly’ toward the end of last year and the Dublin-based foursome are back with double a-side ‘Feed Me’ & ‘Hometown Blues’.

‘Feed Me’ continues in the same vein as before; it is a thrilling blend of indie, rock, blues, garage, post-punk and punk. Vocals snarl, delivered with a rasp while brash and muscular rhythm rumbles below a deluge of meaty riffs, guitars and feedback. It is powerful, all-action jam delivered with a swagger and an ear for a hooky tune. All this is just a long winded way of saying this foursome from Dublin have come up with yet another thrilling tune.

Listen to ‘Feed Me’ below now:

10 Years of BarryGruff: Gruffalo Soldiers Zine

10 years, eh? How did that happen? I don’t really know where to begin. It feels both like yesterday and an absolute age since I began this blog.

There was no great plan starting out. It was an opportunity to regularly write and share music I found interesting, and something to keep me sane in the unemployment ridden world of post-banking collapse Ireland.

While a lot has changed over the 10 years, I have tried to keep the focus on music that I like and find exciting. There is a special feeling when you find something new that knocks you for six, I’d get that feeling blog or no blog, but it is nice to be able to share with other people.

In the spirit of keeping the focus on the music, to mark the 10 year milestone I decided to put together a Zine with a focus on some of my favourite artists from the past decade. There are interviews with Cian Ciaran from Super Furry Animals, Jinx Lennon, Elsa Lester, Peaness, Seazoo, Anderson, Martha Ffion & Lauran Hibberd, along with superb articles from Joe Donnelly, Evan Lynch & Captain Moonlight.

It has taken a bit of time to pull it all together and not without its hiccups along the way so I’m delighted it came to fruition in the end. It is/was an attempt to re-create an old fashioned Zine, whether that has been achieved or not, I hope you enjoy reading it.

I’d like to thank Joe Donnelly, Evan Lynch & Captain Moonlight for their articles, Peter Lane for use of his photos and artwork, Johnny Feeney for his IT acumen and support, all the artists who kindly took the time to be interviewed. Thanks to Stevie and Caroline for their assistance in getting this over the line and lastly, thank you all for indulging me with your time – it is greatly appreciated.

Barry

Tebi Rex – ‘I Got My Whole’

Tebi Rex are a hip hop pairing – Max Zanga and Matt O – based in Maynooth, Co Kildare, who together craft slick and easy on the ear jams.

New single ‘I Got My Whole’ is a case in point; a lush, dreamy and sunny pop-infused track. It is a track of irresistible charm as the pair’s sweet, smooth and melodic vocals (delivering tongue in cheek lyrics) drift elegantly above a steady and seductive beat/groove al amid a plush and charming twinkling chime of shimmering synths and blanket of hazy electronic tones.It is a beautiful and delightfully addictive cut – one that will be stuck on your head for AGES.

Listen to  ‘I Got My Whole’ below.


Denise Chaila – ‘Chaila’

Limerick MC Denise Chaila has been on the up since the release of ‘Copper Bullet’ / ‘Duel Citizenship’ early last year but 2020 has been a big one.

In March Chaila appeared alongside other guests on God Know’s banger ‘Who’s Asking? South West Allstars Remix’ before a show stopping performance as part of Other Voices Courage 2020 series – and now, released a brilliant new single ‘Chaila’. A perfect blend of poise and poetry, it is slick, smooth and suave as it bobs along a ridiculously addicting groove and guitar riff – the latter is the hook that everything else is built on, providing an alluring platform for the syrupy smooth vocals to thrive as powerful and poignant lyrics. A superb track and one that’s been on constant rotation for the best part of the summer.

Listen to ‘Chaila’ below:

Introducing: Tallulah.

Tallulah. is a 19 year old artist and musician from Oakland, California who delights, excites and enthralls with her indie-meets-dream-pop stylings.

Tallulah’s propensity for bouts of mesmerising melodic dreaminess is born out on debut EP Revert; a three-track introduction to these delectable talents. ‘Day Job’ is hazy and melodic as a synth gently pulses alongside the steady grooving drumbeat  while the shimmering twang and woozy atmospheric swirl creates a lush and alluring elixir for the hushed, dreamy and nonchalant vocals to thrive. ‘Hysteria’ is the most bristling indie-rock type of the three. Those now signature dreamy vocals float gracefully above a haze of mild fuzz and distortion as a propulsive riff ushers us forward through a sea of lush shimmering synth and swirling hazy atmospherics. ‘Here’ is a woozy subtle, spellbinding and lush sea of textures, soft-edged synths, blissed out tones and flourishes of dreamy psych-folk. It bubbles along a rippling rhythm as guitars shimmer and chime and synths twinkle with a lapping groove growing and swelling with intensity as   Tallulah’s smooth, light and mellifluous voice breezes above, as per usual.

