Electric Whipcrack

best Irish albums of 2011

2011-12-15T15:48:00.006Z

Kind of got bored of numerical rankings but this is pretty much more-or-less in a rough order of preference.

Catscars - Construction (White Plague)

Catscars' debut album is characterised by submerged, evasive compositions that flicker in and out of focus. The weightless, spectral synthpop of 'B-Song' and the off-kilter robotic groove of 'No Fun' are two of the more direct moments; while eerie, shadowy effects and reverberating chimes echo in and out of the mix on tracks like 'Toying With Me' and 'Monsong'.

B-Song by catscars

Laura Sheeran - Lust Of Pig & The Fresh Blood (Flaming June)

A stunning record that combines mysterious, sometimes sinister lyrical imagery with exquisite gothic-tinged folk arrangements. Divided into two parts, the second ('The Fresh Blood') sees a shift towards electronic loops and ominous, abrasive sound effects, but overall the record remains remarkably coherent, all the more so given the differing ages of the songs included. Standouts include the hypnotic 'I'm Sorry Son' - with an understated, yearning vocal from the singer and sublime violin playing from Cora Venus Lunny - , the malevolent carnival-esque vibe of 'An Apple For You' and the darkly dramatic swell of 'A Wake'.

I'm Sorry Son by L A U R A S H E E R A N

SertOne - Versions

"If you ain't bringing nothing to the table then leave..."

This collection of remixes from the young Liverpool-via-Portadown producer showcases his willingness to tackle source material as disparate as Irish post-rockers (Halves), 'future-garage/bass/whatucallit' producers (Koreless) and hip hop stalwarts (DOOM, Busta Rhymes). Outstanding production throughout as he consistently takes the original and completely flips it, infusing it with his own unmistakable sound. Highlights include the appropriately-named 'Blissful mix' of Starfawn's 'Greenlight' and a sublime take on JR & PH7's 'Fast Lane Speedin''. The don.

Fast Lane Speedin' (ft. Oddisee) (SertOne Remix) - JR & PH7 by SertOneMusic

Le Galaxie - Laserdisc Nights 2 (Battlepulse)

01 - Earth by Le Galaxie

Patrick Kelleher & his Cold Dead Hands - Golden Syrup (Osaka Recordings)

Golden Syrup is frequently a disorientating, spooked-sounding listen - whether it's the vortex-like momentum of 'Miracle Candle', the ominous low-end rumble of 'Too Many Harsh Words' or the haunted-disco of 'Contact Sports'. It's an effect heightened by Kelleher's changeable vocals - veering from austere baritone to showy falsetto on the gothic synth-pop of the title track and the excellent 'Seen Me Blue'. But there's also a wistful warmth to more low-key tracks like 'Broken Up Now' and 'Still In School'.

03 Patrick Kelleher and his Cold Dead Hands - Seen Me Blue by Patrick Kelleher

Raising Holy Sparks - Beyond The Unnamed Bay (Fort Evil Fruit)

A core member of experimental folk collective United Bible Studies, David Colohan has released music under the Agitated Radio Pilot moniker since 1993, but a new approach taking influence from field-recordings, shapenote singing and Hasidic mysticism saw him adopt a new identity. Beyond the Unnamed Bay takes in spectral avant-folk ('Here Begins Our Lasting Joy'), steadily pulsing synth pieces ('As Far As We Can Go') and hypnotic loop-based compositions ('Diamonds In The Water Where You Swam'), as well as the abstract 20-minute number 'The Depths Of Bailey Point' which builds to a cacophony before ebbing again. Despite the range of styles the record has an unmistakable coherence to it, no doubt partly due to its distinctive ambience - a result of recording in unconventional locations such as an abandoned, flooding car park.

Diamonds In The Water Where You Swam by Raising Holy Sparks

Lorem Ipsum - Between Hospitals

A delirious-sounding mesh of dissonant lo-fi electronica from the anonymous producer, which followed up on his Good Friday Disagreement EP. Taking in wired, off-kilter grooves on 'An Astral Body', hypnotic fuzz-and-static-infused washes on 'St. Vincent's', and pop-song-in-a-blender tracks like 'Knight's Tour' and 'Crushed'.

An Astral Body by *Lorem Ipsum

Ilex - Old Din

Collecting most of the music she's made since she started in 2005, Old Din is 33 tracks long but those tracks are consistently excellent. Varies between hypnotic, intricate electronica and grittier, more up-tempo tracks; while 'Orkid' and 'Strings' have rich and evocative arrangements.

Mantua by ilex_

Hired Hands - My Heart Hung (Any Other City)

Deceptively complex and supremely catchy folk-pop from the seven-piece who include former members of the sadly short-lived Feed The Bears. With a lilting sound characterised by off-kilter harmonies and woodwind/brass-bolstered arrangements, Hired Hands have a deft handle on subtle melancholy as well as vibrant, upbeat melodies - indeed the line is often blurred, as is the case with so many great bands.

The Quay Wall by Hired Hands

Popical Island - Popical Island #2 (Popical Island)

The sequel to 2010's acclaimed compilation from the Dublin-based collective completely lives up to those high standards. Despite the overall 'bockety' indie aesthetic, there's a wide and diverse range of sounds: the Mary Chain-esque early-90's vibe of Pantone247's 'Hello', the warm jangle-pop of Goodly Thousands' 'Kiss Me Upside-Down', the garage/surf-pop vibes of Squarehead's 'Candle', and the chiming and hypnotically off-kilter sound of Hello Moon's 'Barefoot'. All the colours of the rainbow.

02-Pantone247 - Hello by popical_island

The Driftwood Manor - The Same Figure (Leaving) (Rusted Rail/Slow Loris)

The Same Figure (Leaving) was originally released as a limited edition CD-R on French label Ruralfaune in 2010, but this year saw it brought to deservedly wider attention. Eddie Keenan is as ever joined by a number of collaborators and kindred spirits from the folk/underground scene. Less influenced by psych/drone than the Found Photographs of Ancestors EP, this record is relatively concise and song-based, but those avant-folk tendencies are still in evidence: 'Each Day Has Bettered Me None' is backdropped by eerie, disquieting noises before being enveloped by rising squall, while 'To Be Done' sounds similarly creaking and distorted. That approach is mixed with the hypnotic folk simplicity of 'On A Corner of Athlone' or the title track, while the trad-influenced 'That Lasting Final Hurt' raises the tempo. The Same Figure (Leaving) is frequently brooding, even bleak in tone, but ultimately there's a warmth that wins out.

On a Corner of Athlone by The Driftwood Manor

Ginnels - Ginnels

The work of Grand Pocket Orchestra's Mark Chester, Ginnels is a boisterous collection of lo-fi pop songs whose addictive melodies are drowned in fuzz. Veer from the thrillingly frantic ('Best in Town') to the noisy ('Yama and Terio') to the more laidback ('Herdwick Bonez').

Best In Town by ginnels

Sea Pinks - Dead Seas (CF Records)

'fountains, fossils, phantoms and faded seaside glamour' describes it pretty well: Sea Pinks is the project of Girls Names' Neil Brogan and Dead Seas is the follow up impressive debut Youth Is Wasted and the Peripheral Vision EP. Wistful, sun-kissed songs that nod to vintage 60's garage/girl-group influences - there's a washed-out vibe to it but not in the chillwave sense, as Dead Seas is characterised more by straight-up, robust rhythms and jangly guitar riffs (the title track nods to '(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame').

Fountain Tesserae from Sea Pinks on Vimeo.

Bitwise Operator - Samurai Hack

Partly inspired by the Samurai Jack cartoon series, this record from Galway's Simon Kenny mixes glitchy chip-tune and hip hop influences with abrasive electronic textures and infectious, multicolour grooves.

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://bitwiseoperator.bandcamp.com/track/sweetness"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Sweetness by Bitwise Operator&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

The Dying Seconds - Glimmerers

Exquisitely brooding melancholy mixed with tuneful hooks - an expanded line-up saw The Dying Seconds step up a level. Highlights include the ominous-sounding 'Mora Minn', the sparse, forlorn-sounding 'Greenhorns' and the charmingly off-kilter 'Rubbernecks'.

Rubbernecks by thedyingseconds

Tieranniesaur - Tieranniesaur (Popical Island)

Exuberant, irreverent lo-fi funk-pop from Annie Tierney and co. Mixes the sunny bubble-gum hooks of 'Sketch!' and 'Candy' with the disco-tinged rhythms of 'In The Sargasso' and 'Pretty Girl String Quartet'. Not to mention the unstoppable 'Here Be Monsters'.

Rhino Magic - Get Going (Tender Objects)

Fuzzy lo-fi bedroom-pop, at times sounding a bit like a hazy cross between shoegaze and slacker-rock. Elsewhere there's high-pitched, buzzing keyboard sounds, sunny hooks and some bleary melancholy ('The Best Possible End').

home with you by Rhino Magic

Sunken Foal - Mother Of God (Acroplane)

Disorientating and shadowy, like some kind of hall-of-mirrors where disembodied vocals float through a mix of imposing-but-muffled beats and eerie samples.

Sunken Foal - Gift Knee Pads (clip) by Acroplane

Hello Moon - Only Count The Sunny Hours (Any Other City)

Mixes sweepingly melodic sugar-rushes ('Vanity', 'Here I Am') with dreamier, chiming numbers ('Measure Of Me', 'Sievehead'), jaunty instrumental 'The Calculus Affair' and gorgeously swooning closing track 'Awkward Hugs'.

Awkward Hugs by Hello Moon

Best Irish EPs of 2011

2011-12-08T09:11:00.014Z

1 - In The Black Box - Waves

In The Black Box is the project of Dublin-based electronic producer Dave Donoghue, and project is indeed the word since it's a multi-media affair that encompasses videos, photography, writing, art,and his own podcasts. You can check it all out over at http://www.intheblackbox.eu/

The Waves EP, as an example of the multimedia approach, would later be accompanied by a set of accompanying videos viewable here. Musically it was already exceptional: 'When It Is Needed' is a spacious track that combines subtly hypnotic loops and a quietly insistent beat with a recurring piano figure, while the techno-leaning 'Coil' and the woozily off-balance 'Eck-Ohs' are shot through with numerous clever touches.

In The Black Box - Eck-Ohs by InTheBlackBox

In The Black Box - When It Is Needed from In The Black Box on Vimeo.

2 - Simon Bird - V

Simon Bird's fifth EP showcased the increasing range of the producer's sound - taking in the dramatically swelling squall and noise of the 'Baphomet Vs. The Great Winged Horse' two-parter (suitably sounding like an aural equivalent of a mythological/heroic poem), the shimmering, exquisitely structured 'Xerox Waveform Godless Ocean', and the eerie, otherworldly strains of closer 'Stillborn in Autumn'.

Xerox Waveform Godless Ocean by SimonBird

3 - Nouveaunoise - Sequence Consequence

Moving on from the hazy, fluid, layered sound of last year's superb Paraphrase Accolade (which nodded to Flying Lotus circa Los Angeles at times), Sequence Consequence is more along the lines of the tecnicolour maximalist (thanks Simon) vibe of acts like Hudson Mohawke and Rustie. Sunny grooves and infectious vocal samples.

Nouveaunoise - Believe by nouveaunoise

4 - The Depravations - Mosey EP

An EP that was apparently just recorded to get their drummer up to speed, but subsequently took on a life of its own. Predominantly acoustic, the EP deals in breezy, mellow, surf-pop tinged songs with charming vocals and vintage-sounding harmonies. As well as that there's some neat flourishes such as the climax of 'Not Forgotten', which (with the addition of those drums) would become a thrilling highlight of their live sets. And judging by those live sets, the upcoming album should be a belter.

Not Forgotten by The Depravations

5 - DeclanQKelly - Yzz

Minimal and acoustic, Yzz shows just one side of a musician who's as likely to produce abstract pieces based around loops and found sounds as he is something like this. A collection of subtly hypnotic instrumentals, there's a warm lo-fi ambience to the guitar tones as well as an eerie, unsettling undercurrent on tracks like 'Phalanx Glove'. One for the winter evenings.

Phalanx Glove by DeclanQKelly

6 - SertOne - The View From Above (Melted Music)

A debut EP from the talented and very-prolific producer (based in Liverpool but from Portadown), The View From Above is an immaculately-produced and varied collection: (largely) instrumental hip-hop with electronic influences, it nods at times to the layered, laidback-but-physical beats of LA-based Samiyam. Judging by the eclecticism of his remix work since, this is only a starting point - potential to burn.

Past, Present and Future by SertOne by MeltedMusic

7 - Bantum - Lay Lay

The latest in a string of impressive EPs from the Cork-born, Dublin-based producer (Lay Lay being the 4th) showcases a sound that continues to evolve. 'An Introduction' bobs and weaves deftly, building towards an irresistible peak; the pulsing, wired 'Gravy' and the superb title track are punctuated by Margie Lewis' rhythmically cut-up vocals; while 'New String' is a more down-tempo ode to sleep paralysis featuring a vocal from Michael Owens aka Owensie.

Lay Lay (feat. Margie Lewis) by BANTUM

8 - Sunken Foal – Richter Versions

One of the things that has made the Richter Collective such an exciting label over the last few years is the fact that - although it’s predominantly regarded as a rock label that leans towards the heavier end of the spectrum – many of its flagship artists are so adept at harnessing the pulse and textures of electronic music to a metal or post-rock-influenced sound. Sunken Foal stripped away the guitars, ('transcribing the performed parts into a midi sequencer and arranging the parts for synthesizers') to bring out hidden layers of melancholic atmosphere, menace and spacious, shimmering beauty on tracks by Adebisi Shank (‘Micromachines’), The Redneck Manifesto (‘Tomb Of The Dudes’) and Hands Up Who Wants To Die ('Stopwatch').

Micromachines (Swell Dub) by sunken_foal

9 - Patrick Kelleher/School Tour – Split EP (CF Records)

Two very different and reliably unpredictable sides to this limited cassette on CF Records: in contrast to last year’s more ambient-leaning Yes Way EP, School Tour’s side is cavernous, gothic and ominous-sounding; Kelleher’s, meanwhile, is a grab-bag of strange pop oddities – the almost-vaudeville turns of ‘I’m Alive’ and the charming, chiming ‘Tiny Tim Bought a Jetpack’ making for a nice contrast to the gothic synth-pop direction he would pursue on LP Golden Syrup.

School Tour - The Last Exit West ("Patrick Kelleher/School Tour" Split double EP - 2011) by CF Records

10 - T-Woc - Jetstar (Alphabet Set)

The producer and DJ's sixth EP for Alphabet Set is an eclectic mix of off-kilter electronica, hazy instrumental hip hop and deep bass grooves.

zion live by t-woc

11 - Daithi - Embrace

The Galway-based musician combines dizzying, layered violin loops with pulsing rhythms in a unique math-rock/electro/trad/Final Fantasy hybrid. On paper it sounds dubious but on record - or live - it's pretty compelling.

Sleep Like A Stone by Daithi

12 - Datadrip - Collision

Varied EP from the Dublin duo; calling to mind Fuck Buttons on the visceral electronic squall of 'Animals' as well as giving a nod to vintage Depeche Mode on the excellent, niftily arranged 'Wild Neon'. 'Oh', meanwhile, is a patiently paced opener that starts off chilled and builds in intensity, setting up 'Animals' nicely.

Wild Neon by datadrip

13 - Ten Past Seven - Black Box Recordings (Out On A Limb)

After a nail-biting last-ditch success in their Fundit campaign, instrumental 'bog prog' trio Ten Past Seven did as promised and headed for France to record some tunes at Black Box Studios with the aid of Dave Odlum. The result proves their endeavours worthwhile: the Black Box Recordings go some distance to recapturing the intensity and power of the band's gripping live shows. Although you could loosely term it as instrumental post-rock, Ten Past Seven's sound flits between a number of styles even in the space of one track: there's hints of math-rock here and there, delicate ambient passages and ferocious crescendos reminiscent of Come On Die Young-era Mogwai; while at their very heaviest they have a metallic intensity. These three tracks build slowly but irresistibly, tension and release rendered expertly by skilled musicians.

