POSTS TAGGED : Irish Music

Best of 2013 w/ Robbie Dunne of The Cedar Sound

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It’s that time of year when every music website, publication and blog (including this one) are busy compiling lists, lists and more lists. Last year I asked bands and artists who’d played ‘BarryGruff Presents’ shows to put their own list making skills to the test in picking their ‘favourite album of 2013′, ‘favourite song/remix of 2013′ & ‘favourite Irish song of the year’. After another successful year of shows, why break with tradition?

Right, that is enough from me, over to Robbie Dunne from The Cedar Sound for his picks from 2013.

Favourite album of 2013: Jason Isbell – ‘Southeastern’

I was awaiting Dawes’ album Stories Don’t End with abated breath and when it was released, I wasn’t disappointed but then Jason Isbell came along with Southeastern and put into an album every emotion you can possibly feel while telling stories that I wanted to listen to. For me, Southeastern was the best of 2013 and will by this time next year, I can see myself still listening to it like I have been since it was released!

Favorite song of 2013: Dawes – ‘Most People’

It is off the Dawes album and it’s called ‘Most People’. I was sold once I heard the chorus that goes “she says most people don’t talk enough about how lucky they are, most people don’t talk enough about the love in their hearts” which is what runs through my head every day! Plus, it sounds like something off a Tom Petty record so that also helps

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Favorite Irish song of 2013: Christy Moore – ‘Where I Come From’

The guilt of not knowing enough Irish music and needing to listen to more. Christy Moore’s ‘Where I Come From’ because he mentions Johnny Doyle and the fact that I am a bog man surrounded by bog men is fitting also!

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Tandem Felix – ‘Ryan Hoguet’ / ‘How Strange, The Weather’

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Tandem Felix revealed their new double a-side single ‘Ryan Hoguet’/’How Strange, The Weather’ just over a week ago.  

The new single follows on from their Popcorn EP, released back in April. Such was the quality of the EP it could have proved a rather hard act to follow. No such problem for the Dublin based quartet who continue to explore their way through the stunningly elegant sound they happened upon with Popcorn. The pick of the pair (for me) has to be ‘Ryan Hoguet’. Slowly evolving over a thoroughly laid back four and a half minutes, it is a serenely beautiful number, who’s woozy vibe owes much to the majestic combination of sweeping, soft instrumentation and hushed, whispering vocals. Tandem Felix have signed off 2013 in style. Let’s hope we hear plenty more from them in the new year.

You can road test both ‘Ryan Hoguet’ & ‘How Strange, The Weather’ below or purchase it from here. There’s a launch party happening this Wednesday (Dec 11th) in the Button Factory – all the details are here.

Best of 2013 w/ Daragh from The Statics

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It’s that time of year when every music website, publication and blog (including this one) are busy compiling lists, lists and more lists. Last year I asked bands and artists who’d played ‘BarryGruff Presents’ shows to put their own list making skills to the test in picking their ‘favourite album of 2013′, ‘favourite song/remix of 2013′ & ‘favourite Irish song of the year’. After another successful year of shows, why break with tradition?

Right, that is enough from me, over to Daragh from The Statics and his picks from 2013.

Favourite album of 2013: Queens of the Stone Age – ‘…Like Clockwork’

Q.O.T.S.A. are a long-time favourite of mine. For me they didn’t put a foot wrong with this album. The dirty riffs, melancholy piano and great melodies combine in a more experimental way than before. It’s entirely different from my personal favourite ‘Songs for the Deaf’; it’s quieter and more composed, with perhaps the exception of ‘My God is the Sun’. I’ve seen people physically sit up and pay attention to ‘I Sat By The Ocean’ too. It’s a feather in their bow that I don’t think a lot of people thought them capable of, until now. It’s far and away my pick of the year.

Favourite Song of 2013: Arctic Monkeys – ‘R U Mine?’

So, its not really a 2013 song but its on a 2013 album, apologies to the pedants, but its Arctic Monkeys – R U Mine? Which despite the spelling is actually a really good tune. Its the biggest nod to their early sound on their latest album and so it doesn’t tread to much new ground, but its exactly what I want when I put an Arctic Monkeys song on. No time is wasted getting into it and while it was out on Record Store Day in 2012, I’m still not tired of hearing it. Its was a belter in the Electric Picnic set. People went crazy to this one.

For an official 2013 tune I’d have to say Pulp’s ‘After You (James Murphy Remix)’. Just scraping in at the beginning of 2013 (available for download in December 2012, but officially released on January 28th) this is probably my favourite of the year. It has that classic ‘Common People’ Pulp sound made just that little bit better with a little help from Mr LCD Soundsystem.

