POSTS TAGGED : The North Sea

BarryGruff’s May 2015 Playlist

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A regular monthly feature to the blog; a nice, neat and handy playlist of tracks featured during the month.

May was another fine month for new music. We had an exclusive premier of The Expert’s new tune, ‘Da Wha?’, the lead single from his forthcoming LP. There were new tunes from Sleaford Mods, Girlpool, Applescal & Tame Impala, ahead of their respective, forthcoming albums. There were excellent new singles from Tomorrows, Telegram, SertOne, Roots Manuva, Foreign/National, The Adventures of Bert & Henry and PANKHABILLI.

Also featuring on the playlist are: GEM_DOS, The North Sea, Disconcerting P, Sweet Baboo, Heaters & Faith Healer. Yeah, so, May was pretty damn good.

Listen to BarryGruff’s May 2015 playlist below.

The North Sea – ‘Decay’

With The North Sea’s debut album on the horizon (June 26th to be precise), the Dublin 5-piece have followed on from ‘Drinking Alone‘, providing further insight to what we can expect with new single, ‘Decay’.

Granted, ‘Decay’ was originally released on their self-titled debut EP back in 2012, and marked them out as such a promising act but three years is quite a long time. In that time The North Sea have grown as a band and this newly recorded album version of ‘Decay’ shows this development. Kenny’s vocals are honed, and brilliant, gliding above meaty bass, percussion and a blaze of forceful guitar work, that while dense, retains the post-punk/’80s indie jangle that’s made their work so inviting thus far. It’s broodingly epic, rousing and as near to perfect indie song as one can hope to find.

‘Decay’ is available now as a free download. You can sample/download it below. And for those of you back home, The North Sea’s album release party takes place on Friday June 26th, at The Grand Social, Dublin.

The North Sea – ‘Drinking Alone’

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Dublin based indie band The North Sea have announced their return with the unveiling of their forthcoming new single, ‘Drinking Alone’.

The five-piece will release the new single on February 28th via iTunes and will feature on the group’s long-awaited debut album. ‘Drinking Alone’ is in keeping with their previous work as they continue to embrace a collective love of ’80s and ’90s indie, with great effect. A pounding rhythm and post-punk inspired guitars deliver a rich and rounded indie-meets-post-punk sound as Kenny delivers a standout vocal performance. Ponderous and reflective, he shares a tale of alienation, realisation and separation between a couple (all comprehended fully while supping pints in solitude). A truly wonderfully stirring song, and a timely reminder of The North Sea’s prowess. Check it out below.

In conjunction with the new single, The North Sea will also head out on a five date Irish tour in support of the single’s release in February. See full list of dates below.

February 22: Crane Lane, Cork
February 25: Cobblestone Joes, Limerick
March 5: Voodoo, Belfast
March 6: Whelans, Dublin
March 19: Roisin Dubh, Galway

Best of 2012: w/ Gary Mackey of The North Sea

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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’.

Without further waffle from me, here’s Gary Mackey of The North Sea and his picks from the year that was 2012.

Favourite Album of 2012: Ghost Estates – ‘Ghost Estates’

My favourite album of the year is Ghost Estates self-titled debut. Expertly crafted songs that perfectly marry electronic sounds with more traditional ones. They’re also an amazing live band that will make you dance. Guaranteed!

Favourite song of 2012: Tame Impala – ‘Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control’

‘Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control’ by Tame Impala also has a pleasant effect on me. It sounds a lot like John Lennon’s second coming. Stunning.

Favourite Irish Song of 2012: Death in the Sickroom – ‘Tonight’

It’s a bit cruel to pick just one Irish tune but I’d have to say ‘Tonight’ by Death in the Sickroom. They have a sound unlike any other band around at the moment. Really worth seeing live if you get the opportunity. Thoroughly decent chaps, too.

The North Sea – The North Sea EP

The North Sea already laid down a marker with a number of sumptuous sneak peek demos over the past 6 months and now the band are releasing their self-titled debut EP. 

The Dublin 5-piece have something of a predilection for ’80s/’90s indie and it certainly shows, with echoes of The Wedding Present, The Charlatans, The Smiths and The Stone Roses shimmering throughout the EP. Opening track ‘Decay’ sets their stall out emphatically. It is as close to a perfect indie song as they come with Eoin Kenny’s restrained vocals flickering through a haze of slow burning guitars and drums. Both ‘These Broken Days’ and ‘Belong’ are cut from the same cloth, two rousing indie numbers.

Meanwhile ‘I’ve Seen Everything Now’ sees them step it up a gear as the vocals frantically strain to keep pace with surge through a blitz of guitars and crashing drums. It is a very composed and assured debut release from The North Sea. There might be a lull in guitar based indie at the moment but there is always room for more, provided it is done well and this certainly is.

The North Sea launch their new EP with Ghost Estates and Death In The Sickroom in Supa Fast (off Capel St.) Dublin, this coming Saturday night (details here).

BarryGruff Presents #5: The North Sea w/ Death In The Sickroom :: Flanagan’s Newbridge :: April 26th

So, it’s gig #5 for ‘BarryGruff’ Presents’. This Thursday (April 26th) we’ve got The North Sea & Death In The Sickroom, entry is FREE as always and judging by the previous gigs, this is going to be a great night!

Dublin 5 piece The North Sea made quite an impression over the past 12 months which has seen them playing shows across Ireland and the UK including Indiependence, Knockanstockan, Whelan’s One To Watch and supporting Whipping Boy. They are currently prepping the release of their brand new EP and having already witnessed comparisons to The Wedding Present, The Stone Roses and The Smiths. 

Accompanying them on the bill are fellow Dubliners Death In The Sickroom, whose own happy-go-lucky jingle-jangle indie-pop is worthy of huge praise too.

Over the past few months we have been lucky to witness some or Ireland brightest emerging musical talents and this will be no different. The show takes place in Flanagan’s, Newbridge on Thursday, April 26th and kicks off at 8.30pm. More info & Facebook event here.

Introducing: The North Sea

The North Sea were formed in 2010 through a collective love of ’80s and ’90s indie and it certainly shows, with echoes of The Wedding Present, The Smiths and The Stone Roses flickering through.

The Dublin five piece have been busy on the live front playing shows across Ireland and the UK including Indiependence, Knockanstockan and Whelans One To Watch over the weekend. The band have served us a sumptuous sneak peek of their forthcoming EP with ‘Decay’. It is as close to a perfect indie song as it gets with guitars, drums and Eoin Kenny’s stunning vocals all woven together into a lush and rousing number.

‘Decay’ may be one solitary track but it is certainly good enough to get us excited about their forthcoming EP, out later in 2012, which give a clearer idea of what these guys have in the locker. 

Download: The North Sea – Decay