POSTS TAGGED : Derry

Conor Mason Returns With New Single ‘On The Surface’

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Derry singer-songwriter Conor Mason has revealed his intention to release a new EP early next year.

While Mason already has three albums under his belt, his last release (solo that is) was 2012’s beautiful and assured LP, Standstill. New material from Mason is long overdue and joining this news is the wonderful single, ‘On The Surface’. It seems Mason is picking up where he left off, having found his space on the musical landscape, not dissimilar to that occupied by Elliot Smith, Villagers or Matthew Jay. ‘On The Surface’ gently trickles by, amid a soothing sea of soft lilting vocals, whispering lyrical delicacies, subtle instrumentation and twinkling synth. Permeated by a rich and comforting warmth, a hint of melancholy and dash of uncertainty – it is a wonderfully crafted five minutes, reminding us how much a master Mason is when it comes to wistful whispering, harmony and hook. For a long, long time, Mason has been one of Ireland’s finest – if somewhat overlooked – artists and delectable talents. Lets hope the latter gets rectified in 2017.

There is no concrete date for the forthcoming EP’s release, just sometime, early in the new year. For now, you can listen to ‘On The Surface’ below. Prepare to be bedazzled.

Our Krypton Son Shares New Single ‘Everything Reminds Me Of You’

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‘Everything Reminds Me Of You’ is the lead single from Our Krypton Son‘s forthcoming and long-awaited, second studio album.

Derry musician/songwriter Chris McConaghy aka Our Krypton Son is a master craftsman, and this is, you guessed it, masterfully crafted. ‘Everything Reminds Me Of You’ is a sweet, sentimental love song that gently waltzes along with swooning chord changes, sublime harmonies and sumptuous strings, to form four minutes of exquisite alt-pop. McConaghy’s vocals are impeccable as usual, soothing, warmth and inviting – along with the music – forge an endearing warm glow and punctured with some bouts of heart-strung melancholy. It conjures up similarities to slower, more emotionally weighted Blur numbers a la ‘Under The Westway’, ‘Best Days’ or the like. Always a magnificent songwriter, it is a timely reminder of what McConaghy and Co. are capable of, this is probably the most affecting work to date. It is good to have OKS back, no doubt about it.

There’s no firm date on the new album but ‘Everything Reminds Me Of You’ is out now and available from here.

You can check out the ace video – courtesy of LUMO – for ‘Everything Reminds Me Of You’ below.

The Undertones Celebrate 40 Years & Share New Kevin Shields Remix of ‘Get Over You’

 

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This year, legendary Derry punk outfit The Undertones celebrate the 40th anniversary of the birth of band; a fairly impressive milestone by anyone’s standard.

To mark this auspicious occasion, The Undertones are re-releasing the self-titled 1979 debut and its 1980 follow-up, Hypnotised, on heavyweight vinyl and remastered from original tapes, and original replicated artwork. Two fantastic records (and personal favourites) which contain between them such glorious moments as ‘Teenage Kicks’, ‘Here Comes The Summer’, ‘Jimmy Jimmy’, ‘My Perfect Cousin’, ‘Wednesday Week’ and ‘There Goes Norman’. As part of a 40th anniversary remaster / digital release, Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine has remixed the band’s 1979 single ‘Get Over it’ mixed from the original multi-track. It’s not a ‘remix’ as perhaps we would normally expect, instead certain elements are cleaned and polished up, with the guitars in particular given a crunchier, meatier feel. It sounds less rough than the original while keeping true to its spirit and essence. You can listen to both versions below.

The reissues are out October 7th through Union Square Music on 180-gram heavyweight vinyl,  along with Kevin Shields’ 2016 remix of ‘Get Over You’, available on 7”, 180-gram heavyweight red vinyl.