Taken individually, each of these are fabulous singles in their own right but taken collectively the offer even more – a wonderful introduction from an artist we’re hopefully hearing a lot from soon.

Tune in below:

Alps 2 & Simona Drive – ‘Burnt’

Alps 2 & Simona Drive are outfits with pedigree: as performers, Simona Drive have toured with Maribou State; as individuals, they have released on Ralph Lawson’s 2020 Vision and Fatboy Slim’s Southern Fried Records. And as a collective, they’ve launched Selby Sounds, and now,  Alps 2 & Simona Drive have teamed up with Ad Hoc Records proudly for Burnt EP.

The resulting sound is deliciously displayed on title track ‘Burnt’; a lush, feelgood and woozy slice of sunny electronica escapism as the pair marry the exquisite elegance of electronica, dancefloor focus and seductive grooves of house music. ‘Burnt’takes all the aforementioned parts and creates a rich and alluring soundscape. Lush synths fizz with life and effervescence, gushing over soft beats, deep seductive groove and sparkling spurts of electronics, amid a warm, sunny and feelgood dose of escapism. A beautiful, uplifting and lush jam bound together by a smiley feelgood vibe, seductive groove and peppered by bouts of mild euphoria.

An absolute lavish gem, check ‘Burnt’ out below:

 

Jacqueline Tucci – ‘Sweeter Things’

Jacqueline Tucci is a Toronto-based musician who is preparing to release debut EP, Jungle Sounds later this year.

Having provided a superb intro with debut single ‘Fear’, Tuccii has released a second single from the forthcoming EP, Jungle Sounds. ‘Sweeter Things’ is born from feelings of frustration at so many things that are happening around her and in the world, ‘Sweeter Things’ is about having a voice and wanting to use it through music, but feeling pressure to not step on any toes and to not say things that might make people upset. It is a powerful and passionate jam that’s bristling with a defiant tone as crunching guitars, meaty riffs and bounding beat cut a swathe through the fuzz and feedback with Tucci’s powerful vocals soaring above. It is a huge tune that while meaty, raw and powerful, there is deftness to it too as it once again demonstrates Tucci’s brilliant ear for melody, a catchy chorus and lyricism.

Check out ‘Sweeter Things’ below – it will not disappoint.

Peerte Trunt – ‘Trassi’

Peerte Trunt is pedigree; a label head at Basserk Records, former member of the 3-1, Bronstibock, VAN PI and LHISPR., while also producing under the moniker Tholyson – Trunt has found space and time to release music under his own name.

His first EP as Peerte Trunt is called Halfweg – named after the village he lives in close to Amsterdam – and the first track lifted from the EP is called ‘Trassi’. It is beautiful, transfixing and remarkably easy on the ear. It is built upon delicate and melodic keys that are engulfed in a wash of warm synths that rush to meet a swell of lush electronics while a flurry of soft, pattering beats scurry below. ‘Trassi’ is beautiful, lush and dreamy, and designed to whisk your worries away.

Listen to ‘Trassi’ below – it does not disappoint.

BAILE – ‘Cyclical feat. Lukas Oppenheimer (Fake Fever Remix)’

We were introduced to BAILE, the project of New York producer Reed Kackley, who specializes in bouts of lavish, downtempo escapism, with EP, Winte earlier this year.

Hot in the heels of the EP, the Brooklyn-based producer has shared Winte, The Remixes and led by Fake Fever’s rework of ‘Cyclical feat. Lukas Oppenheimer’. It is a woozy and spaced out slice of otherworldly electronic music that expands on the original’s lullaby vibes and music box feels with glistening synths and lavish layers of lush electronics that whisk away to cosmic realms of tranquility. This aesthetic swells and gushes while a rising tide of breakbeats and murmuring bass up the tempo as we take a detour to glitch and psychedelic infused electronica.

You can sample Fake Fever’s Remix of ’Cyclical’ below now and if if that is to your liking, why not try the remix EP here, and original Winte EP here?