POSTS TAGGED : Noise-Pop

Submotile – ‘Eastern Sky Sundown’

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Formed in early 2018, Submotile are the Dublin-based duo of Daniela Angione and Michael Farren. Together, blurring the lines between shoegaze, drone, ambient and post-rock, Submotile have created a brand of layered, exploratory and moody alternative rock, all of their own.

In the autumn of last year, the pair released five-track EP, We’re Losing the Light, and Submotile have kicked off 2019 with ‘Eastern Sky Sundown’, the first single from an album in the making. It is all-out bombast from the get go, powered by a relentless surging rhythmic energy, ‘Eastern Sky Sundown’ goes huge on the powerful, layers of guitars, which come in wave after wave interspersed with snappy drums that are matched by taut, twisting chords. Amid this admittedly massive whirring sound of fuzz and distortion, there is a lightness, all down to the understated melody and sweetness of Daniela’s voice. And like that, it is over but you will be reaching to repeat.

‘Eastern Sky Sundown’ is out now and you can listen to it below and along with it, while we wait for more on their debut album, why not try out their We’re Losing the Light EP here.

Thumper – ‘(You’re Bringing Me) Down’

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‘(You’re Bringing Me) Down’ is the second single – following ‘AFL‘ – lifted from THUMPER‘s forthcoming EP Out of Body Auto-Message, due out in November.

The Dublin five-piece deliver a thrilling (sort of oddball) seven minutes of spiraling effects, psych fuzz, repetition and tension. Hyperactive guitar riffs saw their way through the fuzz and fueled by a steady, rock solid drum beat as frontman Oisin Leahy Furlong screams, demanding your attention. It’s a bit of slacker noise-pop, a bit power-pop, a bit psych but a whole lot of magnificent. Not for the faint of heart, it is thrilling trip that spirals out of control in the final moments. It’s not often that a song of seven minutes will ebb and flow to such a degree as to keep you on the edge of your seat guessing where it will charge to next but ‘(You’re Bringing Me) Down’ does, and at a frenetic pace. A raucous, seven-minutes of irresistible noise-pop loaded with contagious energy and loaded with purpose that is all kinds of brilliant.

Tune into ‘(You’re Bringing Me) Down’ below now & keep an eye out for the forthcoming EP, & THUMPER play a late show on Friday, November 30 in the Workmans, Dublin.

Johnny Kills – ‘End Game’

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Brighton/London-based garage-surf trio Johnny Kills have been delighting our ears with a series of infectious and scuzzed-up singles; ‘Let’s Talk About Me’ & ‘My Shirt Guy Is High’.

The trio have returned with a scintillating, razor-sharp single ‘End Game’. A fizzy sub-three-minute blast of fuzzed-up and scuzzy alchemy. Vocals flicker in and out between meaty bass, crunchy riffs and searing percussion, all the while maintaining a sweetly melodic core. Clocking in at just under three minutes, it does not mess about and it will certainly brighten your day.

Everything from Johnny Kills thus far has been sensational, here’s to that trend continuing into the future.

For now though, you can take a listen to the superb ‘End Game’ below.

Hard Working Class Heroes 2016 Preview: 8 Must See Acts

 

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Hard Working Class Heroes takes place in venues across Dublin this week.

Running from Thursday, October 6th to Saturday, October 8th and it will showcase well over 100 of Ireland’s most promising emerging acts. One of HWCH’s biggest draws (and festivals of its ilk) is rambling around, seeing acts you have previously been unfamiliar with. That said, there are a couple of names that immediately jump out and come highly recommended with the much sought after BarryGruff seal of approval*.

The full line-up / stage times for Hard Working Class Heroes 2016 is here. And as always, feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments section below. *May not be much sought after.

Eoin Dolan: Thursday, 19:40 – 20:10 @ Tengu Downstairs

Galway-based singer-songwriter Eoin Dolan is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the finest finds from the past 12 months. Dolan has a real flair for twinkly and whimsical, good old fashioned pop gems, with a healthy dose of Brian Wilson, Syd Barrett and Lennon/McCartney (moments) threaded through the fabric of his sound. His brand of surfy psych-pop is totally charming, entirely irresistible, easy-going and timeless. Dolan’s self-titled debut album was released last month, for a taste of that & what to expect at HWCH, check out ‘Dear Brian’; a playful blend of woozy, soothing sounds, sinuous melodies, SFA-esque synth work, giddy-pop-playfulness and reverb-drenched vocals. Not to be missed.

New Pope: Thursday, 21:40 – 22:10 @ Tengu Downstairs

Galway-based New Pope – fronted by Dave Boland – deal in truly beautiful, timeless and carefully crafted acoustic folk sounds. Passing with a whisper rather than a roar, New Pope’s songs are delivered with warmth and tenderness, as Boland’s distinctive vocal creates a warm, lush atmosphere – and an overwhelming sense of sense of nostalgia. Last year’s YOUTH EP & LP are wonderful and New Pope were excellent at Electric Picnic this year, and if that doesn’t entice you? Check out the layered, lush and beguiling beauty of ‘Love’ below:

Slow Riot: Friday, 20:10 – 20:40 @ The Hub

Limerick trio Slow Riot‘s ferocious, tense and searing post-punk, has marked them out as one of Ireland’s most promising guitar bands in sometime. Taking classic post-punk influences – Gang of Four, Television, Wire – and infusing them with more contemporary ones such as Girl Band and Future of the Left, they create an irresistible and thunderous modern take on a classic sound. Still need convincing? Check out the intense, insistent and menacing ‘Trophy Wife’ below. Peerless.

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Dog Legs – ‘Holiday’ EP

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London/Brighton duo Dog Legs have a penchant for noise. The good kind mind. You know the sort of thing; fuzzy riffs, crashing drums and general bursts of scrappy, noisy, lo-fi pop goodness.

Dog Legs, aka Moema Meade and Liam Bradbury, who first featured here back in 2013 with their Awkward EP, are back and sounding as good and NOISY as ever. The latest EP, Holiday, a 7-track rickety roller-coaster ride, is jammed with their band’s tangle of sounds – surf, punk, pop & garage rock – tethered together with sweet ramshackle charm. ‘Holiday’ brings the ruckus; a loud, brash and bratty spiral of blistering riffs, chaotic crashing drums and howling vocals. ‘Ugly’ meanwhile, is similarly scuzzy but less frantic fun blast of fuzz and imbued with a buzzing intensity and fizzy energy, and full of sing along hooks. ‘I Trusted You’ reminds of the slanted sounds of Pavement (Slanted & Enchanted era); all ramshackle distortion, fuzz and repetitive angular riffs. There is an honesty & pureness to their sound; it’s raw, imperfect and laid bare, and all the better for it. It’s good to have ’em back and sounding as noisy as ever.

Holiday is out now on a very limited run of cassettes (25 yellow / 75 blue) & ‘Holiday / Ugly’ is also released as a digital single. You can try some choice cuts below.