POST CATEGORY : Video

(Video) Bill Ryder-Jones – ‘Wild Swans’

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If you have yet to acquaint yourself with Billy Ryder-Jones‘ wonderful new album, A Bad Wind Blows In My Heart, I wholeheartedly encourage you to do so. 

On the ex-coral man’s debut solo venture, he looks inwards, penning a gripping album of pensive ballads and hushed pop songs. Ryder-Jones’ latest single to be taken from the LP, ‘Wild Swans’ is a typical autobiographical tale, built with subtlety and restraint. It is predictably melancholic and filled with wistful heart swelling melodies, as he solemnly mourns a lost love, in a hushed, semi-spoken voice. ‘Wild Swans’ is typical of what is a highly accomplished and deeply affecting debut, one well worth checking out when you find the time.  

‘Wild Swans’  is out on August 26th & his latest album, A Bad Wind Blows In My Heart, is out now on Domino Records.

The Vickers – ‘She’s Lost’

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Are you looking for something to file next to Tame Impala in your record collection? Never fear, here’s the ticket. Hailing from Florence, Italy comes psychedelic rockers The Vickers, who’ve just released a brand new single, ‘She’s Lost’. 

There are patches of late-60s psychedelia and decades of British bands, ranging from the Kinks to Jesus & Mary Chain and to the darkness of Joy Division – the result of which is dreamy psych fuzz with a touch of casual darkness. ‘She’s Lost’ is a hypnotic and controlled concoction of noise. Motorik drums and propulsive  post-punk basslines drive things forward, while allowing echoes and delayed guitars to sweep and burst into one another, cultivating a far-out, and irrepressibly cool sound. Meanwhile the b-side, ‘All I Need’, sticks to a similar script but finds space to add a touch more darkness. The Vickers are ones to keep an eye (and an ear) on, especially as they’ve an album in the pipeline too, which hopefully it sees the light of day sooner rather than later.

You can check out both tracks and the fittingly psychedelic video for ‘She’s Lost’ below.

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(Video) Lethal Dialect – ’13 ‘Til Infinity’

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Lethal Dialect is easily one of the best rappers in Ireland, and has been for sometime now. LD is gearing up for the release of his highly anticipated new album, 1988 this summer.

Ahead of the forthcoming LP the he has treated us to ’13 ‘Til Infinity’ – a fine first taste of what to expect from the album. It appears he’s swapped the darkness of his previous two albums in favour of lighter, brighter vibes. ’13 ‘Til Infinity’ has a sun-kissed summery feel to it with a woozy laid-back vibe and a jazzy touch. All a platform for LD to unfurl  his  nostalgic, contemplative lyrics. LD has always been a thoughtful soul, but even so, his lyrics and delivery on this occasion are really striking. The suitably summery and highly polished video, directed by Jonathan Lambert, is excellent too, check it up above. Having scrapped his Magnum Opus project it was always going to be intriguing to discover what LD would come up with. The good news is, he hasn’t disappointed. 

1988 is due out this summer & you can download ’13 ‘Til Infinity’ for free here.

(Video) Manic Street Preachers – Rewind The Film (ft. Richard Hawley)

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Yesterday the Manic Street Preachers unveiled the title track from new album Rewind The Film, which comes out in September. 

The album is one of two the band have apparently been working on simultaneously; one gentle acoustic and one spiky, with lots of guitars. Based on the evidence of ‘Rewind The Film’, we’re getting the acoustic one first. The Welsh rockers sound like their in a more reflective mood on this occasion, with Richard Hawley trading vocals with James Dean Bradfield. Hawley lends more than his voice to this brooding and cinematic number. Opening with delicately plucked guitar and the whisper of violins, it has his mark stamped all over it, before Dean Bradfield enters the fray with his impassioned vocals. A rather stirring lament which bodes well for the forthcoming new record. 

News of new Manics’ material also provides the perfect opportunity to share this little gem, which the band gave away recently. It’s another collaboration of sorts, with Gruff Rhys teaming up with The Manics for a rendition of ‘Let Robeson Sing’ at the O2. It’s slightly off the point but sure what’s not to like about Gruff Rhys teaming up with The Manics? Consequently (and controversially I’m sure) ‘Let Robeson Sing’ is taken from my favourite Manics’ album, Know Your Enemy.

You can check out the tracks below. The Manic’s will play Dublin’s Olympia Theatre on September 20th, days after the release of the album on September 16th.

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Introducing: The Dirty Rivers

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Formed in Liverpool / Wirral back in 2011, The Dirty Rivers shed the influence usually associated with the city in favour of a darker, more adrenalin fuelled sound. 

The Scouse five-piece are just about to release their 2nd single, ‘The Kid’, which is simply a massive tune. It bombards the listener with layer upon layer of sound, as lazy guitar riffs are spliced over a range of lively percussion additives, forming into a sprawling, spiraling hedonistic jam. Their sound is owing much to B.R.M.C., Led Zeppelin, ‘Second Coming’ era Stone Roses and the early days of The Music – but in saying that there is something distinct to their work, perhaps it’s the swagger and attitude with which it’s delivered? Whatever the case, they appear to have struck on a formula that works, something their earlier works are testament to also. ‘Get Your Guns’ is packed with attitude and absolutely brimming with monstrous rock n roll licks, ‘Black Heart/Filth’ meanwhile, opens with a subtle melodic indie jangle before seamlessly morphing into an altogether darker, aggressive rock ‘n roll beast. This is a band of great promise indeed, let’s hope they get an album sorted before too long.

