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January 2012
The Archives
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01.26.12New Irish Sounds: Hush War CryThe name: Hush War Cry The deal: four qualified architects dropping sweet, sweeping guitar rock and joining Toby Kaar, Reid, Fingersmith, Brian Deady, I'll Eat Your Face, Versives and the soon-to-be-massive Young Wonder in proving that Cork city is one of the most bountiful artistic spots on this island. Only two songs have surfaced so far, both of which sound like lost tracks from Wild Beasts' Kate Bush-inspired second album Two Dancers. The sound: Ambitious, compelling dream pop featuring lush arrangements, big words and a bit of blue-eyed soul. 'Lily' in particular, with its sky-scraping vocal and vintage-sounding chorus, is unmissable. And free. Don't forget free. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo3jWYEwHDU Psst. Here's a snippet from the forthcoming 'Apparitions'... http://vimeo.com/feelgoodlost/hushwarcry They say: "I can't control the things ...
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01.15.12Ones To Watch 2012: Day FourAlthough I sadly missed the debut live performance by Nanu Nanu, Day Four of Ones To Watch couldn't have been sweeter, thanks to great sets by Bouts, The Dying Seconds and more. It was a perfect, if a little overwhelming, end to the festival that is fast becoming one of the most essential events in Irish music. SATURDAY, JANUARY 14 Depravations Bouts Spies Alarmist Redwoods Dying Seconds CFIT Holy Roman Army The Gandhis Come On Live Long Hush War Cry Nanu Nanu Trap Door Futures Apart Raglans Gypsies OnThe Autobahn The Great: Performing in Whelan's on Day Four. Photo by Ruth Medjber. Spies Doom rockers Spies have an average age of about 19, so it would make perfect sense if their live show involved all five ...
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01.14.12Ones To Watch: Day ThreeSleep Thieves performing in The Village on Day Three. (Deadly) photo by Ruth Medjber. Day Three of Ones To Watch 2012 boasted more musician-with-laptop types than any other event I've been to on Irish shores, which, at first, appeared to be good news for the beat-hungry paying customer, but bad news for the artists themselves. With so many similar acts on the bill, how does Joey Two Synth make his name count? And more importantly, how many individuals from this tipsy Friday night crowd will be able to remember it tomorrow? There's no questioning the Irish appetite for computer-generated sounds – you only have ...
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01.13.12New Irish Sounds: ReidThe name: Reid. Just Reid. The deal: yet another young Irishman making potent, swoonworthy electronica, 22-year-old Corkman Eoghan Reid launched his solo project a little quicker than most, playing his first ever live show at Electric Picnic last September. Since then, he's released a debut EP, Genesis, and rustled up some really lovely remixes of tracks by Twin Sister, Owensie and Come On Live Long. The sound: Woozy, atmospheric and heavy on the fizz and crackle. This remix of Come On Live Long's 'White Horses' is my favourite Reid number yet, available for free download here. There's also Genesis, the free mini-album which was released ...
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01.13.12Ones To Watch 2012: Day TwoA night of rap and metal crossover. This one will be difficult to top. THURSDAY, JANUARY 12 Wizards Of Firetop Mountain No Spill Blood Lethal Dialect Logikparty Jogging Altered Hours Agitate The Gravel Trumpets Of Jericho * Lamp Bridges Of Madison County Melodica Deathship * Trumpets Of Jerico pulled out due to illness. The Good: The Bridges Of Madison County Comprised of members of The Jimmy Cake, Hooray For Humans, Hands Up Who Wants To Die and Sylvan, The Bridges Of Madison County make noise that is adequately-described as wonky trumpet-punk, or better described as ear-splitting, breakneck rock, featuring the trumpet. If you've seen The Bridges... perform, you'll know that the Dublin foursome don't take themselves too seriously. If you've yet to have the pleasure, I don't care to spoil ...
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01.12.12Ones To Watch 2012: Day OneWhen you're broke, which most of the people I come into contact with on a regular basis are, it's easy to focus on the cost of something, rather than the value. This is why the idea behind Whelan's Ones To Watch festival strikes me as being so flamboyantly clever. The value is big (acts you know and acts you don't, all working hard to be remembered) and the cost is low (€5 or €10). For those who haven't been, here's how it works; the price of a pint earns you one night of music, or up to 15 acts, depending on ...
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01.09.12New Irish Sounds: Luke SlottThe name: Luke Slott. Not to be confused with his brother Mike Slott, the NY-based beatmaker best known for this collaboration with Hudson Mohawke. The deal: A classically-trained multi-instrumentalist who you may have already recognised as the guy who plays the upright piano on Grafton St., 26-year-old Luke Slott is also an accomplished trumpet player, guitarist and singer. To date he's released two volumes of solo piano compositions, one religious EP based on the writings of the Baha'i faith, and most recently, a pop record entitled 'A Few Honest Words'. As well as entertaining up the masses on Dublin's busiest social fairway, Slott spent ...