POSTS TAGGED : Sea Pinks

BarryGruff January 2016 Playlist

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Your regular monthly round up all the blog action, in a nice, neat and handy playlist of tracks featured throughout the month.

January was a busy month, especially for new record announcements and whatnot. We had tunes from The Coral, Yuck, Sea Pinks, Steve Mason, exmagician, Ulrika Spacek, Coves and The Last Shadow Puppets, from their respective, new and forthcoming albums. We had introductions to Bousada, ACCU and Honey Moon, while there were excellent new singles/EPs from Seazoo, Allure, Applescal, Marta Ffion, Courtney Barnett, Shit Robot and Golden Fable. Oh, and there were two new episodes of ‘Millions Like Us’, Justin Beats & I’s new music podcast extravaganza for 604now (if you missed them, check ’em here). You can also subscribe to ‘Millions Like Us’ on iTunes & Podcast Republic or find us on Facebook & Twitter.

Well then, that’s that for another month – listen to BarryGruff’s January 2016 playlist below. Enjoy!

 

Sea Pinks – ‘Yr Horoscope’

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With the release of their new album Soft Days only around the corner – Belfast trio Sea Pinks have afforded us another taster from the LP, in the shape of ’Yr Horoscope’.

Neil Brogan and company have proven thus far, to possess an innate ability for incredibly catchy indie-pop jams; and with ‘Yr Horoscope’ the trio have repeated the trick, and how! ‘Yr Horoscope’ is a sub-two-minutes of peppy, upbeat indie jangle, bounding along a bouncy bassline with a rambunctious energy, while cruising some surf-tinged riffs and cheerful vocals. Spritely, inspired and utterly magnificent lo-fi indie rambling from Sea Pinks. As has so often been the case with the Belfast outfit, we’re not left short changed.

Soft Days is out this Friday, January 8 via CF records and it follows 2014’s excellent Dreaming Tracks – a very nice way to kick off the weekend. Till then, you can stream ‘Yr Horoscope’ and ‘Depth of Field’ below.

Sea Pinks – ‘An Exploded View’

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Belfast’s finest purveyors of sun-kissed indie guitar-pop, Sea Pinks, are set to release a new double A-sided single ‘Exploded View’/’Magpies Eyes’. 

Earlier in the year, Neil Brogan, announced that he would be leaving his role as drummer in Girls Names to concentrate on his other musical project, which is of course Sea Pinks. ‘Exploded View’ is the first chance to sample some of that newly concentrated Sea Pinks sound and my, does it appeal to the ear. ‘Exploded View’ is a lovely jangly guitar pop song, with a bright and bouncy energy reminiscent of The Coral/The La’s at their finest (or a great many other superb bands from the banks of The Mersey). In short, it’s a great track, a proper three-minute hero that’s irrefutably lovable.

‘An Exploded View’ will be released on October 5th as a limited edition 7″ vinyl, along with and expanded four track digital EP.

Best of 2012: w/ Colm from Ghost Estates

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It’s that time of year when every music website, publication and blog (including this one) are busy compiling end of year lists. This time around, I thought I’d shift the focus to the bands and artist’s who’ve played a ‘BarryGruff Presents’ show this year and ask them for their ‘favourite album of 2012′, ‘favourite song of 2012′ & ‘favourite Irish song of the year’.

Right, that is enough from me, here’s Colm from Ghost Estates and his picks from the year that was 2012.

Favourite Album of 2012: Tame Impala – ‘Lonerism’

Favourite album of the year has to be Tame Impala’s second album Lonerisim. It’s a fantastic album, and betters their first one by a mile. As a band they just keep getting better and better. When are they gonna come here to Ireland!! Songs like ‘Apocalypse Dreams’ or ‘It Feels Like We Only Go Backwards’ are just so ridiculously good. It took me a few listens to get into it, but once your hooked that’s it. Start to finish its just full on madness. So many things going on.Loads of noises to get lost in.


Favourite Song of 2012: Dirty Projectors – ‘The Gun Has No Trigger’

This was a hard one to answer. There has been so many brilliant songs over the last year, but I went for this. Its not a ‘catchy’ tune with a huge chorus or anything like that. It is just real simple song that sticks in your head. Before I heard this song I didn’t know much about Dirty Projectors. Straight away after hearing it, I went and got their new album, ‘Swing Lo Magellan’,which is also a real strong contender for album of the year. I’m in love with this band now as a result. Start to finish it is a winner. It’s so subtle. The intro gets your attention straight away with this really tight drum beat and deep bass. The vocals just start in and your just going to yourself, “Who is this…??”. Dave Longsmith voice gets more and more emotional as he goes on. When all 3 vocals harmonise they just create this huge sound. There is nothing else that sounds like this band at the moment.

Favourite Irish Song of 2012: Sea Pinks – ‘Lake Superior’

I only recently got into this band through a friend. It has only been a few weeks since I got their album Freak Waves. But this song as a result has been on non stop in my gaff. Wake up in the morning and put this tune on and everything is all good. It just sticks in your head. Really buzzy and catchy. I don’t know anyone who could not like this song.There has been many great Irish songs and albums this year. But at the moment this one really sticks out for me.