Johnston's Cows by OOAL

14 - Ginnels - Mountbatten Class (Long Lost)

Fuzzy, ramshackle lo-fi goodness from Mark Chester (of Grand Pocket Orchestra and No Monster Club). Also released an album this year. More on that anon

Stink It Out by Ginnels

15 - Ed Devane - Room Full Of Empty People (Takeover Records)

C+ P: 'an abrasive, intense record where thumping percussion collides with high-pitched electronic squall. Opening track ‘Wharf’ leads in with blown-out, distorted beats, shuddering bass and all manner of harsh, rasping electronic textures. The percussion becomes more rhythmic on second track ‘2C-me’, which is grimier in tone and more dancefloor-friendly in tempo, while ‘Technoblient’ combines an insistent, pounding beat with more paint-strippingly corrosive noise. Final track ‘Squib’ is perhaps the most compelling of all, its jarring static-fuzz-infused intro developing into a hypnotically layered composition anchored by pulsing bass.'

Squib by Ed Devane

16 - A Shadow - Ebb and Flow (Second Square To None)

Lovely, evocative ambient sounds from Dublin musician Keith Murphy. Also released an album - When All Is Said and Done, What Is Left to Say and Do later in the year. Nocturnal chimes and celestial drones.

Played By Some Rough Scarred Hands, So Lightly, So Tenderly by A Shadow

17 - The Followers Of Otis - The Claddagh Sessions

Breezy, soulful folk-rock from the Galway-based band, capped off by the smoky balladry of 'River Corrib Song'. Puts a nice spin on some vintage influences.

http://breakingtunes.com/thefollowersofotis

18 - Bouts - Bouts

Nothing too complex here - recorded and mixed in eight days, Bouts is unashamedly vintage-sounding alt/slacker-rock that nods to the likes of Weezer, Dinosaur Jr or (more contemporarily) Surfer Blood; with chunky riffs, distorted bass and wistful
hooks aplenty.

Barbs by bouts

19 - The Holy Roman Army - Lazerians

Re-inforcing their previous strengths - downtempo, evocative electronica combined with Laura Coffey's dreamy vocals - with an increasing emphasis on rhythmic variety, Lazerians is an impressive development from the duo and augurs well for the album due in 2012. 'Electricity' is pretty infectious, the frequent use of brass works really well with their sound, and there's some neat samba-esque flourishes.

Electricity by theholyromanarmy

20 - Avalanche Ammo - Animals

Frenetic, heavy, breathless post-rock from the Kildare musician on his debut EP.

Panda Capture by Avalanche Ammo

Discreet Unit - Shake Your Body Down

2011-11-13T20:25:00.003Z

Just because.

Discreet Unit - Shake Your Body Down (original mix) by dailyfloss

('Shake Your Body Down' 12", Prime Numbers)

Radiohead - King Of Limbs remixes

2011-11-13T17:45:00.005Z

Now that they've all been gathered on one compilation, the various Radiohead remixes that have been released on 12" throughout 2011 seem to make more sense, if that's not something of a betrayal of the concept. If you were going to be fanciful and regard them as an 'album' then it's the best thing Radiohead have put their name to since Amnesiac. It works surprisingly well as a long-player, with a wide variety of styles from some excellent producers. Highlights would have to be cuts from Jacques Greene, Blawan and Shed. Needless to say, kudos to Radiohead for shining their influential light on the fertile electronic/bass/whatever-you-call-it-don't-call-it-post-dubstep scene. Interesting nerdy fact: the Jacques Greene remix cleverly changes at 1-minute intervals.

Lotus Flower - Jacques Greene RMX by Radiohead

Bloom - Blawan RMX by Radiohead

Little by Little - Shed RMX by Radiohead

The whole collection can be streamed from Radiohead's Soundcloud.

Arkist & Kidkut - 'One Year Later'

2011-11-13T15:49:00.004Z

Two Bristol producers team up for this (pretty) recent 12" on Hotflush. The title track is a deep, simmering number, while the flipside 'Vanilla Imitate' = more goodness.

Also worth checking out is Arkist's 'Rendezvous/Fill Your Coffee' 12" - released earlier this year on Apple Pips

and further back, 'Only If You Mean It' which was up there with my favourite tunes from 2010 (from the 'I Couldn't Possibly' 12" on Immerse Records)

Arkist has also just released the free Double Zero EP, a 'rough history of dubstep'. It can be downloaded here

Squarehead & Patrick Kelleher - Attention to Detail/Just a Tragedy

2011-11-05T17:57:00.007Z

Two very different acts join forces on this 7" for Popical Island. Surf-pop/slacker-rock trio Squarehead and the gothic-synth-pop-leaning Patrick Kelleher have both released acclaimed albums this year, the former with Yeah Nothing and the latter with Golden Syrup (along with a similarly excellent split EP with School Tour). Here they've teamed up and carried out a very cool idea with aplomb: each writing a song in the style of the other and then collaborating on both. Roy Duffy pens the inspired 'Attention to Detail', which matches his band's breezy garage-pop sensibility with a reverbed 80's-referencing arrangement; Kelleher's contribution combines his distinctive vocal croon with doo-wop-type harmonies and jangly guitar flourishes.

The 7" can be streamed from Bandcamp and is available to buy from selected record stores including Tower, RAGE and HMV Grafton St. in Dublin, Plugd in Cork and Wing Nut in Galway.

Attention To Detail / Just A Tragedy by Patrick Kelleher & Squarehead

Cooly G - Landscapes

2011-11-05T15:54:00.004Z

2011 has seen Hyperdub on-point as ever with stellar releases from Burial, Hype Williams, Ossie and Funkystepz showcasing the impressive range of the label's output. A new 12" from Cooly G sees her collaborating with Simbad and Karizma; 'Landscapes' is the Simbad collab and it's stunning; a hypnotic number with expansive synths, intricate percussion, an irresistible bassline and the producer's beguiling vocals. The 12", also featuring 'It's Serious', is out November 7th.

Video shot by Simon Drew and 'edited and mutated' by Sabrina Ratté.

Future Shuttle - 'Fog Spelunk'

2011-09-20T10:46:00.003+01:00

Somewhere inbetween the haunted drones of Grouper and the expansive synths of Oneohtrix Point Never lies this superb track from New York trio Future Shuttle.

Future Shuttle - "Fog Spelunk" from Haunted Internet on Vimeo.

Future Shuttle: "Fog Spelunk" by alteredzones

Taken from their EP Water's Edge, which is streaming via Altered Zones

Future Shuttle: Water's Edge by alteredzones

DeclanQKelly - Yzz EP

2011-09-20T09:40:00.003+01:00

"Recorded with a cracked guitar one evening in September 2011", the Yzz EP is a minimal, quietly entrancing collection of short instrumental pieces. The guitar tone creates a warm ambience, with the Galway-based musician picking out subtle, hypnotic melodies on tracks like 'Chickpeas' and 'Phalanx Glove'. The excellent 'Krakatoan Rebuttal' is reminiscent of the likes of Julian Lynch, while 'Eat-Them Hawk' adds electronic textures to the mix.

Yzz EP by DeclanQKelly

It's available as a name-your-price download from his Bandcamp, with some nice artwork included as part of the package.

DeclanQKelly recently took part in Ed Devane's Stop/Run night in Galway, and talks about it here:

"By the second or third day I had completely dispelled any notions of using anything other than what I could find in the pharmacy or what sound I could coax from the instrument. Thuswise began the laborious (word of the day today) but enjoyable process of exploring the pharmacy and recording the sound of various objects found therein such as: a foot spa; several 20p coins; extractor fans; taps; fridge shelves; phone tones; door creaks and so on. Also there are several snippets of Ed assembling and testing the instrument, as well as some of my fellow participants jamming on the yoke. Eventually I ended up with a 15-minute track that I then played back at the show through the zither's speakers while playing some semi-rehearsed music on the zither-machine's strings. To my absolute unending glee, I found a cassette tape in a drawer entitled "Lipotrim - Refeeding and Maintenance" which I played over everything and which added some nice, comical (hopefully...) moments to the whole yoke."

DeclanQKelly by Stop/Run

Here's a video of Bitwise + Madek's contribution on the night:

Stop/Run:Galway - Bitwise + Madek from Ed Devane on Vimeo.

Sticking with DeclanQKelly: it's also worth checking out The Elephant Vanishes, his collaboration with Aaron Coyne, aka Yawning Chasm :

Untitled by The Elephant Vanishes

Tenaka - EPhemeral EP ; Datadrip/Bantum

2011-09-15T21:59:00.006+01:00

Tenaka's 2009 EPonymously Titled EP was a moody, low-key and very impressive release. His new material sees him take his sound in another direction. The EPhemeral EP mixes new tracks with reworked older tracks, and sees him collaborate with a number of other Irish musicians. The overall sound is airy, dreamy and evocative. 'Home' features two of Galway's brightest talents in Daithi and Elaine Mai - the former providing unobtrusive but atmospheric violin plucks, the latter's vocals as beguiling as ever; while the arrangement swells and unfurls. 'Open Out' is a brooding, darkly pulsing re-work of a song from his his first EP, this time featuring input from Carlow duo Holy Roman Army.

'Universe i' is a highlight, with Sorcha Brennan of Sleep Thieves proving her vocals are as adaptable to a dark, melancholic backdrop as they are to the bouncy synth-pop of her own band. Meanwhile, the distinctive vocal tones of Sacred Animals can be heard on 'The Alaskan', which is also a re-jigged tune from the prior EP. EPhemeral is rounded off with Tenaka's remix of Daithi's 'The Dog', which takes the original's distinctive nu-trad sound and lends it a dose of low-end groove. The EP is available to download (name your price) from Bandcamp.

EPhemeral EP by Tenaka

A short film has also been made for the two tracks ('Throw Sevens' and 'The Alaskan') that together make up the lead single from the EP ('Ephemeral'). It's created by Musea Murison and directed by Cormac O Conaire.

'Ephemeral' created by Musea Murison and directed by Cormac O Conaire from Tenaka on Vimeo.

Tonight (Friday 16th) Tenaka plays Shebeen Chic along with Datadrip and Bantum. It's the launch night for Datadrip's Collision EP, a promising release that combines pulsing electronics and noisy squall that at certain moments puts you in mind of the likes of Fuck Buttons. The standout track is the short-but-very-sweet 'Wild Neon'. The EP - along with earlier EP Works - is available for free download from Bandcamp.

Wild Neon by datadrip

Bantum, meanwhile, has three EPs available for free download from his Bandcamp, the latest of which is this year's Slide EP, which features the throbbing, irresistible electro groove of the title track as well as two other busy, colourful creations.

Slide by BANTUM

video - Junior85 - 'Alrightok'

2011-09-15T21:31:00.003+01:00

junior85 "alrightok" from junior85 on Vimeo.

Junior85 recently played the Community of Independents gig in Whelan's along with Patrick Kelleher & his Cold Dead Hands, Owensie, Windings, Axis Of and Lafaro. 'Alrightok' is a song he made especially for the gig, and he's made a video to go along with it.

"A friend asked me if I had any videos of how I make the tracks live so I'm making one using this song... The song is made completely live using X-station, Electro Timbales and guitar pedals."

Alrightok by junior85

'Alrightok' can be downloaded from his free music archive along with loads of other stuff. A particular personal favourite is the Stance Gives You Balance EP , a collaboration between himself and DeclanQKelly (under the name Hogan Grip), which is conceptually based around a golfing manual and features lingering, hypnotic, oddly haunting compositions.

"Inspired first by the exquisite line drawings and evocative chapter names and later (upon closer examination of the book’s actual text) by Hogan’s avuncular, firm-but-fair teaching technique and his touching dedication to a friend (Henry Picard) in the opening chapter, the band Hogan Grip came to fruition
"

Hogan Grip - Stance Gives You Power by junior85

The aforementioned Community of Independents gig was filmed for use in a documentary, but for now you can check out photos from the gig by Danielle Graham

George Fitzgerald - RA podcast

2011-09-15T07:44:00.004+01:00

London-based producer George Fitzgerald has suffered at times from a very close similarity to Joy Orbison, but as time goes on his sound is becoming more distinctive and his tunes more undeniable - the excellent 'Reset' being a personal favourite. His recent podcast for Resident Advisor features 'a disparate mix of house, garage and techno', with plenty of forthcoming material from Scuba's Hotflush label (who released two Fitzgerald 12"s) as well as numbers from up-and-coming producer Jack Dixon and Appleblim's superb 'Moonlight'.

download the mix at http://www.residentadvisor.net/podcast-episode.aspx?id=274

Tim Hecker - Incurably Optimistic! - Alien8 Recordings
Sigha - The Politics of Dying - Our Circula Sound
Appleblim - Moonlight - forthcoming Vitalik
Braille - A Meaning - forthcoming Hotflush
Josh Wink - Sixth Sense - S3
George FitzGerald - Feel Like (Rough Mix) - forthcoming Hotflush
Jack Dixon - Low Tide (Rick Grant remix) - CDR
DFRNT - True (Jack Dixon remix) - Nu Directions
Jazz Neversleeps - Diepgank - On Point
George FitzGerald - Shackled - forthcoming Hotflush
Scuba - Adrenaline - forthcoming Hotflush
SCB - Overlay - forthcoming Hotflush
SBTRKT - Wildfire (Objekt Dub Mix) - Young Turks
George FitzGerald - Reset - Aus
George FitzGerald - Hearts - forthcoming ManMakeMusic

George Fitzgerald - Reset by BOILER ROOM

Tri Angle records: the story so far

2011-09-15T04:08:00.004+01:00

Balam Acab's Wander/Wonder is the latest excellent release from Robin Carolan's Tri Angle Records imprint, with Ayshay's Warn U EP to follow before the end of the month and Water Border's Harbored Mantras due in October.

Ayshay - WARN-U by TriAngleRecords

Water Borders - What Wiwant by TriAngleRecords

Of the latter release, Boomkat says: "the San Fran-hailing duo of Amitai and Loric use the rhythms of contemporary ritual dance music to resurrect the occult soul of Coil and their cabal in unique and succinctly pop balanced new forms. A couple of mixtapes - both self-released and for the brilliant DIS magazine - display their influences quite clearly, working in a circle of influence ranging from Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson's eerie Threshold HouseBoys Choir to James Blake's chamber pop and the rhythm schematics of Doc Daneeka or DJ Elmoe, and it's fair to say this album sums up all of those and more."

It really has been exciting to watch the development of Tri Angle over the last year: the label has well and truly outgrown its initial association with 'witch house', each successive release offering something new. I interviewed Carolan for State a couple of months back, and since then my enthusiasm for the label has only grown, with Clams Casino's Rainforest EP and Balam Acab's album taking things to the next level. Here's a recap of the Tri Angle back catalogue so far, starting with the free-to-download Let Me Shine For You mixtape:

Tri Angle Records presents Let Me Shine For You

"Inspired in part by Lindsay Lohan’s grotesquely fascinating black hole existence and in part by my unwavering belief in the power of pop music as an artform, I saw an opportunity to create something interesting with her music, and decided to ask some friends to reinterpret some of Lindsay’s songs. “Tri Angle Records Presents: Let Me Shine for You” is the result. Even though we are all fond of Lindsay in our own ways, there is no FREE LINDSAY agenda here. We all love pop music and this is merely an experiment. All of our intentions are very sincere."

