POST CATEGORY : Video

Death In The Sickroom – ‘Tonight’

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Death In The Sickroom aroused plenty of interest when they announced themselves with a tasty selection of sublime demos over two years ago. It has been interesting tracking their progress since then, albeit a quiet one for new material, preferring to take their time, playing gigs and honing tunes before treating us to a sneak preview of their work with ‘Brick To The Face’ late last year.

Now the young Dublin band have unveiled ‘Tonight’, the lead single from their forthcoming Brick To The Face EP, which is due out in August. ‘Tonight’ is jangly, upbeat and infectiously catchy. It swaggers along the most palpable of guitar jangles, that is sparking, blissful and sublime. This, combined with some snappy drumming, excelsior lyrics and delivery, sees their pop-sensibilities shine through a tune that bears all the hallmarks of an ‘indie classic’. Yes, we’ve been here before, albeit in demo form, but now fleshed out and polished, ‘Tonight’ has lost none of its former charm.

You can check out ‘Tonight’ and its video ahead of the forthcoming release of their debut EP, Brick To The Face.

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The Pictish Trail – ‘Wait Until’

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With the reissue of his albums Secret Soundz Vol. 1 & 2 on Moshi Moshi Records fast approaching on June 9, The Pictish Trail has kindly given us a first glance at Alan Cameron and Ben Cowie’s new video for Vol. 2 track, ‘Wait Until’.

‘Wait Until’, is a tender, slow building and softly blossoming hazy piece of ambient pop. Amid the hazy cloud of electronics and layers of vocals it is imbued with a weight of melancholy, sadness and loss that comes from being the first song that Lynch penned following the passing of his mother. A carefully tempered and marvelous piece of folk-influenced balladry and warm electronics. Although Vol. 1 has remained elusive (that’ll be put right on June 9th) Secret Soundz Vol. 2 is a magnificent record and was a particular favourite from last year on it’s original release. Hopefully this new found partnership with Moshi Moshi sees The Pictish Trail reach a far greater audience, and one befitting of his supremely creative talent.

Check out ‘Wait Until’ below. Eigg-cellent!

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Courtney Barnett – ‘Anonymous Club’

 

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Having only recently unearth the rambling, freewheeling anti-folk of Courtney Barnett‘s, The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas, any excuse has been sought to wax lyrical about this wonderful artist and record.

In pairing a few jangly chords with her lazy drawl, Barnett cast a woozy spell over listeners with her hazy tales of vapid suburban life and aimless procrastination. The Melbourne native has a marvellous way with words and an equally glorious way of delivering them, the record is charming, funny and filled with sharp observations. So, yeah, that ‘excuse’. Well, Barnett has recently released ‘Anonymous Club’ along with it’s beautifully animated visual companion, and provided the aforementioned opportunity. It’s a slow-burning, tender folk lullaby, with a warm, faintly glimmering feedback-kissed strum that matches melancholic romanticism and longing depicted of her a night in with a lover. ‘Anonymous Club’ is but one of many absolute gems which litter The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas.

You can check out ‘Anonymous Club’ & ‘Avant Gardener’ another fine example of her superlative ability, and a sure fire future classic, below. You can stream The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas in it’s entirely here too.

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Eugene McGuinness – ‘Godiva’

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Eugene McGuinness has announced his return with news that he’ll be releasing a new album, Chroma, on July 7th via Domino Records.

Chroma, the follow up to the strutting, self-assured indie of 2012’s Invitation To The Voyage is said to be “a direct, stripped-back guitar album”. Lead single ‘Godiva’ suggests as much. The polish of last album has been dispensed with somewhat, and replaced with the twisty and much more scuffed up indie that is ‘Godiva’. Saying all that, it still contains all the components which make his previous work so endearing; namely melodic guitar pop, a harmonious melody but treating it to a blaze of distortion. McGuinness has always been able to eke out a perfect balance between catchy pop and exhilarating indie and it looks as though he’s continuing that tradition.

Chroma, which also features ‘Fairlight‘, the single he released last year, is released on July 7th, the same date as ‘Godiva’. Of which you can check out for yourself below.

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The Dead Heavys – ‘Uptight’

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Waterford’s The Dead Heavys have proven themselves a reliable and plentiful source of great tunes, the likes of ‘Everybody in the Nite’, ‘Slow Robot’ and ‘New Age of Innocence’ are testament to this not so outlandish claim.

The Waterford five-piece indie-rockers are back again with a brand new single called ‘Uptight’, and surprise, surprise, it’s another cracking track. Once again teaming up with Jagz Kooner (Primal Scream, Kasabian & Sabres of Paradise), they’ve delivered yet another bright, upbeat and so, so catchy tune in ‘Uptight’. Their now characteristic sheen is met with some anthemic surges and infectious sing-a-long moments, all filled with the shimmering sparkle that’s stood them out from the crowd from day one. Inspired stuff, as indeed is the video, which is the result of a fruitful collaboration from Matthew O’ Reilly (Lick My Style) and Colm Williamson of Waterford Whispers fame. Let’s just hope there’s plenty more from The Dead Heavys throughout 2014 and beyond.