Favourite Irish Song: Little Green Cars – ‘Harper Lee’

If it has to be one, and it does, then its Little Green Cars’ ‘Harper Lee’. Great harmonies, great driving drums, great band. Just one of the myriad of excellent songs I could’ve chosen from a tonne of great Irish bands making great music this year.

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Best of 2013 w/ DJ Robbie Coffey

It’s that time of year when every music website, publication and blog (including this one) are busy compiling lists, lists and more lists. Last year I asked bands and artists who’d played ‘BarryGruff Presents’ shows to put their own list making skills to the test in picking their ‘favourite album of 2013′, ‘favourite song/remix of 2013′ & ‘favourite Irish song of the year’. After another successful year of shows, why break with tradition?

Right, that is enough from me, over to DJ Robbie Coffey and his picks from 2013.

Favourite song of 2013: Busta Rhymes feat. Q-Tip – ‘Thank You’

This song probably had an advantage over the others on my shortlist as it only dropped in early November, so it’s fresh in my mind and I haven’t completely worn it out yet! That said, I don’t see myself tiring of this anytime soon. Q-Tip and Busta are legends in my mind and they’re on top form here. Kanye West and Lil Wayne bring fuck all to the party and the video is shit but don’t let that put you off, this track is monumental!  Taken from the Q-Tip/Busta mixtape ‘The Abstract and the Dragon’ which should be available any day now..

Favourite album of 2013: Mount Kimbie – ‘Cold Spring Fault Less Youth’

I’ve been listening to a lot of Mount Kimbie this year. I finally got around to their 2010 debut Crooks & Lovers, which is fantastic. I found Cold Spring Fault Less Youth to be a bit more accessible than their debut. This is probably partially down to the addition of vocals to the setup. For the most part these are handled in house however two tracks feature King Krule (‘You Took Your Time’ & ‘Meter Pale Tonne’). Both of these collaborations work really well, in a haunting kind of way! Anyway, if you have 40 minutes to spare I’d recommend that you let this album into your ear followed by Q-Tip (& Busta).

Favourite Remix of 2013: Justin Timberlake – Suit & Tie (Four Tet Remix)

I’m surprised how much I like this!

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Best of 2013 w/ Keith from The Dead Heavys

It’s that time of year when every music website, publication and blog (including this one) are busy compiling lists, lists and more lists. Last year I asked bands and artists who’d played ‘BarryGruff Presents’ shows to put their own list making skills to the test in picking their ‘favourite album of 2013′, ‘favourite song of 2013′ & ‘favourite Irish song of the year’. After another successful year of shows, why break with tradition?

Right, that is enough from me, over to Keith from of The Dead Heavys and his picks from the year that was 2013.

Favourite album of 2013: Of Montreal – ‘Lousy With Sylvianbriar’

This album’s only been out since October but has already clocked up more listens than any other new release this year. Its quite a simple record (especially for Of Montreal) with a small band cutting it live to tape  but the songwriting is just fantastic. Great melodies paired with some seriously dark lyrics (a- la ‘Forever Changes’), makes for a great listen.

Favourite song of 2013: Unknown Mortal Orchestra – ‘Faded In The Morning’

Great tune from a great record. It somehow manages to be lo-fi, funky, psychedelic & rocking at the same time. Also has a great hook running through it.

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Favourite Remix of 2013: Jagwar Ma – ‘Come Save Me’ (Andrew Weatherall Remix)

Love the original track which has got a Phil Spector meets acid house vibe on it. The Weatherall mix drops the spector type beat and turns up the acid!

Favourite Irish song of 2013: O Emperor – ‘Contact’

Amazing band who really let loose on their new album. Great attitude & vibe to this track with so many different riffs going on throughout but never a not wasted.

Death in the Sickroom – ‘Brick to the Face’

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It seems like a very long time ago since Death In The Sickroom introduced themselves with a series of fantastic demo’s. 

Almost two years on, now signed to Reekus Records, the young Dublin quartet are prepping the release of ‘Tonight’, one of the aforementioned early demo’s which greatly impressed. Accompanying ‘Tonight’ is new track and b-side ‘Brick to the Face’, which reaffirms their credentials for sparkling indie brilliance. The two tracks are penned for a full and proper release in early 2014, hopefully only the beginning of what is a big, big year for Death In The Sickroom. It’s always nice to see a band growing and progressing, they’ve got the jangley indie-pop sound down to a tee.