Tri Angle Records Presents: Let Me Shine for You by DISmagazine

Balam Acab - See Birds

"this isn’t dark or sinister music; in fact, it’s incredibly serene, full of crystalline shapes viewed from underneath water, ripples filtering their form as just out of sight vocals, synths and harps get refracted through its surface." - FACT

Balam Acab - See Birds (Moon) by TriAngleRecords

oOoOO - oOoOO EP

"Tracks like 'Hearts' with its Fever Ray-meets-Cassie feel or the arcane hooks of 'Burnout Eyes' have the mark of a scarily intuitive Pop genius, knowingly built with the most conventional structures yet nudged at all the crucial moments with choruses that beguile like a shy, lo-fi version of Kate Bush's finest or enrapture like David Sylvian at his most melancholy, perpetually toying with the tuning for spine chilling and perspective re-aligning effect." - Boomkat

Burnout eyess by oOoOO

How To Dress Well - Love Remains

"The songs here are deliberately lo-fi, filled with bits of feedback and vocals that seem to crackle if they dare to reach above a whisper. But unlike many of his peers on, say, Olde English Spelling Bee, Krell's tracks don't feel formal exercises. These are pop songs. Just listen to the fuzzy, but ever-present thump of the live track, "Walking This Dumb." He's a crowd-pleaser at heart." - Resident Advisor

Holy Other - With U

"The debut EP from Manchester's Holy Other takes the label's aesthetic deeper into 4/4 territory than it's gone before, but otherwise it's Tri Angle music par excellence, with glum, shuffling beats, vaporous vocal samples and a slow wash of synthesizers. Once you acclimate yourself to the ever-present fog of vocals and reverb, there's a nice range of styles on display." - Resident Advisor

Touch by HOLY OTHER

Clams Casino - Rainforest

"Rainforest is an isolationist hip-hop epic that accords perfectly with the Tri Angle aesthetic while also affirming and deepening Clams' singular production style" - Boomkat

Balam Acab - Wander/Wonder

2011-09-15T03:56:00.004+01:00

from State:

http://www.state.ie/33506-album-reviews/balam-acab-%E2%80%93-wanderwonder

Balam Acab - Wander/Wonder (Tri Angle)

'Balam Acab’s full-length debut Wander/Wonder comes almost exactly a year after the release of his See Birds EP, the record that first announced his distinctive sound and served as the first ‘proper’ release on Tri Angle Records (strictly speaking it followed the Let Me Shine For You mixtape). The young producer (real name Alec Koone) has honed his craft in the meantime, with Wander/Wonder boasting an exquisitely textured aesthetic that’s a step up from the loop-based atmospherics of its predecessor.

Tri Angle’s releases so far have followed each other as seamlessly as a well-sequenced album, all sharing a certain loose aesthetic but each providing an enticing and unique sound of its own. In many ways Wander/Wonder sounds like a sequel or natural successor to Clams Casino’s superb Rainforest EP: both records have a deep, immersive ambience, feature distorted hip/trip-hop rhythms and are threaded together by themes of nature (as with See Birds, aquatic samples permeate Wander/Wonder). Balam Acab’s approach, however, has a more delicate beauty to it. Tracks like ‘Expect’ and ‘Now Time’ are characterised by wispy, dreamlike vocals and almost-classical structures, with recurring piano motifs.

At the risk of descending into journalistic cliches, this isn’t background music, it demands good speakers or headphones to get the full effect. One of the main developments in Koone’s music is an increased use of space and sense of depth: it’s less claustrophobic and more fully realised than on See Birds; less mechanised and more organic. The pitch-shifted vocals as well as some of the more melodic arrangements nod to R&B, while there are also shades of shoegaze, drone and James Blake’s Klavierwerke detectable in its heady, hypnotic sonic brew.

Closing track ‘Fragile Hope’ is possibly the most striking of all, its atmospheric, haunting ambience punctuated by ghostly echoes of ‘Regret Making Mistakes’ – a neatly circular touch. Wander/Wonder is the kind of album that will transport you to a whole other headspace if you allow it to. What’s more, it’s yet further evidence that Tri Angle is by now a reliable quality stamp; a byword for a unique vision of pop music that’s consistently being redefined and re-interpreted.'

Oh, Why by BALAM ACAB

http://soundcloud.com/balamacab

Apart #2 - Balam Acab from dre間am on Vimeo.

Hello Moon - Only Count The Sunny Hours

2011-09-15T03:47:00.007+01:00

from AU:

http://iheartau.com/2011/09/hello-moon-only-count-the-sunny-hours/

Hello Moon - Only Count The Sunny Hours (Any Other City)

'One of the highlights of the second compilation from Dublin indie-pop collective Popical Island was from a relative newcomer: ‘Barefoot’, a charmingly off-kilter contribution from Dublin four-piece Hello Moon. Their debut album is very much in the same vein, wearing its love of melodic, chiming pop songs on its scuffed sleeve. Only Count The Sunny Hours shifts between sweeping lo-fi sugar rushes (‘Vanity’, ‘Here I Am’) and dreamily hypnotic numbers (‘Measure Of Me’, ‘Sievehead’). Even when the irresistible boy/girl vocals are taken out of the mix, they make it work (on the jangly, jaunty instrumental ‘The Calculus Affair’). And just when you think the well of melodies might be running dry, along comes the wondrous, swooning closing track ‘Awkward Hugs’.' (8/10)

Sievehead by Hello Moon

Awkward Hugs by Hello Moon

Hello Moon play the upcoming Hard Working Class Heroes festival in Dublin.

http://breakingtunes.com/hellomoon

Electric Picnic 2011 preview: 10 must-see international acts and 10 must-see Irish acts

2011-08-26T20:39:00.007+01:00

1 - John Talabot

The Barcelona-based producer has kept a low profile since he emerged, letting his music do the talking. Dealing in hypnotic, vibrant house that has a similarly Balearic-tinged vibe to friends and frequent collaborators Delorean (but with a much more dance-floor-oriented aesthetic), Talabot has turned in superb remixes of the xx, Blue Daisy and Glasser as well as his own material - this year's infectious 'Families' following on the heels of 12"s like 'Sunshine' and 'Matilda's Dream'. This could be the highlight of the weekend. Although I think I said that about Primavera and ended up missing his set. Festivals, eh?

Saturday, 23.00, Earth Ship stage

JOHN TALABOT / Families (Ft Glasser) by Young Turks

Shelter (John Talabot's Feel it too Remix) by John Talabot

Raindrops (John Talabot's Cosmic Rework) by Black Acre Records

2 - Flying Lotus

A long-awaited first Irish show for the founder and figurehead of LA's Brainfeeder collective/label. One of the most talented producers around, he followed 2008 masterpiece Los Angeles with the dazzling, all-over-the-shop Cosmogramma, an album that completely revamped his sound and captured a restlessly inventive vision.

Saturday, 00.45, Little Big Tent

Flying Lotus - ...And the World Laughs with You by greenplastic

3 - Julio Bashmore

The Bristol-based producer has released a string of excellent 12"s on labels like Dirtybird, 3024 and Futureboogie. He offers a unique, infectious take on house/UK funky influences, with bass-heavy floor-fillers such as 'Battle For Middle You' mixing with the Balearic-tinged 'Ribble to Amazon'.

Sunday, 17.45, Little Big Tent

Julio Bashmore - Footsteppin' by TenThousandYen

Julio Bashmore - BATTLE FOR MIDDLE YOU by abeano

4 - Star Slinger

Mainly known for his (numerous) remixes, he's re-interpreted tracks for everyone from Deerhunter to James Vincent McMorrow, as well as releasing his own material and collaborating with Teams. His hip-hop-influenced productions are frequently psychedelic, glitchy and playful.

Friday, 18.15, Little Big Tent

The Go! Team Apollo Throwdown (Star Slinger Remix) by Star Slinger

Small Black - Photojournalist (STAR SLINGER REMIX) by Star Slinger

5 - Onra

As Pitchfork put it, "broken beats, woozy aural effects, and the lush sounds of vintage funk and R&B, all filtered through hip-hop's rhythmic, lyrical bounce". The Parisian's Long Distance album features the glorious summer jam 'High Hopes', as well as plenty more tunes that achieve just the right balance between slightly-cheesy retro elements and fresh production techniques.

Friday, 17.00, Little Big Tent

High Hopes ft. Reggie B by Onra

Onra - Long Distance by Hypetrak

6 - Yuck

They've admitted that their show at Cork X Southwest was a bit of an offday, so they have something to prove. Yuck are a thrilling throwback to vintage alt-rock bands like Pavement and Dinosaur Jr, along with the mellower strains of Teenage Fanclub. 'Rubber', 'Get Away' and 'Georgia' - yes please.

Saturday, 20.00, Cosby Stage

Rubber by Yuck

Get Away by Yuck

7 - Rainbow Arabia

Somewhat similar in style to Gang Gang Dance, if not quite (yet) at their level of genius, Rainbow Arabia are a duo who craft electronic pop with notable African and Eastern influences. This year's Boys and Diamonds album encompasses catchy pop moments as well as pulsating dancefloor-leaning workouts with tribalistic percussion and garish synths.

Saturday, 15.35, Little Big Tent

Rainbow Arabia - Without You by Kompakt

8 - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

I fear the worst for this one, given that they're clashing with Pulp, Mogwai and Zola Jesus, but hopefully CYHSY still have a loyal enough following to withstand that. Their set at the Picnic a few years back was one of those classic festival moments, their debut album remains one of the finest of the last decade (despite the silly backlash) and they've some new material to test out. Also: The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth.

Sunday, 23.00, Crawdaddy Stage

9 - Underworld

A gateway band for me - and I'm sure a lot of other people - when it comes to electronic music, Underworld have absolute stone-cold classics like 'Rez/Cowgirl', 'Dirty Epic' and 'Jumbo' to call upon. A superb live act, as documented by the classic Everything Everything

Sunday, 20.30, Main Stage

10 - Arcade Fire

Their set at the 2005 Picnic has gone down in legend, and contributed greatly to the then-young festival's growing reputation. This should be a triumphant return, on the back of their very impressive third album The Suburbs.

Saturday, 22.00, Main Stage

Irish Acts:

1 - Toby Kaar

The Cork-based producer is probably the most exciting newcomer of 2011: his amazing remix of Nouveaunoise's 'Cinnte' took an already great tune and made it his own, while further productions as well as a string of dazzling live sets (including support slots with Gold Panda and And So I Watch You From Afar) have kept his star in the ascent. Encompassing a diverse range of styles - from trippy, glitchy hip-hop-influenced sounds to the more mellow, atmospheric likes of 'Bread' and the almost-post-rock tones of his Ten Past Seven remix - he's playing three times over the weekend: see him at least once.

Friday, 00.00, Love Letter Stage
Saturday, 13.30, Little Big Tent
Saturday, 22.15, Earthship Stage

Nouveaunoise - Cinnte (Toby Kaar's Cloudy Mix) by TobyKaar

Heart of Gold by TobyKaar

2 - Le Galaxie

Arguably the finest live band in the country playing songs from one of the albums of the year. A no-brainer. Le Galaxie's live sets are glowing sci-fi party affairs with neon body paint, freak dancing and glow-sticks - and tunes to match: the kaleidoscopic DFA vibes of 'Midnight Midnight', the electro-pop bounce of 'Solarbabies' and the dramatic, swelling 'Victory' to name but three.

Saturday, 13.30, Electric Arena

03 - Midnight Midnight by Le Galaxie

01 - Earth by Le Galaxie

3 - Patrick Kelleher & His Cold Dead Hands

A scintillating live act; the dark, gothic synth-pop of recent album Golden Syrup may be somewhat disorientating but it's also danceable.

Sunday, Body & Soul Main Stage, 21.00

Seen Me Blue by Patrick Kelleher and his Cold Dead Hands

Patrick Kelleher and His Cold Dead Hands "Miracle Candle" from sophie gateau on Vimeo.

4 - Catscars

Earlier this year Robyn Bromfield released the shadowy, new-wave-tinged Construction - the shape-shifting, spooked-sounding textures of her songs should make for a fascinating late-night set.

Saturday, 02.45, Love Letter Stage

B-Song by catscars

Monsong by catscars

5 - Katie Kim

A live performer of quiet intensity, Katie Kim's songs tend to be hushed and subtly atmospheric, with beguiling vocals that convey unnerving depths. Songs from her excellent upcoming double-vinyl release Cover & Flood are sure to feature.

Saturday, Body & Soul Main Stage, 20.15

The Feast by Katie Kim

Lora by Katie Kim

6 - Tieranniesaur

One of the jewels in the Popical Island crown, Annie Tierney's gang deal in exuberant, irreverent lo-fi funk-pop. Songs like 'Sketch!' and 'Here Be Monsters' are guaranteed to bring the fun times.

Saturday, Body & Soul Main Stage, 18.00

Here Be Monsters by tieranniesaur

Sketch! by tieranniesaur

7 - Adebisi Shank

Adebisi Shank's live brilliance almost goes without saying at this stage - furious, frenetic performers, last year's This Is The Second Album... saw them develop their sound into something bracingly unique, combining gargantuan riffs and infectious hooks with dazzling, Battles-esque experimentation.

Saturday, Cosby Stage, 15.15

Adebisi Shank - Genki Shank by Richter Collective

Logdrum by Richter Collective

8 - Visionair

Gaining attention from the likes of Altered Zones, Visionair's music is both evocative and rhythmic, their songs pulsing and swelling with vintage-sounding synth-tones. Live, tunes like the hypnotic, expertly-paced 'HYPNOM' sound even more muscular and forceful than on their extremely impressive brace of EPs.

Saturday, Love Letter Stage, 01.15

03 HYPNOM by VisionAir

03 TOTEM by VisionAir

9 - Great Lakes Mystery

Citing influences such as Arthur Russell and John Carpenter, Gareth Averill's project is characterised by atmospheric, dramatic synths and mesmerising ambience.

Sunday, Love Letter Stage, 18.00

Lemmings by Great Lakes Mystery

Organo Moderato by Great Lakes Mystery

10. Soil Creep

New project from Aidan Wall (of Porn On Vinyl and the now-defunct Hipster Youth). If the pretty-amazing 'Where (n) Meets Infinity' is anything to go by, expect trippy, inventive lo-fi electronica along the lines of Lorem Ipsum. Then again, it could be something else entirely! Should be interesting.

Friday, Love Letter Stage, 20.00

Soil Creep - Where (n) Meets Infinity by LongLost

Mogwai interview

2011-08-25T14:06:00.004+01:00

Interviewed Stuart for State:

http://www.state.ie/32359-features/interview-with-mogwai-travels-and-constants

The new Earth Division EP is out in September and sounds very interesting. Provided there's no nasty clashes, I'll be seeing them for the 4th time this year at Electric Picnic. You can never get enough.

Maria Minerva - 'Ruff Trade'

2011-08-25T13:37:00.002+01:00

"When you can deconstruct the music of others so easily-- and your own-- then it's kinda hard to make it at the same time. But this sounds annoying only in theory; in practice, it's something you can actually forget about. Because the best thing about music is that it's beyond words. It's on the level of sensations, and it's very easy to forget everything I've learned when I'm listening to or making music. That's why I love it so much."
- Maria Minerva, interview with Altered Zones

Cabaret Cixous is the latest excellent release from Estonian-born, London-based Maria Minerva, following her Tallinn At Dawn cassette and 'Noble Savage' 12". Released on Amanda Brown(of Pocahaunted/LA Vampires)'s Not Not Fun label, she fits right in with its prevailing aesthetic: this is smudgy, reverbed, hypnotic not-quite-dance music with a skewed h-pop sensibility. 'Ruff Trade'is the superb closing track; other standouts include 'These Days' and 'Pirate's Tale'.

She also contributed a mix to FACT.

Some older tunes:

Maria Minerva - Disko Bliss by nofearofpop.net

Maria Minerva - Hop Hop Gone In Spring by nofearofpop.net

In general, there really is an amazing amount of great music coming from both Not Not Fun and its sub-label 100% Silk.

The Gorgeous Colours - 'It's OK To Be Normal'

2011-08-25T13:17:00.002+01:00

Have been meaning to post about this for a while - the song was released back in May, but this video is relatively new. The Gorgeous Colours occupy a unique position on the domestic scene - they make pop music with hooks aplenty, but it doesn't really fit in with the lo-fi, charmingly ramshackle efforts of the Popical Island gang. The Gorgeous Colours are more reminiscent of bands like Grizzly Bear or Super Furry Animals, making lush, deceptive, intricately melodic tunes. This may well be their finest so far.

It's Ok To Be Normal by The Gorgeous Colours

The band will be kicking off Friday's Body & Soul Main Stage action at Electric Picnic, and I intend to catch their set.

Another thing I meant to post about before - their full-length self-titled album is available as a free download from their Bandcamp, where you
can also find last year's The Creatures Down Below EP.

The Gorgeous Colours by The Gorgeous Colours

Laura Sheeran / Katie Kim - split 7" launch, Galway

2011-08-25T12:20:00.004+01:00

Two fascinating musicians combine for a split 7": 'A Wake', taken from her excellent
Lust Of Pig & The Fresh Blood album, is Laura Sheeran's contribution; while Katie Kim contributes 'Heavy Lighting'. The Galway launch takes place this Friday (August 26th).

'A Wake' was one of the standout tracks on Lust Of Pig, with its menacing electronic/vocal loops giving way to a dramatic vocal climax (I reviewed the album here).