Check out ‘Uptight’ and the video below. The single is out on May 30th.

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TRWBADOR – ‘Breakthrough Ft. ESSA’

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Since forming in 2010, Welsh duo Trwbador have forged a distinctive and fruitful partnership for producing serenely beautiful, otherworldly music, merging folk and glitchy electronica with near perfection – a trend carried through their excellent debut LP from last year.

With their new single, ‘Breakthrough’, the duo of Angharad Van Rijswijk & Owain Gwilym have teamed up with London rapper Essa (formerly known as Yungun), as they push their folky origins to new far-flung reaches. It’s hypnotic, captivating and all absorbing as Essa rhymes over looped harps, pulsing bass and crunching beats, which all add weight and resonance to Essa’s verses. ‘Breakthrough’ is a first taste from the duo’s second album, which is set for release in late Summer along with another single following in September. Very good news indeed.

‘Breakthrough Ft. ESSA’ is released digitally on May 26th and the 7″ follows one week later. For now? Check it out below.

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(Video) The Horrors – ‘So Now You Know’

The Horrors 2014 New Album Single

So, you might have heard, The Horrors will release their forthcoming fourth album Luminous on May 5th through XL.

Even a whisper of new material is greeted with a flurry of excitement around these parts – all justified too of course – seen as their previous two, LPs Primary Colours (2009) & Skying (2011), are astonishingly good records and two firm favourites. So with all that in mind, their new record, Luminous was always going to be one of the most anticipated releases of the year. The Horrors have shared ‘So Now You Know’, the second song and lead single from their new LP and it continues their usual sophisticated and colourful sound, touch of post-punk and Faris Badwan brooding croon. Although, the darkness which marks much of their previous work seems to have abated, replaced by a new wavey trickle of euphoria, mellow synth sounds and a bouncy backbeat. Tune in, drift away in this bliss of colourful groove.

Luminous is out on May 5th through XL and you can get an earful and video(full) of ‘So Now You Know’ below.

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Cian Ciaran – ‘1/7/69’

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Cian Ciaran‘s album They Are Nothing Without Us was one of last year’s finest records, without a shadow of a doubt.

Spiky, angry but with shades of sweetness and a sparkling ability for a pop song sewn in. This combined with a dash of idiosyncratic sparkle, from the man best known as the keyboard player and production wizard with Super Furry Animals, making the whole thing even more palatable as he took aim at the elite, the bankers, politicians and big corporations. This ‘protest album’ of sorts is continuing to prove a rather fruitful one, with Ciaran returning with another single from TANWU in ‘1/7/69’. The ensuing three-and-a-half-minutes of ‘1/7/69’ are a thoughtfully worked out, luxurious blend psychedelic jangle and overlapping backing vocals, with an irresistible drifting quality.

‘1/7/69’, the latest track to be plucked from TANWU, is accompanied by a brand new video from Mark James/Bait Studios. You would be well checking them both out.

Stream: CIAN CIARAN ‘They Are Nothing Without Us‘on Spotify.

 

 

 

Teleman – ’23 Floors Up’

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With the release of their debut album Breakfast only around the corner, Teleman have saw fit to step out with new single, ’23 Floors Up’.

’23 Floors Up’ confirms, not that there were any doubts to allay really, that Teleman’s debut is one of the records to look out for this year. It’s a charmingly beautiful piece of sweeping guitar-pop that’s sparse with light, gentle almost floating melodies, which are accompanied by minimalist synth tones and the usual breathtaking crooning via Sanders telling tales of love and paranoia. Sanders has a dazzling knack for descriptive lyrics that effortlessly conjure of vivid scenes and images, and like most of his work it is stamped all over ’23 Floors Up’..

’23 Floors Up’ is released on the same day as Teleman’s debut LP, Breakfast, June 2nd, a date for the diary. Along with the wonderful ’23 Floors Up’ – it’s time enough to re-acquaint ourselves with two of the fine cuts already unveiled from their forthcoming debut; a la ‘Steam Train Girl’ & ‘Lady Low’.

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Cat Dowling – ‘Believer’

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Cat Dowling’s latest single ‘The Believer’ is the title track from her debut solo album; a supremely confident effort full of twists and turns

‘The Believer’ was one of the standout from the aforementioned LP, which like it, has a certain PJ Harvey quality, as dreamy imagery shimmers through a murky shrouded darkness. It opens with a rollin’, ramblin’ western swagger, through a perfect blend of marching piano and guitar before unfurling quickly, adding more instruments as the melody builds further and further. It is the perfect backdrop for Downling’s greatest asset to shine; her voice. Her vocals are sublime. The sultry yet raspy tones carry tunes forward vigorously and with such an ease. A truly magnificent song which has eked out a perfect balance between emotional weight and feeling, and a rumbustious tune. No easy achievement. 

‘Believer’ is out now – as is the album of the same name and you can purchase both here.

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