You can stream ‘Brick to the Face’  below or you can recap on the early demo’s here too. 

Sisters – ‘Hush Hush’

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Originally from Limerick but now based in London, Sisters are the trio of Niall, Aoife and Andrew, who we’ve been castling a watchful gaze over since they first surfaced midway through last year.

Early demos from the trio set the standard and they’ve been in fine form ever since, repeatedly impressing with one fantastic jam after another. Saying all that, their brand new single ‘Hush Hush’, is on a whole other level. It’s three minutes of hypnotic, melodic and fuzzed up indie-rock. The combination of guitarist Niall’s rough vocals and rhythmic riffs with the silky, honeyed vocals of bassist Aoife just works ever so well. It swirls, it soars, and it drags you through a hypnotic and dreamy world where pummeling grungy riffs can be best friends the most heavenly of harmonies. ‘Hush Hush’ is a stunning way to sign off on 2013 and hopefully they continue this upward trajectory in the new year. 

‘Hush Hush’ is released 2 December via Just Off Pop Records. You can stream ‘Hush Hush’ below, or watch their DIY video with footage from their recent tour with Big Deal.

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BarryGruff & Co Present: Discord #1 :: Saturday, Nov 30th :: Flanagan’s, Newbridge

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BarryGruff & Co Present: ‘Discord’ #1 w/ DJ sets from BarryGruff & Cormac Brady :: Saturday, Nov 30th :: 9pm :: Flanagan’s Newbridge  :: Free In.

You might already be aware from all my incessant tweeting and the like, Myself and Cormac Brady are joining forces to run a DJ night called ‘Discord’.

The first one is taking place this Saturday (Nov 30th) from 9pm in Flanagan’s, Newbridge; with myself & Cormac spinning the tunes for the opening night. Anyone who’s witnessed one of señor Brady’s sets before knows how bloody excellent he is. Expect to hear loads of great hip hop, electro, indie, alternative, ska, dancehall & more. We’re both really excited to get this one off the ground and hopefully this is the first of many nights in Flanagan’s. Hopefully we’ll see you there.

Free Entry. RSVP here.

Introducing: Terriers | A belated intro to Dublin duo’s synth-driven minimal electronica

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From the one that slipped under the radar department comes Dublin electronic duo, Terriers, aka Peter Ward and Ronan Downing.

The duo impressed on numerous occasions throughout the year, yet somehow managed to be overlooked. Their debut EP, Marie Celeste, kicked off an impressive 2013, while their latest tracks ’13/13′ & ‘For You’ adding further clout to their growing credentials as classy purveyors of synth-driven minimal electronica. Their inspiration is derived from an admiration of atmosphere, the grimey disarray of Dublin city and an overall love for melody and underground bass tones. Terriers’ compositions take on much of this character, providing predominantly downtempo, elegantly produced electronic jams with an after hours, late night atmospheric feel. They’ve captured both a vibe and a groove all of their very own, in short, fantastic stuff all round.  And a pleasure to finally put it into words. 

Like what you hear below? There’s plenty more where that came from on Soundcloud and you can get their Marie Celeste EP for free from bandcamp. Also, Terriers play Junior Spesh @ Twisted Pepper w/ Princess & Monto on Dec 12th. 

New Tracks from Sliab Cuinciu: ‘Tricks’ & ‘Stay Gold’

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Sliab Cuinciu has been, in my humble opinion, the finest new electronic producer to emerge from these shores in 2013.

The 24-year-old Wicklow beatmaker’s 8-track collection, ####, released earlier this year was pure gold; a spellbinding mix embracing all things hip hop, synth pop, disco and a wealth of electronic music, as well as soul, funk and rock. Yes, yes, all great you say but what of now? Well, the good news is Sliab Cuinciu has returned with two new jams, ‘Tricks’ and the aptly titled ‘Stay Gold’, and it looks as though there’s no chance of dropping the standard any time soon. Both tracks are smooth, cool as fuck hip-hop inspired electronic tunes, permeated entirely with a serious feelgood vibe. ‘Tricks’ bounces along some of the funkiest beats and bass you hear this side of the ’70s, it’s so irresistibly infectious. ‘Stay Gold’ meanwhile, has much more of a daydream quality, taking us on a tranquil wander through a land of ’80s synths and drums, much more indebted to the early days of hip hop. In short; two tunes as cool and refreshing as a breeze on a scorching hot summers day.  

You can listen / download (free) to both ‘Tricks’ & ‘Stay Gold’ below. And if you’re liking what’s on offer, you should definitely check out ####, it is available gratis from bandcamp.