A WAKE by L A U R A S H E E R A N

'Heavy Lighting' is a hushed, atmospheric, gradually swelling number that demonstrates Katie Kim's meticulous songwriting craft. Her upcoming double-vinyl release Cover & Flood is an outstanding record, with beguiling vocals that may be softly-sung but convey unnerving depths, backed up by nuanced, layered instrumentation.

Heavy Lighting by KATIE KIM

Both musicians are superb live performers, as they demonstrated at their Dublin launch the other week: Sheeran brings an added element of dark theatricality to her already-vivid compositions, and brings out hidden layers to the hypnotic 'I'm Sorry Son'. Similarly, Kim's songs demand to be heard in a live setting.

It should be an amazing gig, and they've even done a promo trailer:

There's also an EP of 'A Wake' remixes that's available for free download from Sheeran's Bandcamp page. Here's SertOne's interpretation:

A WAKE remix by Sert One

The music doesn't start until ten on the night, so there's also time to catch the Stop/Run performance beforehand.

Bitwise Operator remix Hands Up Who Wants To Die ; Stop/Run Galway

2011-08-22T22:56:00.006+01:00

Incendiary Dublin-based band Hands Up Who Wants To Die have previously been remixed by the likes of Legion Of Two and Melodica Deathship; now it's the turn of Bitwise Operator, aka Galway's Simon Kenny, who also makes music as part of Bitwise + Madek.
He's re-interpreted 'Nothing Added But Boom' ( a track from their split single with I'll Eat Your Face) with his own unique, warped sound.

Hands Up Who Wants To Die - Nothing Added But Boom (Bitwise Operator) Remix by Richter Collective

Bitwise Operator's excellent Samurai Hack album is still available for free download from Bandcamp. (As the title indicates it's partly inspired by the Samurai Jack cartoon). Chiptune-influenced music tends to be very hit-and-miss a lot of the time, but this is easily one of the best records I've heard that operates within that general sphere, as infectious 8-bit grooves mix with hip-hop influences and abrasive electronic textures. Highly recommended.

Samurai Hack by Bitwise Operator

Sweetness by Bitwise Operator

Bitwise Operator, as part of Bitwise + Madek, will be one of the musicians taking part in the Stop/Run performance in Galway this Friday (August 26th). Stop/Run is a project conceived by Ed Devane, and consists of an ensemble of experimental, electroacoustic musical instruments. The musicians will use the instruments - designed by Devane himself - to create their own unique pieces. Other musicians involved include Tony Higgins, DeclanQKelly and Jimmy Penguin : "Whereas the first concert drew from musicians from the musical fields of improv, experimental and contemporary composition, Stop/Run:Galway will have an altogether different flavour. A diverse selection of acts were chosen, and yet for their differences they have one thing in common: all are from Galway, and their music reflects this. From the tight-knit hip-hop and electronica communities to the ancient Sean Nós tradition, Stop/Run:Galway promises to bring together musicians and audiences who might not otherwise find themselves in the same place at the same time." Further details here.

Stop/Run takes place at 33 Dominick Street from 8-10pm, admission 5 euro: the good news is that the Laura Sheeran/Katie Kim double-bill that takes place in Roisin Dubh the same night doesn't start until ten, so there's room for both - it promises to be a great night of music overall

Speaking of DeclanQKelly, he's just uploaded this track to his Soundcloud, check it out:

Borborygmi by DeclanQKelly

And speaking of Ed Devane, i reviewed his Room Full Of Empty People EP for State earlier in the year. I liked it.

Squib by Ed Devane

Junior85

2011-07-27T21:25:00.005+01:00

Junior85 - aka Tony Higgins - is a Galway-based musician and composer who has also played drums for acts such as Laura Sheeran, Meljoann, So Cow and Damo Suzuki. There's loads of his music available for free download at http://freemusicarchive.org/music/junior85, but a good place to start is with this set that he uploaded to Soundcloud recently:

junior85 by junior85

'Glock 7:"emit time"' is a hypnotic, dizzying piece of experimentation taken from the 'interactive songwriting' GlockEPspiel EP, 'For Reason, Forgotten' is an atmospheric track that swells subtly, while the gripping, layered 'Stance Gives You Power' is taken from his golf-inspired collaboration with fellow Galway musician DeclanQKelly; Hogan Grip.

Probably my favourite though is 'An Ex and Well, Well', an intricate though catchy track with a mesmeric central loop. There's an interesting interview with him on Sweet Oblivion, which was part of a wider focus on the Galway music scene.

Magnetic Island - Keyboard EP

2011-07-21T04:48:00.004+01:00

The latest EP from Magnetic Island is another change of sound for the New York-based duo/loose collective. The name might suggest a flirtation with 80's pop or something like that, but that's not the case: instead, Keyboard has a vintage alt-rock feel. The guitars and vocals on tuneful opening track 'The Way', for example, have a bit of a 4AD vibe about them. 'Wish I Knew' swells subtly but anthemically, while 'Diner' is a thrilling instrumental track with lashings of distortion. Great stuff, and the EP is free to download from their Bandcamp.

Keyboard EP by Magnetic Island

A debut album is on the way too.

FaltyDL - 'Make It Difficult/Jack Your Job'

2011-07-21T01:56:00.007+01:00

(All City 12")

So far this year FaltyDL's given us an excellent album (You Stand Uncertain) and the thrilling 'Hip Love' 12", as well as remixes such as his take on TEETH's 'Shawty'. His latest release is on All City, and it doesn't disappoint. 'Make It Difficult' drips with summer vibes, its soulful sample interacting with an irresistible, typically intricate groove. 'Jack Your Job' is more frantic and busy, with a pounding beat, preacher-like samples and even some jazz flute.

FaltyDL also contributed a mix to Mary Anne Hobbs' XFM show the other night. I can't see it on her Mixcloud at the moment, but - Google is your friend.

previously:

FaltyDL - Hip Love by RAMP Recordings / PTN

LA Vampires Goes Ital - Streetwise

2011-07-21T00:18:00.007+01:00

(Not Not Fun 12")

Amanda Brown can do no wrong. Formerly one half of the "Olsen twins of blissed out drone" Pocahaunted (the other half being Bethany Consentino who went on to form Best Coast), she's also the co-founder of Not Not Fun Records and sub-imprint 100% Silk. As LA Vampires, she's pursued a collaborative approach: a split LP with San Francisco's Psychic Reality was followed by the dubbed-out goth-drone of LA Vampires & Zola Jesus and the woozily hypnotic tape-loops of So Unreal (which featured input from Matrix Metals).

LA Vampires Goes Ital - Streetwise from Not Not Fun on Vimeo.

This time around she's teamed up with Ital (Daniel Martin McCormick of Mi Ami/Sex Worker) for Streetwise. It's got that familiar hazy, warped sensibility we've come to expect from LA Vampires' output, but it's warmer and more melodic than what's come before - the title track sounds almost summery, with chiming loops and catchy, tuneful vocals echoing in and out of the mix. 'A Woman Is A Woman', meanwhile, is anchored by a rhythmic, limber bassline, with Brown lyrically pursuing the themes of femininity and glamour that are a feature of the LA Vampires visual aesthetic.

Stream the record via Altered Zones:

LA Vampires Goes Ital: Streetwise by alteredzones

Check the Coyote Clean Up remix of 'Streetwise'.

Ital, incidentally, are/is responsible for this beaut of a tune:

Zola Jesus + LA Vampires, "Eulogy" by selftitledmag

Patrick Kelleher & His Cold Dead Hands - Golden Syrup

2011-07-20T23:38:00.007+01:00

http://www.state.ie/30585-album-reviews/patrick-kelleher-his-cold-dead-hands-golden-syrup

(Osaka Records LP)

Patrick Kelleher’s 2009 debut You Look Cold may have been a universally-acclaimed release, but it was clear from the restless, experimental nature of the album that the Dublin-based musician would be unlikely to repeat himself second time around. Last year’s ‘Contact Sports’ 7″ on Skinny Wolves gave a clear indication of where he was taking things, sleeker than what came before, it nonetheless retained an unmistakeable edge: weird, murky and spooked-sounding, the song (included here) wore its ’80s synth influences on its sleeve but sounded utterly fresh and forward-looking at the same time. The accompanying promo video, meanwhile, was one of the most perfect examples of the form in recent memory, nailing – and enhancing – the track’s haunted-underground-disco vibe.

A similar aesthetic prevails on Golden Syrup, although it’s enticingly mixed with Kelleher’s more conventional pop/crooner tendencies (signposted by his recent cover of Niamh Kavanagh’s Eurovision hit ‘In Your Eyes’). The effect is jarring but compelling; at once familiar and strange. There’s a more propulsive quality to the music here compared to his first album, due in part to the more prominent role of backing band His Cold Dead Hands (some of whom are fellow members of experimental collective Children Under Hoof). The vortex-like atmospherics, pulsing bass and out-of-place guitar solo of opening track ‘Miracle Candle’ don’t so much reel you in to the album as drag you under. On the gothic synth-pop of the title track and ‘Seen Me Blue’, vocals are manipulated or draped in reverb, periodically switching from austere baritone to falsetto to showy Walker-esque turns. The overall effect is disorientating and unsettling.

This combination of ’80s influences with skewed flourishes and eccentric touches puts you in mind of the likes of Ariel Pink or John Maus, while Joy Division and New Order have also been cited as influences. The placid, relatively straight-laced ‘Broken Up Now’ – featuring Kelleher’s vocals at their most beguiling – certainly calls to mind New Order with its warmly melodic bassline, while the stamp of their original incarnation is all over ‘Too Many Harsh Words’: nodding to the dread-inducing low end and atmospheric synths of Closer, it nonetheless has its own unique rhythmic vibe, seeming to envisage where that band might have went rather than settle for imitation.

Elsewhere, ‘I Don’t Remember’ features a spoken-word vocal over a flickering, John Carpenter-esque electronic backdrop, gradually giving way to squall and distortion, while ‘Strawberry Dog’ dips its toe in brisk, folk-tinged electronica. The wistful strains of ‘Still In School’ bring things to a close, providing a tranquil, understated conclusion to the record. Golden Syrup isn’t without flaws – it’s slightly uneven and the quality flags a couple of times – but overall it makes for a darkly danceable and frequently enthralling listen.

Patrick Kelleher & His Cold Dead Hands - Golden Syrup by osakaRecords

There's a great interview with Kelleher over on Thumped.

Samiyam - Sam Baker's Album

2011-07-20T20:55:00.007+01:00

http://www.state.ie/30874-album-reviews/samiyam-sam-bakers-album

(Brainfeeder LP)

The LA-based label/collective Brainfeeder – helmed by beat wizard Steven Ellison aka Flying Lotus – have built up one of the more formidable rosters 2011 has to offer. So far we’ve had excellent releases from Tokimonsta, Matthewdavid, Mono/Poly, Jeremiah Jae and Taylor McFerrin, with heavily-anticipated records still to come from jazz-influenced prodigy Thundercat and freshly-signed dubstep figurehead Martyn. Characterised by a wide diversity of styles and a forward-thinking approach (Ellison himself completely overhauled his signature sound for last year’s dazzling Cosmogramma), the label has come a long way since its first official release, which was Samiyam’s Rap Beats Volume 1 in 2009. Probably the closest thing to a ‘quintessential’ Brainfeeder sound, Samiyam’s short, layered and colourful beat-sketches proved to be a major influence on much instrumental hip-hop in the last year or two.

SAMIYAM - Cushion by BRAINFEEDER

Sam Baker’s Album doesn’t see him deviate too much from the blueprint. Whereas none of the tracks on Rap Beats hit the two-minute mark, Samiyam tends to persist with a groove for a bit longer now; nevertheless, the longest track here comes in at just under four minutes. The producer prefers the concise approach, allowing his catchy creations enough time to shine but cutting them short before they risk sounding repetitive. Opening track ‘Escape’ leads in with deceptive retro-sounding synths before seguing into a more familiar warped and funk-tinged sound. On numbers like ‘Where Am I’ and ‘Cushion’, thick, imposing, bass-heavy grooves mix with hazy, off-kilter touches, making for a subtly hypnotic brew. Elsewhere, the wonky ‘Frosting Packets’ features those unmistakeable 8-bit touches that were in evidence on his Return EP for Hyperdub.

SAMIYAM - Where Am I by BRAINFEEDER

The physicality of the percussion and low-end combined with the trippy quality of the compositions accounts for much of this record’s appeal. While Samiyam tends to stick to those strengths, what Sam Baker’s Album lacks in variety it makes up for in cohesion and atmosphere. As Jamie Redknapp would say: a top, top producer at work.

http://www.brainfeedersite.com/2011/06/28/samiyam-sam-bakers-album/

new Letter From Belgium EP

2011-07-19T23:25:00.007+01:00

A new EP from Letter From Belgium aka Alan Healy, who also plays with Hooray For Humans and The Bridges Of Madison County. At 31 minutes it's pretty much album-length, but it holds your attention throughout. Really good stuff: opening track 'Best Left' is electronic in structure but has a mellow folky vibe, while 'Still Close' is similarly dreamy and weightless - it's the first LFB track to feature vocals (Jen from Hooray For Humans). 'By Now, I Can Barely Remember The Sound Of Your Voice' and 'Travis & Hunter' are more mournful in tone, with a quietly hypnotic late-night ambience, although the latter gives way to a more up-tempo post-rock-type section. Overall this is engaging, atmospheric stuff.

LFB003 by Letter From Belgium

There's a link to download the EP here: http://www.mediafire.com/?eh9pskr65vkcqb3

The cover artwork is by Aoife from Sweet Oblivion.

Diva - 'Glow Worm'

2011-07-05T20:52:00.002+01:00

Ex-members of LA-based psychedelic-dub-drone band Pocahaunted include Amanda Brown (of LA Vampires/Not Not Fun) and Bethany Cosentino (aka Best Coast). Diva Dompe now looks set to make her mark solo-wise: 'Glow Worm' is taken from her cassette The Glitter End, which Ariel Pink voted as his 3rd favourite album of last year and which is now getting a re-release. 'Glow Worm' is a hypnotic, warped and trippy tune that's very reminiscent of Brown's LA Vampires material, although this has a warmer tone to it, partly because of Dompe's beguiling vocals.

DIVA - GLOW WORM from Lily X. Wahrman on Vimeo.

Le Galaxie - Laserdisc Nights 2

2011-06-29T23:11:00.014+01:00

(Battlepulse Records album)

Le Galaxie cite Alien 3 as an influence, release video promos like the one above, subscribe to 'musical maximalism', and have probably the most hilarious twitter feed of any band going. Needless to say, you want to love a band like that even before you hear any of their songs. But no self-deception is necessary, for Laserdisc Nights 2 is a staggering debut album, packed with pulsating, sci-fi referencing dancefloor-slayers.

The opening flurry of tracks are unstoppable. 'Earth''s exquisite build-up leads into an infectious, swinging synth hook, overlaid with ominous-sounding vocoderised sing-speak. It's impossible not to move your feet and get swept up by this - it's even powerful enough to instigate a truce between Predators and the human race.

'Earth' segues perfectly into 'Beyond Transworld', which retains the tempo with an effervescent day-glo-electro groove; and that's followed by 'Midnight Midnight', one of the tunes of the years so far - the first time you hear it something doesn't sound quite right about it, but after repeat listens you realise that's because it's so deliriously unique and off-the-wall: it sounds like something that might have come off the DFA conveyor belt if they weren't so self-consciously hip, with robot-like vocals, thumping dreambeat and a vibrant kaleidoscopic arrangement giving way to an effervescent, whooping chorus.

There's plenty of variation on show too: 'Blood Beach' slows the tempo with a gently pulsing, atmospheric arrangement worthy of the likes of Vangelis or John Carpenter; 'Orion' has an initially airier, weightless vibe (with Paul from Channel One providing vocals) that gives way to frenzied guitars; while 'The Police Department' adds frenetic techno elements to the mix.