‘The Kid’ will be released on July 22nd through DeltaSonic Records & there’s plenty to sink your teeth into below.

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(Video) Throwing Up – ‘Medicine’

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We’ve dropped in on London punk/grunge band, Throwing Up a few times over the past 18 months or so. On each occasion their scuzzy blasts of distortion have impressed and left a feeling of wanting more.

So, here’s the good news. Throwing Up are going to release their debut album Over You, through Tim Burgess’ O Genesis label on July 8th. Recorded and self produced in London last year, it was mixed by Burgess and Jim Spencer and features eleven tracks including ‘Medicine’. The loud, brash and scuzzy ‘Medicine’ has been around for a while but not in it’s newly more polished form. The production may be sharper but it does little to take away from the snarling nature of the song, thankfully. 

Looking forward to finally getting to hear an album from these noise makers, hopefully it lives up to the early promise. 

The Sunshine Underground – ‘It Is Only You’

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Remember when ‘nu-rave’ was apparently set to take on the world? Well, that whole ‘scene’ came and went but it left us with a couple of decent acts including The Sunshine Underground.

Pigeonholed into that whole ‘nu-rave scene’, The Sunshine Underground always had something about them. Their debut album Raise The Alarm was great and the long-awaited follow up wasn’t too bad either. They been relatively quiet since then, until now that is. The Leeds lads are back with a brand new single, ‘It Is Only You’. It’s a cracking track which sees a slight shift, the guitars are met with more blinding synths, serving to illuminate their knack for a sing-a-long chorus. An utterly cool track with plenty of oomph, and a pretty sweet video to boot. It’s certainly nice to have them back, even if there’s no word on future releases.

‘It Is Only You’ has already been released as a 12″ limited-edition vinyl but will get it’s digital release next Monday. You can pick it up here.

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(Video) The Last Monroes – ‘Underneath the Streetlight’

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We heard from The Last Monroes a while back with the release of Live From The Barn, a great introduction to what they’re all about.

The Wicklow duo (of Simon Quinn and Konrad Sheane) are back with a new video for ‘Underneath the Streetlight’, directed by Shane Doyle. ‘Underneath the Streetlight’ is a supercharged blast of heavy blues riffage, a serious jam designed to be played loud and veritably burst out of the speakers and it’s the pick of the bunch from the aforementioned release. It is always a pleasure to discover bands who, with just two bodies, somehow manage to make such an almighty racket. All in all an exhilarating listen and hopefully there’s plenty more where that came from in the future.

You can download Live From The Barn gratis from bandcamp now.

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Our Krypton Son – ‘Gargantuan’

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You probably know the score already, Our Krypton Son have been one of my favourite acts on this Island for some time now; impressing with the stunning ‘Catalonian Love Song’, the wonderful ‘Plutonium’ and of course their eponymous debut album.

Anyway, the Derry outfit are set to release their brand new single ‘Gargantuan’, the third from taken from their eponymous debut LP, which is great by the way. It is piano led stomper with plenty of punch for sure, but anyone familiar with their LP will know that already. McConaghy’s vocals are impeccable as usual, as they are on the two brand new accompanying tracks; the autumnal acoustic led ‘Bring The Flood’ and somber, meandering ‘How Long Must I Dream’. Chris McConaghy & company are in flying form once more, which certainly bodes well for the second LP and if rumours are to be believed, it maybe with us later this year. Here’s hoping.

Watch the excellent video for ‘Gargantuan’ directed by Tristan Crowe below and cop a load of the two accompanying tracks too. ‘Gargantuan’ is out on June 28th through Smalltown America.

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Spectrals – ‘A Heartbeat Behind’

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Spectrals popped up on the radar back  in 2010 with A Spectrals Extended Play, an extremely enjoyable blend of 1960s-inspired lo-fi guitar pop flirting with the punkier end of the British indie. 

Where as the former was an exemplary example of velvety smooth pristine pop, the album that followed, Bad Penny, was a bit of a let down. It was loungey and felt a bit lifeless, and left a lingering feeling that it could have been so much more. That is all purely subjective of course, and pretty redundant, especially considering Louis Jones and company are back with a smashing new single ‘A Heartbeat Behind’, suggesting the good times are set to roll on. Jones’ voice is superb, his mellow Yorkshire croon takes centre stage, no longer are the vocals in the background. ‘A Heartbeat Behind’ jangles and it sways, over a rollicking guitar riffs, snapping drums and a little rockabilly flavor. It’s a really great single, and on first impressions the new LP Sob Story, sounds rather promising too. All’s good.

You can give ‘A Heartbeat Behind’ the once over below & Spectrals’ new Sob Story LP is out now.

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