The infectious electro-pop bounce of 'Solarbabies' and the sublime, grandiose swell of long-time favourite 'Victory' seal this record's status as possibly the most downright fun and enjoyable album that's been released since The Go! Team's debut. Throughout Laserdisc Nights the band's sense of humour and love of sci-fi shines through; no fooling around though, these eleven tracks are endlessly replayable. You know that scene in Aliens where Ripley takes on the Queen with a power-loader? Imagine that with 'Let's Fighting Love' playing in the background. Laserdisc Nights 2 is that x 100. Going to do a Pitchfork on this:

9.5/10

Stream the album from Bandcamp:

Laserdisc Nights 2 by Le Galaxie

On a final note, Le Galaxie reach an even higher plane of awesomeness when they play live. Make sure to catch them - they play Glasgowbury (July 23), Galway's Strange Brew Summer Shindig (July 28) and Castlepalooza (July 29).

The Depravations - Mosey EP

2011-06-29T22:28:00.004+01:00

One a few bands based in Galway at the moment who deal in a sort of indie-folkish sound (see also Music For Dead Birds or The Followers of Otis), The Depravations have so far released two EPs since they formed in 2007. Mosey is the current one (named after their drummer Mosey Byrne), and it's five tracks of mellow gold: with a charming lightness-of-touch, vintage-sounding harmonies and a subtly uplifting vibe, this is really enjoyable stuff. Despite the fact four of the five tracks go over the 5-minute mark, it never seems to drag, and indeed there's some surprising left-turns and flourishes such as the change in tempo at the end of 'Not Forgotten'. The standout track is probably the catchy campfire strum of 'Summer Rain'.

Mosey EP by The Depravations

The Mosey EP is free to download from the Bandcamp link above, and a debut album is due in September 2011.

Popical Island - Popical Island #2

2011-06-28T19:49:00.006+01:00

Popical Island - Popical Island #2

Is there such a thing as a difficult second compilation? If so, the Popical Island collective had a lot to live up to after the roaring success of last year's release. A loose grouping of like-minded bands and musicians based in Dublin, their key characteristics were laid out on Popical Island #1: a commitment to DIY principles and largely lo-fi production, clever pop songcraft, devastatingly catchy hooks and C86-style energy.

While the sequel naturally doesn't have the same surprise element to it, in every other respect it's the match of its predecessor. It kicks off with Ginnels, who didn't appear on the first compilation - the project of Grand Pocket Orchestra's Mark Chester, Ginnels have already released one of the best domestic albums so far this year with a self-titled debut, and this continues in a similar vein: that is, charmingly shambolic and lo-fi indie. That's followed by Pantone247's 'Hello', a fantastic tune that recalls Honey's Dead-era Jesus and Mary Chain with its scuzzy guitars and vintage early-90's vibe.

As with its predecessor, what impresses about the compilation is that despite all the contributors sharing such common ground, they still manage to hold your attention throughout with a wide and diverse range of sounds. Standouts include the warmly classical jangle-pop sound of Goodly Thousands' 'Kiss Me Upside-Down', the garage-pop earworm of Squarehead's 'Candle', the chiming, hypnotically off-kilter sound of Hello Moon's 'Barefoot' and the exuberant rush of Grand Pocket Orchestra's 'Mr. Imaginative'. The curveball award goes to Tieranniesaur's 'Here Be Monsters', a simmering funk workout with an air of menace: sounding a bit like Remain In Light-era Talking Heads as refracted through the Popical lens, it gives way to a thrilling climax/coda that should be a highlight of their live shows.

Considering the way words like 'twee-pop' get bandied around in reference to Popical Island, you'd expect that 18 tracks would get a bit wearying, so it's no mean feat to create a compilation that keeps you guessing and (more than) satisfied throughout: the fact is there is no one reliable way to describe the Popical Island collective - other than, well, excellent.

9/10

Popical Island #2 by popical_island

The Altered Hours/Windings

2011-06-24T21:40:00.005+01:00

(caught live - Roisin Dubh, June 23rd)

I've heard the name The Altered Hours dropped a couple of times, but had no idea what to expect from their sound. A five-piece based in Cork, they deal in a psychedelic guitar sound that takes influence from bands like The Velvet Underground or The Brian Jonestown Massacre. They've got some great tunes that really stretch out with hypnotic grooves, and your attention tends to shift from instrument to instrument, or indeed on to the frontwoman whose vocals anchor their impressive sound. They've an EP on the way, Downstream next month. There's a couple of songs on their Soundcloud, but I don't think either of those truly does justice to their live sound; go see them if you get a chance - they should be announcing some more gigs soon.

Shimmer by The Altered Hours by alteredhours

Windings are reliably brilliant - now a full band, of course, although Steve Ryan (ex-Giveamanakick) is still very much the focal point, joking that he's wearing a hat to make himself look more intimidating. I was a fan of latest single 'Embury Greenway', but even more so after hearing it live; it's a fantastic slice of vintage-sounding alt-rock. Ryan makes no secret of his admiration for J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr, and the influence is clear in his sound, even if Windings largely tend to favour mellow, wistful tunesmithery over rocking out. He's even made it easy for lazy writers by actually writing a song about Mascis ('Old Like J'), although it's not so much about the axeman so much as it is about getting older. A constant highlight in their live sets, it's a perfectly understated, chiming number that has the feel of a classic that people will still be listening to in years to come.

Embury Greenway by windings

Old Like J by windings

Elsewhere, 'Poor In The Mouth' sounds even more fierce in the live setting, an adrenalised trasher that nods to his former band, while the slow-building 'These Horses Also Ran' starts with mid-tempo alt-rock vibes and steady harmonies before ending in a climactic wall-of-sound. An apt closer.

The impressiveness of The Altered Hours (upstairs) means we don't catch touted Limerick band Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters, but next time.

some records of the year so far

2011-06-13T11:38:00.010+01:00

Maria Minerva - Tallinn at Dawn (Not Not Fun)

Maria Minerva - Hop Hop Gone In Spring by nofearofpop.net

Catscars - Construction (White Plague Records)

Construction by catscars

FaltyDL - You Stand Uncertain (Planet Mu)/'Hip Love' (Ramp Recordings)

FaltyDL - Hip Love by RAMP Recordings / PTN

Hype Williams - One Nation (Hippos in Tanks)

Hype Williams - One Nation by Hippos In Tanks

Braids - Native Speaker (Kanine)

BRAIDS - "Lemonade" by BRAIDS

Tokimonsta - Creature Dreams (Brainfeeder)

TOKiMONSTA - Bright Shadows by BRAINFEEDER

Burial - Street Halo (Hyperdub)

Le Galaxie - Laserdisc Nights II (Battlepulse)

Laserdisc Nights 2 by Le Galaxie

Blawan - Bohla (R & S) / 'Getting Me Down' (white label)

Yuck - Yuck (Fat Possum)

Rubber by Yuck

Jacques Greene - 'Another Girl' (Lucky Me)

LM008 - ANOTHER GIRL by Jacques Greene

Kahn - 'Like We Used To / Helter Skelter' (Punch Drunk)

Echo Lake - Young Silence (No Pain In Pop)

In Dreams by Echo Lake

Purity Ring - 'Ungirthed' (self-released)

Ungirthed by PURITY RING

tUnE-yArDs - Whokill (4AD)

Tune-Yards - Bizness by snipelondon

Clams Casino - Rainforest (Tri Angle) / Instrumental Mixtape
Rainforest EP by clammyclams

Clams Casino - Instrumental Mixtap by blalalapuntnl

Holy Other - With U (Tri Angle)

Touch by HOLY OTHER

Popical Island - Popical Island #2 (Popical Island)

Popical Island #2 by popical_island

School Tour/Patrick Kelleher - Split EP (Cass/Flick)

School Tour/Patrick Kelleher Split by School Tour

Mogwai - 'Rano Pano' (Sub Pop)

Mogwai - Rano Pano by subpop

Ginnels - Ginnels

Ginnels by Ginnels

Hired Hands - My Heart Hung (Any Other City)

Hired Hands - My Heart Hung by Ragged Words

Nouveaunoise - 'Cinnte (Toby Kaar's Cloudy mix)'

Nouveaunoise - Cinnte (Toby Kaar's Cloudy Mix) by TobyKaar

Hessle Audio - 116 & Rising (Hessle Audio)

Adele - 'Rolling In The Deep (Jamie xx remix)'

Adele - Rolling In The Deep (Jamie xx Shuffle) by hotfortheencore

Demdike Stare - Tryptych (Modern Love)

Demdike Stare - Liberation Through Hearing by modernlove

Salva - Complex Housing (Friends of Friends)

Blue by SALVA

Peaking Lights - 936 (Not Not Fun)

Peaking Lights - Tiger Eyes (Laid-Back) by tacking

Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact (4AD)

Hipster Youth - 'Where (n) Meets Infinity' (Long Lost)

Hipster Youth - Where (n) Meets Infinity by LongLost

Matthewdavid - Outmind (Brainfeeder)

Matthewdavid: Outmind by alteredzones

Dro Carey - 'Hungry Horse'

Dro Carey - Hungry Horse by seaninsound

Ilex_ - Old Din

Old Din by ilex_

Peverelist - 'Dance Til The Police Come / Fundamentals' (Hessle Audio)

Peverelist 'Fundamentals' by Peverelist

Sleep ∞ Over - 'Casual Diamond' (Hippos In Tanks)

Casual Diamond by Sleep ∞ Over

Beat Connection - 'Silver Screen (Young Montana? remix)

Avalanche Ammo

2011-06-03T14:52:00.005+01:00

For a while there I felt that instrumental guitar music was reaching serious saturation point here. While that might still be the case to an extent, Avalanche Ammo - the solo project of Kildare's Ant Boland - has that extra something about it. Nialler9 said it sounds like 'The Redneck Manifesto on crack', which is a pretty useful description. The material Boland's released so far tends towards the heavier end of the spectrum: there's shades of BATS or the more frenetic Adebisi Shank songs. The debut EP Animals was well-received and there's now two new tracks on Soundcloud, 'Trojan Horse' and 'Ambulance Chaser'. The former could be the heaviest thing he's done yet, but still retains that knack for winding, intricate riffs and deceptive left-turns.

Trojan Horse by avalanchemgmt

Ambulance Chaser by avalanchemgmt

These tunes and the Animals EP are free to download..

Avalanche Ammo plays in Whelan's tonight (June 3rd) along with the excellent We Are Losers and Alarmist. Alarmist are a band I keep meaning to listen to but haven't really got around to it yet. But they're popular elsewhere, so all in all a great line-up.

Oneohtrix Point Never : rarities, remixes

2011-05-11T09:40:00.002+01:00

Brooklyn-based 'synth drone' wizard Oneohtrix Point Never - aka Daniel Lopatin - has uploaded a host of rare radio stuff, live material, remixes and collaborations to his Soundcloud - fill your boots. Included: his spacey remix of Laurel Halo's 'Metal Confection', a stunning take on Wild Beasts' 'Two Dancers' and his 'Returnal' collaboration with Antony (of the Johnsons).

WILD BEASTS - TWO DANCERS (remix) by Oneohtrix Point Never

LAUREL HALO - METAL CONFECTION (remix) by Oneohtrix Point Never

Incidentally, here's one he didn't upload, a refixing of probably one of my favourite pieces of music ever:

Ganglians sign to Lefse, release 'Jungle'

2011-05-11T08:54:00.003+01:00

The excellent Lefse Records have released music by artists such as How To Dress Well, Neon Indian and Ireland-based Low Sea in recent times. Add Sacramento three-piece Ganglians to that list: in August they'll be coming back with a double-album, the follow-up to the two seriously impressive records they released in 2009 (Ganglians and Monster Head Room).

The first taster from it, 'Jungle', is in a similar vein to previous off-kilter psych/folk/garage excursions like 'My House' and 'Hair'. The forthcoming album, Still Living, will be keenly anticipated by anyone who digs their thrilling sound, which can veer from unhinged-though-tuneful garage thrash to sun-kissed alt-folk strum-a-longs to gorgeous pastoral vibes ('To June' being a particular highlight).

Ganglians - Jungle by souterraintransmissions

Monster Head Room is still streamable in its entirety:

Ganglians - Monster Head Room by souterraintransmissions

Ganglians - Never Mind from Chocolate Bobka on Vimeo.

Peverelist - 'Dance Til The Police Come / Fundamentals'

2011-05-09T21:56:00.003+01:00

Bristol-based Peverelist - aka Tom Ford - remains one of the most exciting producers around, his always-innovative sound combining techno and dubstep influences on stone-cold classics like 'Better Ways Of Living' and 'Roll With The Punches'. Following up last year's excellent collaboration with Hyetal ('The Hum/rrrr'), his new 12" combines the deep, heavy, junglist rhythms of 'Dance Til The Police Come' with the sinister, spacious atmospherics of flipside 'Fundamentals'. Another essential release from a producer who's more in tune with dubstep's origins than most who tend to be grouped under the increasingly-meaningless phrase. 'Dance Til The Police Come/Fundamentals' is out now on Hessle Audio.

Peverelist 'Dance til the Police Come' by Peverelist

Peverelist 'Fundamentals' by Peverelist

previously:

Peverelist & Hyetal 'The Hum' by Peverelist

Peverelist & Hyetal 'rrrr' by Peverelist

Peverelist 'Better Ways of Living' by Peverelist

Hired Hands - 'The Quay Wall', album stream

2011-05-09T21:40:00.002+01:00

Wrote about Hired Hands' single 'The Quay Wall' for last week's State office playlist (we don't really have an office, it's a metaphorical concept)

http://www.state.ie/27677-features/states-office-stereo-tom-waits-beastie-boys-soundbombing-austra-the-computers-and-more/2

Sublime off-kilter folk-pop with boy-girl harmonies that keep wrongfooting you, this is both deceptively complex and supremely catchy. A seven-piece that includes former members of the sadly short-lived Feed The Bears, Hired Hands have a deft handle on subtle melancholy, and their varied instrumentation is perfectly judged. There’s slight shades of the Afro-tinged prog-pop of Dirty Projectors, but ultimately this has an identity all of its own, and is a welcome addition to the vibrant pop(icalia) scene.

The Quay Wall by Hired Hands

The album it's taken from, My Heart Hung, is streaming over at Ragged Words, and it's pretty impressive; other standout tracks include 'Marie Antoinette' and the title track.

review, stream - Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact

2011-05-08T01:41:00.003+01:00

http://www.state.ie/27678-album-reviews/gang-gang-dance-eye-contact

Gang Gang Dance’s 2008 album Saint Dymphna was one of the outstanding releases of that year, showcasing an increasingly accessible sound without sacrificing any of the inventiveness that characterised the NYC-based outfit. The irresistible hooks of ‘House Jam’ (which Florence & The Machine would blatantly nod to on ‘Rabbit Heart’) as well as guest input from UK rapper Tinchy Stryder were in marked contrast to their more abstract earlier output, but if Saint Dymphna sounded streamlined to some, Eye Contact is even more so. While that may sound like a slight in pretentious-hipster language, it’s not: this is Gang Gang Dance we’re talking about, and ‘more accessible’ in their world is still deeply, deeply weird and wonderful by the standards of most other bands.

The stunning opening track, ‘Glass Jar’, has been a feature in their live sets for at least a couple of years now. It makes sense that they’ve waited until now to record or release it, because it well and truly sets the tone for what follows on Eye Contact: a dizzying, expertly layered track that slowly builds in intensity, the hypnotic main synthline kicks in at roughly the six-minute mark, with Lizzi Bougatsos’ sublime vocals taking the song to an even higher plane. Living up to the opening snatch of dialogue (“I can see everything/ It’s everything time”), this is the blueprint for their fifth long-player: taking the uninhibited, almost transcendental vibe of previous songs like ‘First Communion’ and running with it.

‘MindKilla’ is a bonkers, deliriously catchy rave-up that could utterly slay a dancefloor, while ‘Chinese High’ takes the Middle Eastern influences that the band absorb so well and combines them with kitsch, almost garish chimes that are straight out of the ’80s-pop-production guidebook.

If all this sounds a bit full-on, it is; but the New Yorkers make it work. Not least because of Bougatsos, whose vocals are pushed to the forefront more than ever: she responds with dazzling performances throughout, channelling some kind of spiritual, kinetic energy. Her vocals are all over the scale and frequently forego traditional expression, which means that she probably won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but there’s no question that she’s a crucial driving force. What’s more, she’s never sounded as serene as she does on the blissful ‘Sacer’, crooning the line “I’m so lost/ Can’t seem to find my way home” as if that’s exactly the way she wants it.

Not that she’s the only vocalist: Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor lends his soulful tones to the amazing ‘Romance Layers’, which somehow manages to sound like Prince jamming over a funked-up, eastern-tinged version of The Cure’s ‘Lullaby’.

The enhanced clarity and directness that’s in evidence on Eye Contact does mean that it lacks the darker, more sinister moments that were such a compelling feature of Saint Dymphna (the voodoo-tinged ‘Afoot’, for example), but this is Gang Gang Dance version 2011: Eye Contact is a veritable tour de force that cements their reputation as one of the most exciting bands around.

Elsewhere, a pretty brilliant article about the new album on The Quietus, and an interview over on XLR8R.

Catscars/Angkorwat/Ilex

2011-05-04T13:16:00.003+01:00

Thursday night upstairs in Whelan's sees three class acts combining for a gig intended to raise funds for a Catscars EP release/video. Catscars' Construction is definitely one of my favourite releases of 2011 so far, maybe only FaltyDL's You Stand Uncertain I've enjoyed more. Not going to harp on about it too much here because I wrote a review here

Construction by catscars

If you're familiar with this blog at all you'll know how i rate Angkorwat's music; since the EP release she's released snippets of new tracks on her Soundcloud - it's a very different sound, less lo-fi, more along the lines of reverb-laden, atmospheric synth pieces with wispy, barely-there vocals. 'Gloria Hunniford' in particular sounds like a tune.

excerpt from gloria hunniford by Angkorwat

Ilex recently released Old Din, which is pretty much a compilation of (nearly) all the music she's made since 2005. At 33 tracks you'd think there'd be some filler in there but that's not the case at all - it's consistently excellent, and a release that deserves wider attention. Overall it tends to lean towards hypnotic, intricate 3-in-the-morning ambient electronica - i work nights and I've been listening to this a lot in the last couple of weeks, it really is perfect for late-night listening. That said, there's plenty of variety. There's shades of Si Schroeder in there; stuff like 'Bells/W Nobs On' has the same enchanting music-box vibe of Lucky Dragons; 'Go Away' is grittier and more menacing, with a lurching arrangement and obscured vocals; other tracks have a bit of a trip-hop vibe, while 'Orkid' and 'Strings' have superbly rich and evocative arrangements. Massively overlooked and an absolute bargain for 5 euro on her Bandcamp. There's so many highlights but here's a few:

Improving by ilex_

Content by ilex_

Orkid by ilex_

Go Away by ilex_

All three play Whelan's (upstairs) on Thursday night, along with Brian Conniffe, Suzanne Walsh and Diarmuid MacDiarmada - further details on the Facebook event page - it's 6 euro in, bargain

stream Wild Beasts - Smother

2011-05-04T12:37:00.003+01:00

I've always had a bit of a weird relationship with this band - ambitious, unique, flamboyant and pretty off-the-wall, they called to mind reference points like The Smiths and Suede, revelling in sexual ambiguity and innuendo while having a very interesting ye-olde-English vibe. The debut album Limbo, Panto featured two of the absolute best songs - no exaggeration - of the last few years: 'Devil's Crayon' and 'His Grinning Skull' still get played to death on my iPod and still sound absolutely amazing. The latter has a really haunting quality to it - I heard a rumour that it relates to a sexual abusive schoolmaster or something like that, but whatever the subject, it all sounds pretty sinister and oozes with melancholy. The rest of that album got pretty ridiculous in places though, with the more affected tracks not really coming off.

For the second LP Two Dancers they toned things down a fair bit, musically if not lyrically, but despite the undenable brilliance of 'All The King's Men' there was a feeling with many of the tracks that they were building up to something brilliant but never quite took off.

The new album, Smother, is now streaming over at The Guardian, and on first impressions they have really got the balance right this time: really impressed with it so far, particular highlights being 'Invisible' and 'Burning'. There's some really nice textures in there that were lacking from their last album, which was just a bit too straightforward at times.

Wild Beasts - Albatross by DominoRecordCo

Blawan makes Irish debut in Galway

2011-05-04T11:57:00.004+01:00

Dubculture Galway have regularly been bringing talent from the dubstep/bass spectrum to town - unfortunately I haven't been along to any of these nights: you can just about get away with standing around like an awkward loner at gigs but club nights are a different story. Anyway, Blawan is quite a coup for the organisers; he's made a name for himself in a very short space of time with his percussion-heavy, acid-tinged sound. The consistently excellent Hessle Audio released his first 12", the striking 'Fram/Iddy' last year, and that's been followed by this year's 303-laced Bohla EP on R & S..

Kaz [RS1102] by Blawan

and then there's this amazing tune:

The London producer plays Carbon nightclub (newly opened, formerly the GPO) this Friday night; following Illum Sphere's set at Kelly's last week, it's clear that dance music aficionados are being well served

1991:The Year Punk Broke to get DVD release

2011-04-16T08:02:00.003+01:00

You dream of this day, and then it finally arrives. Via Slicing Up Eyeballs:

"The fabled rock documentary “1991: The Year Punk Broke” — chronicling Sonic Youth’s tour of Europe that year with opening act Nirvana — finally will be released on DVD this fall in a special 20th anniversary edition featuring 42 minutes of bonus performances and other off-stage material.
The film’s director, Dave Markey, is releasing the DVD — which also features footage of Dinosaur Jr, Ramones, Babes in Toyland and Gumball — through his We Got Power Films sometime this fall. It will feature commentary by Markey and Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, as well as rough edits of performance material and a slideshow.

Of most interest to fans, though, is a new 42-minute “bonus movie” called “(This is Known As) The Blues Scale,” featuring previously unreleased Sonic Youth and Nirvana performances of the songs “Inhuman,” “White Kross,” “Orange Rolls/Angel’s Spit,” “Eric’s Trip,” “Chapel Hill” and “In Bloom,” plus “plenty of revelatory and rockin’ (and hilarious) never-before-seen off-stage and on-stage material.”"

This is probably the one and only time I'll be excited over a DVD release. Hurry up fall!

Hipster Youth - Where (n) Meets Infinity

2011-04-15T15:38:00.003+01:00

Chose this for State's office playlist, it's insanely good:

Hipster Youth - Where (n) Meets Infinity by LongLost

"Throwing something of a curveball after last year’s chiptune-tinged album Teenage Elders, this new track is still electronically-based but has a completely different vibe. The first minute or so sounds like it’s being transmitted from some unholy vortex or echo chamber, infused with squall and fuzz – this gives way to a trippy, lo-fi electronic groove with muffled, displaced-sounding vocals. Delirious, inventive and infectious."

The track should 'end up on an EP or a split or an Album or something', according to the Soundcloud blurb.

elaine mai

2011-04-15T01:55:00.004+01:00

Galway-based songwriter Elaine Mai is currently giving away 'Softly' as a free download on her Bandcamp - it's an amazing tune: acoustic guitar and chiming glockenspiel backed up by soothing, hypnotic harmonies, with her impressive vocals front and centre.

Softly by Elaine Mai

There's another song to check out on her Breaking Tunes, while she does some pretty neat covers too - here's one:

Elaine Mai - Telephone by scottdb

There's also a collaboration with poet and fellow Galwegian Laurie Leech available for free download from here

Songs of Love and Oil by Laurie Leech & Elaine Mai

Mai plays support to Steve Mason in the Roisin Dubh this Sunday night (17th) so pop along early if you're going. She'll also be playing with The Kanyu Tree on the 30th and Wallis Bird on May 8th in the same venue.

Windings - Embury Greenway

2011-04-13T21:53:00.003+01:00

Via State, the video for a new Windings tune, 'Embury Greenway', which wil be released by Out On A Limb Records on April 29th. It's pretty ace too (video and tune), an upbeat alt-rock number as opposed to the more wistful sounds of last year's It's Never Night album. Maybe it's the influence of J Mascis.

windings - Embury Greenway by OOAL

Also streaming on the OOAL Soundcloud is a taster from the forthcoming collaborative album between Vertigo Smyth and Carol Anne McGowan. It's a pretty elegant affair, with the two vocalists dovetailing very nicely indeed.

Vertigo Smyth & Carol Anne McGowan - Fox Eyes On Georgia by OOAL

Both Windings and Smyth/Murray have tour dates coming up, which you can check out here - on 1st May, both acts will combine with Owensie for a gig at the Workman's Club.

Seefeel, Visionair - Button Factory

2011-03-23T18:47:00.003Z

http://www.state.ie/live-reviews/26939-seefeel-visionair-button-factory-dublin-2

"It’s probably been said before, but considering all the bands who’ve reformed lately and basically performed guided tours of their back catalogue, it’s refreshing to see an act like Seefeel who all-but ignore the sound that they made their name with in favour of exploring a completely different avenue. The vibe among The Button Factory crowd seems to be one of curiosity rather than anticipation, but if anyone came expecting Seefeel to dip into influential records like Quique they would have been surprised at how the show pans out tonight.

VisionAir are on supporting duties, and just as with the recent State VS Roisin Dubh night in Galway, their set pulses and swells with absorbing, sci-fi-tinged synth-tones. Tracks from their two EPs take on an extra muscular, propulsive quality in the live setting, with the subtle tempo changes and shifts ensuring attention never wavers. Their finest creation, ‘HYPNOM’, seems to get better every time you hear it, an atmospheric, perfectly layered track that gives way to a hypnotic climax with shades of New Order circa Power, Corruption & Lies (specifically ‘Blue Monday’ prototype ‘586’).

Seefeel were once memorably described as ‘wombadelic’ by then-Melody Maker writer Simon Reynolds, reflecting their distinctive sound, which transposed MBV-esque guitar lines and effects onto ambient techno/IDM-influenced rhythms. Wombadelic is not an adjective that comes to mind tonight, though: bolstered by new band members Shigeru Ishihara (aka DJ Scotch Egg) and Iida Kazuhisa (E-Da) – the former a renowned noise artist and the latter a former Boredums drummer- their live sound is harsh and often grating. Ishihara’s bass-lines dominate the mix, as the band pursue repetitive, scuzzy, enveloping grooves. Sarah Peacock’s vocals seem more like a superfluous addition to the mix, as opposed to the textural underpinning they once provided. It could be called indulgent (at times the band seem to be enjoying themselves more than the audience) but for long stretches we’re taken by it, even if the crowd reaction in general is a divided one. There’s almost an underground-warehouse vibe about the show; with The Button Factory being far from capacity tonight, this arguably would have came across a lot better in a smaller venue or tighter space. It’s perhaps no surprise that there’s no encore: Seefeel aren’t making concessions to expectations or to their own past, choosing instead to pursue their current vision. For that you have to admire them."

paddy's day irish music nostalgia

2011-03-17T21:18:00.002Z

My Bloody Valentine - Loveless

The greatest work of art created in the history of mankind. If you ever need a testament to the benefits of relentless perfectionism, look no further: as this masterpiece was created between 1989 and 1991, mainman and visionary Kevin Shields went through eighteen recording engineers and nineteen recording studios, allegedly almost bankrupting his label Creation Records in the process (according to who you believe; Shields strenuously denies this). At the end of it all, Creation label-head Alan McGee vowed never to work with Shields again. Yet the end result was a record of almost alien beauty.

MBV can be seen as part of a lineage of great bands – the Stooges, the Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, The Jesus and Mary Chain - who revolutionised and redefined guitar music: Shields’ primary innovation was the use of a technique nicknamed ‘glide guitar’, a method of wavering the tremolo bar of the guitar while strumming. This led to a disorientating, hazy effect as the music slipped in and out of tune. The textured, layered sound of the album led many people to believe that the band were using multiple overdubs, when in Shields’ own words “it's actually got less guitar tracks than most people's demo tapes have.”

Loveless seems to simultaneously pulverise the listener with waves of distortion and envelop them in an abstract, dream-like haze. The sense of contrast is heightened by feminine, unintelligible vocals that glide in and out of focus along with the music. It’s rare to find an album that manages to sound so harsh and discordant and yet so soothing at the same time: while on the one hand the record was the cornerstone of some of the loudest live shows in music history, on the other hand tracks like ‘To Here Knows When’ and ‘Blown a Wish’ convey a sense of pure tranquillity and bliss.

Even with the greatest albums, there are often tracks you’re tempted to skip, weak links in otherwise flawless works; but there’s not a single track on Loveless that falls below perfection. The final third of the album in particular - running from the haunting drone of ‘Sometimes’ through the celestial one-two of ‘Blown a Wish’ and ‘What You Want’, and ending with the hypnotic rhythms of ‘Soon’ - is simply the most incredible passage of music ever recorded.

There’s never been a follow-up, but that’s no great mystery: how do you follow perfection?

2 - Whipping Boy - Heartworm

In terms of going against the cultural grain, Heartworm takes some beating. The year was 1995: Britpop was in full swing with all its attendant caricatures and satire; and while Blur and Oasis were going head-to-head at the top of the charts with songs about country houses and rolling with it, the Dublin four-piece released this brutal, uncompromising transmission from the heart of darkness.

An ominous, mournful violin intro sets the tone as opening track ‘Twinkle’ disguises it’s dark subject matter (‘turning tricks just like your mother’)with a seemingly clichéd chorus (‘She’s the only one for me / Now and always’), coming across like a cousin of R.E.M.’s classic anti-love song ‘The One I Love’. Influences like The Cure and Joy Division abound, with Ferghal McKee’s bleak delivery backdropped by violent, churning guitar and occasional stately strings. The subject matter is almost relentlessly dark, dealing with broken relationships and mental turmoil, even touching on domestic abuse on the controversial ‘We Don’t Need Nobody Else’. However, there are some shards of light breaking through the gloom: ‘Personality’ is a perfectly timed mid-album injection of serenity, while the bittersweet ‘When We Were Young’ gave them an unlikely radio hit.

3 - Ash - Intergalactic Sonic 7"s

Including singles collections might be cheating a bit, but not when you're dealing with one of the greatest singles bands of all time. An absolute treasure trove of 3-minute wonders. Where to begin?: the irrepressible punk/pop hooks of 'Burn Baby Burn' and 'Girl From Mars', the Ramones-esque skip of 'Jack Names The Planets', the wistful world-weariness of 'Sometimes'...the glorious 'A Life Less Ordinary', which was about a million and one times better than the film it soundtracked, or the grinding 'Goldfinger', the best song ever written about waiting for your dealer since The Velvet Underground. Pity about them these days, eh?

4 - The Redneck Manifesto - I Am Brazil

The Rednecks' masterpiece; parts of this remind me of 'Rain On Tin'-mode Sonic Youth, which in turn reminds me of 'Marquee Moon' - intricate, interlinking guitar lines creating pure alchemy. Then there's stuff like 'Hibernation Statement', which is almost meditative, and stuff like 'Break Your Fingers Laughing', which is violent and explosive.

5 - Rollerskate Skinny - Horsedrawn Wishes

Rollerskate Skinny emerged in the early 90’s with records that garnered much critical acclaim, and though they packed it in after their second album, Horsedrawn Wishes, they still retain a considerable cult following. Their music is an invigorating, hazy, shape-shifting blend of distorted, MBV-like guitar textures (Kevin Shields’ brother Jimi was a drummer in the band for a period), gliding shoegaze washes and dayglo pop melodies.

‘Swingboat Yawning’ and ‘One Thousand Couples’ utilise quiet-loud dynamics with pulverising, warped guitar assaults; ‘Cradle Burns’ is a joyously disorientating pop song, while all the ingredients come to a glorious climax on ‘Speed To My Side’, surely one of the greatest Irish singles ever recorded. They really don’t make them like this anymore: I’ve often said that no one will ever be able to recapture the magic of MBV’s Loveless, but Rollerskate Skinny came pretty close.

6 - Gemma Hayes - Night On My Side

Debut album Night On My Side marked Gemma Hayes out as a special talent, one that called to mind influences as diverse as My Bloody Valentine, PJ Harvey and Lisa Germano. It’s a captivating record whose strength lies not just in its individual songs but in the impressionistic spell cast by its melancholic atmosphere, discordant guitars and Hayes’ delicate, yearning vocals.

The Tipperary native possesses an extraordinary voice that couldn’t fail to impress if she was singing the contents of a phone book, and the music here ranges from the bleary Americana of ‘Day One’ (as gorgeously understated an opening track as you’re likely to hear anywhere) to the anguished drone of ‘Tear In My Side’ and the churning guitar rhythms of ‘Hanging Around’. The aching minimalism of ‘What a Day’ and the still incredible-sounding ‘Back Of My Hand’ epitomise the edge that she’s been struggling to recapture ever since.

7 - U2 - The Unforgettable Fire

I'll always have a soft spot for U2’s fourth studio album, as it was arguably the last record they released before they became the bombastic entity they are now, for better or worse. Not that it’s necessarily an understated record: the opening two tracks, ‘A Sort Of Homecoming’ and ‘Pride (In The Name Of Love)’, see Bono at his chest-beating best and their music at its most yearning. The former, in particular, remains one of the most underrated songs in their repertoire.

Elsewhere, though, there’s some of the most experimental, ambient music the band have released, obviously informed by collaborator Brian Eno: on ‘Elvis Presley and America’, Bono turns in a restrained, hypnotic vocal performance over a backdrop of warm, chiming atmospherics; in a similar vein, closing track ‘MLK’ is essentially a lullaby, a gentle drone framing the singer’s exhortation to ‘Sleep / Sleep tonight / And may your dreams be realised’. Then there’s the windswept, almost mystical soundscape of the title track; while live favourite ‘Bad’ takes its cue from Joy Division’s ‘Atmosphere’ and creates something similarly transcendental but completely unique. Then there’s tracks like ‘Wire’ and ‘Indian Summer Sky’, which showed that The Edge was still taking plenty of guitar lessons from post-punk acts like Gang Of Four.

8 - Ten Speed Racer - 10SR

Joe Chester has been involved in many a great Irish band, be it on production duties or otherwise (including his own excellent A Murder Of Crows), but as guitarist with Ten Speed Racer this was arguably the finest of them all. The exquisite harmonies and jangly power-pop sound that characterises his solo work is all over this record, but there's also a furious, blistering quality to tracks like 'Your Demon Heart'. 'Overcast' is an exquisite slice of alt-country; 'Bring On The Feeling' a lost pop classic.

9 - Emmet Tinley - Attic Faith

The closest I've heard anyone coming to recapturing the haunted choirboy vibe of Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah. Yes, that's high praise; yes, he deserves it.

10 - Si Schroeder - Coping Mechanisms

Sublime 3-in-the-morning atmospherics and twisted, shadowy electronica.

...and some tunes

Much like The La's 'There She Goes', a lot of the best pop music thrives on the contrast between sunny-sounding melodies and the darkness in between the lines. So it is with The Chalets' 'No Style' which is one of the most underrated pop songs of the last whenever. Every summer gets shorter, we're growing older. Speaking of which, I have to go to work so that's the only song I can write a blurb f0r.

Digital Socket Awards: shortlist announced

2011-01-15T20:45:00.004Z

The shortlist for the Digital Socket Awards (http://www.digitalsocketawards.com/), has been announced. 26 bloggers, including myself, chose from the publicly-nominated longlist in each of the fourteen categories, and the votes have been tallied up. Personally speaking I discovered lots of cool stuff that I hadn't been aware of before the public nominations, and ended up voting for some of it. When you look over the fourteen categories it's clear how much great music has been released domestically in the last year. I think it's great to see musicians/bands like Jogging, Angkorwat, Thread Pulls and Meljoann getting recognition because it's stuff that's relatively out on the fringes, even if it mightn't seem that way to fanatics who devour music 24/7. At the same time, excellent releases by the likes of Nouveaunoise, School Tour, Logikparty, Children Under Hoof, Laura Sheeran, and Strands were unlucky not to make the cut. There was some pretty fierce competition within the categories, in fairness. It's also fantastic to see record labels, photographers, artwork, video-directors and radio shows getting recognition.

1. Best Design (Website, Artwork, Posters)

Adebisi Shank – This is the Second Album
Cathy Davey – The Nameless
Halves – It Goes, It Goes (Forever and Ever)
O Emperor – Hither Thither
Villagers – Becoming a Jackal

2. Best Independent Label

Any Other City
Osaka Records
Out On A Limb
Popical Island
Richter Collective

3. Best Video

Ambience Affair – Devil in detail
BATS – Star Wormwood
Cathy Davey – Little Red
Patrick Kelleher & His Cold Dead Hands – Contact Sports
Rubberbandits – Horse Outside

4. Best Music Photography

Kieran Frost
kDamo
Ruth Medjber
Alessio Michelini
Loreana Rushe

5. Best Radio Show

Alison Curtis
Donal Dineen – The Small Hours
I-con Phanotm FM
Paul McLoone
Right Click Radio with Aoife Mc on 2XM

6. Best Pop

Cathy Davey – The Nameless
The Divine Comedy – Bang Goes the Knighthood
Fight Like Apes – The Body of Christ and the Legs of Tina Turner
So Cow – Meaningless Friendly
Two Door Cinema Club – Tourist History

7. Best Folk

Simon Fagan – Outside Looking In
Halves – It Goes, It Goes (Forever and Ever)
James Vincent McMorrow – Early in the Morning
O Emperor – Hither Thither
Villagers – Becoming a Jackal

8. Best Rock and Alternative

Adebisi Shank – This Is The Second Album Of A Band Called…
Enemies – We’ve Been Talking
Jogging – Minutes
Redneck Manifesto – Friendship
Thread Pulls – New Thoughts

9. Best Electronic & Hip Hop

Meljoann – Squick
Not Squares – Yeah OK
R.S.A.G. – Be It Right or Wrong
Shit Robot – From The Cradle To The Rave
Solar Bears – She Was Coloured In

10. Best Indie

The Cast of Cheers – Chariot
Grand Pocket Orchestra – The Ice Cream
Groom – Marriage
Ham Sandwich – White Fox
Jogging – Minutes

11. Best EP

The Ambience Affair -Patterns
And So I Watch You From Afar – The Letters
Angkorwat- Early..
The Holy Roman Army – Desecrations
Sacred Animals – Welcome Home

12. Best Newcomer.

The Cast Of Cheers
Jennifer Evans
Hipster Youth
James Vincent McMorrow
Solar Bears

13. Song of the Year

Adebisi Shank – Genki Shank
The Cast Of Cheers – I Am Lion
Cathy Davey – Little Red
Squarehead – Fake Blood
Villagers – The Meaning of the Ritual

14. Album of the Year

Adebisi Shank - This is the Second Album
The Cast Of Cheers – Chariot
Cathy Davey – The Nameless
James Vincent McMorrow – Early in the Morning
Villagers – Becoming a Jackal

The live event will take place on February 3rd in The Grand Social, Dublin, where the winners in each category will be announced. Meljoann and Groom will be performing on the night, along with two special guests who are yet to be announced. Comedian/writer Gareth Stack will be overseeing the whole affair,and there'll be 'special DJ sets, delicious food and drinks along with a very special participating partner presenting a surprise award on the night'. A limited amount of tickets are on sale now from http://tickets.ie/ for 10 euro (plus 2 euro booking fee) and profits will go to Aware (http://www.aware.ie/).

The full shortlist complete with links can be seen here:

http://www.digitalsocketawards.com/2011/01/14/the-digital-socket-awards-2011-shortlist/

GROOM - THIS GOLDEN AGE - Radio Edit from Reasonably Shorts on Vimeo.

01 So Academic by meljoann

playlist/tunes of the week

2011-01-06T01:46:00.007Z

Great Lakes Mystery - '1/1/11'

1/1/11 by Great Lakes Mystery
(http://www.nialler9.com/)

Star Slinger - 'Like I Do'

Star Slinger - Like I Do by Star Slinger

Mogwai - 'Rano Pano'

Mogwai - Rano Pano by Hypetrak

Tanlines - 'O Seizing The Day O' (feat. Luke Jenner)

Blondes - 'Virgin Pacific'

Virgin Pacific by BLONDES
(http://alteredzones.com/)

LA Vampires - 'How Would U Know'

LA Vampires feat. Matrix Metals - How Would U Know from Not Not Fun on Vimeo.

James Ferraro - 'Leather High School'

James Ferraro "Leather High School" from the album "Night Dolls With Hairspray" by OESB

Big Troubles - 'Georgia'

Geotic - 'Unwind'

Hard Mix - 'Callers'

(http://www.gorillavsbear.net/)

Millionyoung - 'Replicants'

(http://www.iguessimfloating.net/)

Screaming Females - 'I Do'

Sun Airway - American West (Solar Bears remix)

2011-01-06T00:59:00.005Z

Solar Bears have already been on the remix duties with FUR ('Friends' and 'Clears Throat') - now they've turned their attentions to Sun Airway, who released the notable Nocturne Of Exploded Crystal Chandelier last year, a collection of wide-eyed, dreamy psych-pop. Via Pitchfork, this is the duo's take on 'American West', playing down the dream-state vibe and giving it more of an electronic pulse.

get the download over at http://pitchfork.com/forkcast/15262-american-west-solar-bears-remix/

Sun Airway were also recently remixed by Lefse-signed duo Houses, who are arguably just as blissed-out in sound but in a more chilled and less expansive sense.

You can get that download over here: http://rcrdlbl.com/2010/11/29/premiere_sun_airway_oh_naoko_houses_remix_

'Waiting On You' is still one of my favourite tunes from last year:

Waiting on You by Sun Airway

Meanwhile, Solar Bears just yesterday tweeted the following links for both of their aforementioned FUR remixes (FUR being the experimental project of Bryce Isbell, who last year collaborated with Coyote Clean Up for the excellent Lackadaisical EP):

http://www.mediafire.com/?txqpw7lt6vvnulp

http://www.mediafire.com/?v5q93rx2rtahtfq

...and since I mentioned it:

Hefty Horse presents: Sacred Animals/We Are Losers/The Holy Roman Army

2011-01-05T22:55:00.006Z

This takes place upstairs in Whelan's next Tuesday, January 11th, with three bands/acts who released fantastic EPs last year, and who should all be releasing some more quality stuff in the year ahead. Sacred Animals' Welcome Home was widely acclaimed in the end-of-year lists and summaries, with 'Chosen Seed' already having the air of a classic about it

We Are Losers, a solo project by Gavin Elsted of Super Extra Bonus Party (who's also behind Adultrock and the Adebisi Shank/Jay Z mash-up), released an EP that was two parts lo-fi Wavves-esque fun and one part dreamy shoegaze amazingness ('Windbreaker'):

...while Carlow-based duo The Holy Roman Army were responsible for the Desecrations EP, a collection of covers that brought new life to classics by Rollerskate Skinny and the Pixies. They'll be getting back to releasing their own self-penned material this year, with a follow-up to debut album How The Light Gets In due.

Incidentally, there's also a Holy Roman Army remix of a Sacred Animals tune in the pipeline for the not-too-distant future.

Three great acts then, fiver in, 8pm kick-off.

Gigroll

2011-01-05T02:55:00.007Z

'See you at the re-scheduled party, Richter!'

The Richter Collective Christmas party fell victim to the weather, but it's been rescheduled (a post-Christmas party now) for January 14th at The Button Factory. It features the stonking bill of BATS, Not Squares, Herv, Enemies, Jogging, Logikparty and The Continuous Battle Of Order. Speaking of Logikparty, they recently made an outtake from the High Risk Narcissist sessions available for free download:

This week sees a couple of big 'uns: Popicalia #5 takes place in Shebeen Chic this Friday night with sets from Pantone247, We Are Losers and Hello Moon.

Really loved the lo-fi Wavves vibes of the We Are Losers EP from last year, especially the closing track which is outstanding.

On the same night, Joker will be bringing his dazzling purple sound to the Twisted Pepper, with assistance from MC Nomad and support from Weapon Of Choice and Cloyment. The producer recently signed to Universal after a string of excellent 12" releases in the last few years. He has been working on a debut LP, with a possible release date early in the year.

He also provided a stunning mix for Mary Anne Hobbs last year, the Ghetto Clang mix, which you can download from here: http://core.thomaslaupstad.com/mary-anne-hobbs-experimental-2010-08-19-dj-joker-ghetto-clang-guest-mix/

On January 15th, And So I Watch You From Afar, Codes, Dark Room Notes and Le Galaxie will join forces for a gig in The Button Factory in support of Amnesty International Ireland and See Change. It's part of First Fortnight, an arts-based mental health awareness project that runs in the first two weeks of every year. Quite a varied line-up; And So I Watch You From Afar were in fine form when i saw them in Roisin Dubh on New Year's Eve-eve. Recent track 'Straight Through The Sun' is a bit of a departure for them too:

And So I Watch You From Afar - Straight Through The Sun by Soundsgoodtometoo

Owensie recently signed to the very excellent label Out On A Limb Records, who will be releasing his debut album Aliens on February 4th. You can stream it right now, however: just head over to Nialler9: http://www.nialler9.com/2010/12/irish/stream-owensie-aliens/. The album launch takes place on 21st January in La Catedral Studios, Dublin, with support from Amber Wilson and Eoin Whitfield.

EPs of the year (International)

2010-12-21T13:31:00.005Z

Fair bit of overlap with the Irish list here, summing up how strong domestic releases were. Big up Nialler9 (http://www.nialler9.com/) , from whose blog i discovered the excellent Beat Connection EP

1 - James Blake - The Bells Sketch / CMYK / Klavierwerke

"While the three tracks contained on this 12-inch are a little more morose and sparser than Blake's breakout remix of Untold's "Stop What You're Doing," they're still just as fiercely inventive. Reminiscent of his work with Airhead—the sublimely minimal "Pembroke" and "Lock in a Lion" saw a release on Brainmath recently—"The Bells Sketch" flickers with the echoed shrills of delayed strings contorting behind low end palpitations that stretch and slice their way up into a slow stomp, decorated with playfully pitched vocals, erratic jazz piano basslines and flecks of pure G-funk synthesizer." - (Resident Advisor Bells Sketch review - http://www.residentadvisor.net/review-view.aspx?id=7258)

"Blake’s Burial-esque manipulation of vocals and unique and imaginative use of space is incredibly soul-stirring and affecting in ways that are unlike anything I’ve ever heard. Nowhere is this more evident than on the mournful, fairly mindblowing “I Only Know (What I Know Now),” which sounds like being born/dying, or as P4k’s David Bevan put it, “like infinity trapped inside of five minutes.”" - (GorillaVSBear CMYK/Klavierwerke end-of-year blurb - http://tinyurl.com/38bnzso )

02 James Blake - Buzzard & Kestrel by elpretentio2

2 - Memoryhouse - The Years

"From an oft-used drum machine, to endless looping, to somberly chilling beats, The Years uses simplicity to their advantage...spacey nuances and sobering, breezy murmur-like vocals...the closer (is) a wavey, haunting, and graceful song like no other. With elegant twangs spread evenly underneath the pacific vocals, Nouvion’s tender lyrics reach a new plane of comfort as she sings of dreams, of houses in the sky, of continuously drifting slowly and, oddly enough, “His lungs filling with water from the tide.” - (Sputnikmusic review http://tinyurl.com/22lzzuc )

3 - Beat Connection - Surf Noir

"Seattle duo Beat Connection make sun-soaked, dance-infused sounds under the cover of cloudy skies. Surf Noir, the University of Washington pair’s free EP, programs beats that run the gamut from ambling tropicalia (“Sunburn”) to house-derived rhythm (“Theme From Yours Truly”) and ’80s synthpop (“Motorway”). The eight tracks contained on the EP float lightly, sometimes drifting carefree, and at other moments picking up the pace, caught up in the patterns of the wind and waves of their fictional beach setting...The warbled computer speech of “Fresh Touch”, the bright, simplistic casiofied background over which the Peter Gabriel-esque vocals of “Silver Screen” sit and the (perhaps) Kraftwerk Autobahn-referencing “Motorway” are all amongst the EP’s more interesting offerings. These are the sounds through which Beat Connection prove they have more to give than sunshine and summer vibes." - (Mishka Bloglin review - http://tinyurl.com/25qhaud )

4 - Wildbirds & Peacedrums - Retina / Iris

"Sweet, fluttering vocal hooks and soulful breaks are here in abundance, and Wallentin sounds more sentimental and sultry as she works over Werliin’s clean, punchy grooves...On songs like “Under Land And Over Sea,” “The Drop,” and “The Lake,” it’s easy to hear not just Wallentin’s voice, but also the way her mouth and tongue form each word, and to get a sense of just the sort of force with which Werliin strikes every drum. It’s unusual to hear songs and sounds that so directly implicate the human bodies that produced them, and it demands a creative leap to pursue such intimate exposure. By the force of their musicianship on Rivers, however, Wildbirds & Peacedrums manage to own that risk as one of their greatest assets." - (Tiny Mix Tapes review - http://tinyurl.com/2vfd6s8 )

5 - Angkorwat - Early EP

(see Irish list http://tinyurl.com/3y4eg2v )

6 - School Tour - Yes Way

(Irish list http://tinyurl.com/3y4eg2v)

7 - Joy Orbison - The Shrew Would Have Cushioned The Blow

"...'So Derobe' follows with a more experimental construction, reminding of James Blake's special drum arrangements but fashioned in a slow-burning deep house sense with sparing use of a fat square bass and soul-singed vocals percolating up through the groove. Actress completes an exceptional record with his strutting electro-acoustic house mix on the flip, strangely devoid of any discernable bassline but full of effervescent electronics constantly evaporating into the higher registers while the rhythm effortlessly stops and starts at will. Imagine Bernard Parmegiani jamming with Anthony Shakir at 4am on Mir and you're up there. Vital." - (Boomkat - http://tinyurl.com/2bfkdtd )

8 - FUR / Coyote Clean Up - Lackadaisical

"The Lackadaisical EP is a split with Denton, TX's FUR and Detroit's Coyote Clean Up. Both artists make the sheen of lounge house, less about mannequins and runways, more about off kilter edits that prevent the hypnosis of snap breaks lulling your senses into impulse. The label could not have selected a more fitting album cover, as this is an EP that has me dreaming about breathing and hearing underwater. Oh, how I long for the lackadaisical days to return. Oh, how I long for a water-proof Ipod." - (Impose - http://www.imposemagazine.com/bytes/lackadaisical-ep )

9 - Pariah - Safehouses

"‘Railroad’ is more conventional modern garage, but extremely good with it, tear-streaked heartbreak synth melodies riding shuffling 2step beats with the occasional Amen break rearing its welcome head...‘C-Beams’ is wonky computer hop heard through a peyote haze, a psychedelic Zomby / FlyLo derivative. Lastly, the final number and title track is a beautiful ambient synth emission, like staring from the deck of a space station into the engulfing, terrifyingly beautiful infinity beyond. Safehouses is the announcement of an extraordinary new producer, and proves that R&S remains a force to reckon with." (-FACT - http://tinyurl.com/254483d )

10 - Lake R▲dio - Blair / The Weather

"‘VCR Operation’ is chilled, delightful Gold Panda-esque electronica, while ‘Martin Hannett’s Ghost’ takes Joy Division’s haunted, desolate ‘The Eternal’, subtracts Ian Curtis’ vocals, and adds distant but soulful female ones: the bleak backdrop drives home the desperation of the “i need someone” refrain. Overall, Blair and The Weather have enough sonic similarities to the witch house pack to be regarded as kindred spirits at least. Not that any outside validation is necessary: taken on their own terms, these two records are eclectic, strange, atmospheric and frequently compelling. Well worth investigation." - (State)

11 - Pangea - Pangea

"Pangaea's vision can sometimes start to sound a bit bleak, thanks in no small part to his talent for fusing sprawling chords with layers of atmospherics. But with a quick smattering of winding synth on "Dead Living," he immediately manages to lift the track and take it somewhere drastically different, playing up the awkward riff and amplifying its impact. And on closer "Because of You" he does things that completely contrast the preceding bars, as if he's feeding himself deeper into the recesses of his late night recording sessions...Much like the way Pangaea chooses to irk out his music slowly, his productions take that extra bit of time to creep up on you, gradually becoming more and more infectious." - (Resident Advisor - http://tinyurl.com/24zncdv )

12 - oOoOO - oOoOO

"oOoOO's skewed take on commercial electro-pop celebrates its decadent glamour while going out if its way to expose its rotten core. From the stuttering, fractured R&B wasteland of "Mumbai" to the barren faux-funk of "Hearts", oOoOO is a beautiful still of urban yearning and mindlessness captured through the stained glasses of a romantic outsider, a guttural fairy tale orchestrated by delayed vamps and diseased synth tones." - (Altered Zones - http://alteredzones.com/posts/642/2010-albums/ )

Hearts by oOoOO

13 - Logikparty - High Risk Narcissist

(Irish list - http://tinyurl.com/3y4eg2v )

14 - BALAM ACAB - See Birds

"It wouldn't be fair to mention Ithaca, New York's young Balam Acab without first saying something about goth crunk merchants Salem. Both rely on the same lugubrious slow-mo formula of pitched-down vocals, pitched-up vocals, heavy bass drums and spooky echoes of Three 6 Mafia, Burial, Boards Of Canada and Dead Can Dance...opener, "See Birds (Moon)," is a dream, skittering over an underproduced bassline and a bizarre vocal phrase that could've been culled from an old Goblin soundtrack. Haunted Tokyo synth-clatter rises and fades somewhere in the middle. We're met with dizzied glossolalia and chopped-up samples of a riverside. (Think Green River Killer in this case, not a babbling brook.)" - (Resident Advisor - http://tinyurl.com/36wu7up )

See Birds by BALAM ACAB

15 - Children Under Hoof - A Collar Can Become A Noose

(Irish list - http://tinyurl.com/3y4eg2v)

16 - Laura Sheeran - Music For The Deep Woods

(Irish list - http://tinyurl.com/3y4eg2v)

17 - Summer Camp - Young

"Sure this is woozy bedroom pop, and these six songs artfully weave a twenty minute sonic hammock that you’d happily lounge in all day, but there’s something darker and more alluring at work here...Young is incredibly likeable, and by the time the chorus of ‘Ghost Train’ comes around the band have established themselves a sound that’s so genuine and pretty it dispossesses you of any cynicism and pulls you into their world of fuzzy bewilderment." - (Drowned In Sound - http://tinyurl.com/2fksuzm)

'Ghost Train' by Summer Camp by seaninsound

18 - Ramadanman - Ramadanman

"There’s often a bracing austerity and sparseness to Ramadanman’s music. Here, that’s accentuated by the woody tones he uses, as well as the absence of bass. There’s also so much going on in these tracks, so much painstakingly executed work, that it’s easy to get lost in the detail. I have to almost think myself out of thinking when I hear this record; to consciously abandon all the cerebral stuff and let these supremely funky virtual drum-circles wash through me. Right now, Ramadanman is quietly becoming a master at work." - (FACT - http://tinyurl.com/22rmqz6 )

19 - Games - That We Can Play

"Tackling a decade’s worth of music is a huge task, but Lopatin and Ford, having spent a large portion of their youth as friends jamming on synths and wigging out to prog-anything, have no trouble in locking down references sonically and stylistically. Everything is present and correct: rubber basslines, sawtooth strings, keytar wailings, arpeggiators, FM flutes, crystal pads, power drums, the lot. However, what makes the results more than mere referencing, and what gives That We Can Play its character, is the way the songs are all slightly unfamiliar...The results are referential, but never reverential, and quite explorative, everything being bent and shaped and snapped subtly. ‘Strawberry Skies’, for instance, is their contribution to history’s vocal pop canon, featuring Laurel Halo’s dreamy singing over synth panpipes and marimbas, a bouncing boogie bass and stomping disco drums underpinning it all. The song is solidly constructed, but the vocal is saturated with reverb throughout, reminiscent of OPN’s cloud-like textures, pointing the song in an unexpected direction." - (FACT - http://tinyurl.com/23re6e5 )

Games [ft. Laurel Halo]: Strawberry Skies by alteredzones

20 - Forest Swords - Dagger Paths

"Forest Swords is one man, The Wirral’s Matt Barnes. With his dubwise predilection for gauzy textures and sensual fuzzy gasps, Burial and Fennesz are immediate reference points, but the more you live with the record, the more a distinctive, brutally minimalist aesthetic comes to the fore. The way Barnes arranges his sounds and rolls out his beats betrays his love of jagged R&B and hip-hop, but that pop sensibility is distended by his penchant for distant, anguished vocals, punishing drones and martial percussion sourced from the devil’s own dancehall." - (FACT - http://www.factmag.com/2010/11/30/40-best-albums-of-2010-40-31/4/)

Miarches by Forest Swords

top Irish EPs of 2010

2010-12-18T19:23:00.020Z

Edit: the Angkorwat EP is free to download, Bandcamp are confusing me with their DL limits

1 - Angkorwat - Early EP

Strictly speaking, all of this material was released before 2010 as far as I know. But the collection of all Angkorwat's off-kilter lo-fi pop experiments on one free-to-download EP provided yet another reason to love Bandcamp. 'My Three Beautiful Children' is the purest example of her craft, the central music box-like melody playing off her vocals to create an intangible sense of magic, but elsewhere the woozily hypnotic hooks of 'Gatecrasher' or 'Kidgloves' marked her out as a kindred spirit of sorts to Nite Jewel, although even that comparison doesn't do justice to how unique this all sounds. With brand new material imminent, it's going to be fascinating to see where she takes things from here.

2 - School Tour - Yes Way

Utterly bewitching sounds from Gerard Duffy (also a member of Children Under Hoof and Patrick Kelleher's Cold Dead Hands). Minimal, quietly entrancing electronic drones that quiver and subtly change shape. 'You Killed Me (Arpeggio Version)' recalls the strangely-haunting music box-melodies of Radiohead's 'Kid A', while 'Ylimaf Sdnas'' backward tape loops are hypnotic despite its brief running time.

3 - Logikparty - High Risk Narcissist

With their abrasive, No Wave-influenced sound, Logikparty are one of the finest live bands in the country. They're also no slouches on the recording front, with High Risk Narcissist being the follow-up to the excellent 'Good Hood/Iodine' 7" from earlier in the year. 'The Number A' and 'Dead Machines' are characterised by caustic, white-hot guitar lines, pummelling drums and shrill, belligerent vocals. 'Japanese Flag' on the other hand grooves instead of pummelling: it's driven by an irresistible, elastic bassline, sporadically punctured by shards of piercing guitar. (State)

4 - Children Under Hoof - A Collar Can Become A Noose

A supergroup of sorts, but as self-effacing as they come, Children Under Hoof have a loose, experimental approach to their craft. The tracks on A Collar Can Become A Noose share a certain witching-hour vibe, but are quite varied at the same time: there's the title-track with its scratchy, wire-scrub guitars, krautrock groove and sax blasts; the shadowy electronics of 'Ted Maul Tango'; the ambient spoken-word piece 'Entropy'; and the slowly undulating sine waves of 'Repeat Brake', which is similar to Gerard Duffy's School Tour material.

5 - Laura Sheeran - Music For The Deep Woods

Supremely creepy and atmospheric, there's shades of 'The Carny'-mode Nick Cave or the eerie, supernaturally-tinged sounds of Grouper or Fever Ray on Music For The Deep Woods. An uneasy sense of dread and menace pervades tracks like 'Lupine Rot' and 'Suspension Belt', bowed saw and warped-sounding electronics creating a haunting, impressionistic sound, with all manner of unnerving background sound effects.

Lupine Rot by Laura Sheeran

6 - Hunter-Gatherer - Fingerprint Series

Bending the rules slightly here, this isn't an EP, but a series of tracks given away free throughout the year by the enigmatic and ever-prolific Hunter-Gatherer. If widely-acclaimed 2009 album I Dreamed I Was A Footstep In The Trail Of A Murderer was something of a shadowy mood-piece, the Fingerprint Series saw him experimenting with different forms and tones, from the chiming, airy 'Peace Shrine (Marian Year)' to the menacing digital shimmers of 'Community Alert' and the filmic, dreamy, piano-led vibes of concluding tracks 'Hide and Seek' and 'Show and Tell'. Plenty more to come from this guy, too.

7 - Sacred Animals - Welcome Home

There's a wintry, evocative quality to the Welcome Home EP. Grizzly Bear, Thom Yorke, Bon Iver and Midlake are reference points, but Sacred Animals' sound has its own unique aura. With immaculate attention-to-detail and subtle instrumental flourishes, these songs are superbly crafted: 'Chosen Seed' is a quietly addictive, lingering tune, while the title track features dramatic, swelling strings and hypnotising glockenspiel melodies.

8 - Milan Jay - To The Sea And Swim

"Opening with fuzzy, wall-of-sound guitars and crashing drums, the intro of ‘With The River Flow’ is certainly far from mellow, but it segues neatly into a kaleidoscopic, shimmering slice of off-kilter pop that calls to mind The Beta Band or the Super Furry Animals. The title track follows, a swelling, superbly layered track lent a pastoral touch by strings and piano. ‘Jupiter Falls’ is a hypnotic, supremely chilled tune, its gently pulsing loops producing a floating ambience. ‘We Believe’, meanwhile, previously released as a single, ups the tempo with lively synths and treated, buoyant vocals; towards the end, it verges on being a full-on electronic rave-up." - (State)

9 - Adultrock - Adultrock EP

One of two 'solo-project' EP's released by Super Extra Bonus Party guitarist Gavin Elsted in 2010 (not to mention his wildly successful mash-ups), Adultrock is the electronic alternative to We Are Losers' fuzz-rock. This is pretty faultless stuff, expansive in scope and characterised by pulsing mid-tempo rhythms. The space-themed artwork was a pretty appropriate visual association: there's a sci-fi soundtrack feel to tracks like the excellent 'Adventures Part 2' and 'I Can't Tell You Why', while 'Hermione' lays down a shimmering, chunky-but-mellow groove.

10 - Niamh De Barra - Cusp

Layering her incantation-like vocal loops, cello and shadowy electronics to create ominous-sounding mood-pieces, De Barra shares a number of sonic similarities with Laura Sheeran, not least the eerie visual associations this music puts in your mind or the voodoo-like chill that pervades it. Hypnotic, compelling stuff.

11 - Visionair - Autumn/A Vision

Recently the subject of some glowing write-ups by Altered Zones and XLR8R, Richie Egan and Niall Byrne of The Redneck Manifesto dropped two EPs in quick succession that were characterised by sleek edges, robotic Kraftwerk-like grooves, and vintage synth tones. This music may be looking back - with shades of Tangerine Dream and Can - but only in order to push forward. 'HYPNOM', from the second EP A Vision, is a particular standout, climaxing in a flurry of flickering synths and a New Order-like central hook.

03 HYPNOM by VisionAir

12 - The Gorgeous Colours - The Creatures Down Below

Varied and absorbing, The Creatures Down Below begins with the title track, a deceptive little number with all manner of off-kilter harmonies, hooks and backing vocals that play off each other. It's intricate stuff, calling to mind the vintage pop-craft of the Super Furry Animals among others. Elsewhere there's 'Animal', an enchanting folk number with warm harmonies reminiscent of Fleet Foxes, as well as the galloping rhythms of the sweeping, skiffle-tinged 'No Man's Land'.

13 - Solar Bears - Inner Sunshine

Kaleidoscopic, cinematic synthscapes that were in much the same vein as the full-length She Was Coloured In (which Inner Sunshine preceded), there's also perhaps a heavier post-rock influence at play on the tracks 'Photo Negative Living' and 'Kill On'. Letherette and Lone provided some nifty re-interpretations of 'Crystalline' and 'Twin Stars' respectively, with the latter having more than a touch of 808 State's 'Pacific State' about it.

Crystaline (Leatherette remix) - Solar Bears by fresh_air

14 - The Holy Roman Army - Desecrations

A covers EP, Desecrations sees the brother-and-sister duo bring their dreamy, textured sound to bear on songs by Pavement, Bon Iver and more. Two tracks in particular stand out: 'Wave Of Mutilation' replaces the kinetic energy of the original with a delightfully gliding arrangement, while a spine-tingling take on Rollerskate Skinny's classic 'Speed To My Side' unearths hidden reserves of melancholy.

15 - My Pilot - Spiders

Ranging from the infectious shuffle of 'Self-Medication Blues' to the mellow, Americana-tinged 'Paddy Sez' (with harmonious vocals reiniscent of Iron & Wine's Sam Beam) and the beguiling melancholy of closing track 'Spiders', this was a delightful EP from the Dublin four-piece.

Honourable Mentions

I wanted to leave this at a neat 15, if 15 is neat (is it?), but the following shouldn't go without mention:

The Ambience Affair - Patterns

We Are Losers - We Are Losers

O Emperor - Reverie