Author Archives: Nick Kelly

The votes are in.

Last week, with a blazing €25 Golden Discs voucher on offer, I asked you to name your favourite song about summer or sunshine.

You answered in your tens.

But there could be only one winner.

Third Place:

Celebrated Summer by Mark Kozelek

Specific Gravity writes:

A sublime cover of a wonderfully evocative summer song!

Runner up:

Summer In Dublin by Bagatelle

Celticon writes:

I’ll always love Summer In Dublin. It’s been a comfort song since I left the country in ‘98.

Winner:

July by Mundy

Morgen Scheißekopf writes:

Irish Summer encapsulated in less than 5 minutes. No need to say anything else.

Thanks all.

Last week: Win Nick’s Voucher

Golden Discs

Soda Blonde – June

It’s not easy for bands to keep their creative juices flowing while sheltering in place.

But Soda Blonde have shown us just how. Faye O’Rourke and friends hurdle over the logistical problems to produce a bittersweet hymn to resilience during lockdown.

The 4-song EP ‘isolation – content’ (top) is now available on bandcamp.

Nick says: Faye of hope.

Soda Blonde

Shona Blake – Daughter

O mama.

Clare singer/songwriter Shona Blake (top) is a bit special.

This ode to her daughter has the depth and feel of Tim Buckley and Shona’s voice is as pure and true as Judy Collins.

Paul McCabe adds sensitive guitar.

The video is the perfect fit too.

More please.

Nick says: Blake’s heaven.

Shona Blake

Swedish Railway Orchestra – The Freaks Come Out At Night

Here comes the train again.

DJ Rob Smith returns with a floor-stomper from his self-titled third album, due on July 29.

Rob is donating 100% of the profits from the vinyl version of the album to our country’s frontline healthcare workers. Available via the band’s website (at link below).

Nick says: Rail rail gone.

Swedish Railway Orchestra

Owen Denvir – This Could Be Love

Even better than the rail thing.

Belfast singer/songwriter Owen Denvir (top) takes us on a high-speed train journey for his new lyric video.

Taken from his new Stones EP (released May 29), Owen recorded all the parts himself in his home studio during lockdown.

Nick says: Love on the tracks.

Owen Denvir

Earlier: A New Age of The Train

A blessed sunny day. Rejoice!

Let’s celebrate by giving away a shining €25 Golden Discs voucher. Simply tell me your favourite song about summer or sunshine.

Here’s mine.

The winner will be chosen by my parrot.

Lines close at 6am (Saturday)!

Please include video links if possible.

Nick says: Good luck.

Golden Discs

Earlier: It Takes Two

The Winter Passing – Resist

Now this should put a smile on your face.

Tipperary indie contenders The Winter Passing have shown how to shoot a compelling video in isolation for their new single Resist.

Great walls of jangly guitars and Kate Flynn’s vocals combine to great effect, with echoes of The Sundays and Best Coast.

The album New Ways Of Living is out on July 3.

Nick says: Here comes the summer.

The Winter Passing

The votes are in

Last week, with a €25 Golden Discs voucher waiting in quarantine, I asked you to name your favourite duet.

It was very hard to choose a winner this week as there were so many great entries. It could easily have been any number of posts that won it. So here goes…

Third Place:

The Irish Rover by The Pogues & The Dubliners

Mart Cattle writes:

Specifically this performance, I mean what genius thought up this idea? Presume the Pogues’ manager? Anyone?

Runner-up:

Where The Wild Roses Go by Nick Cave & Kylie Minogue

Niall writes:

Beauty & the Beast set to music, 2 beautiful people with beautiful voices.
Inspired by the Appalachian murder ballad “Down in the Willow Garden”.
Incidentally the first public performance of this song took place in Cork in 1995.

Winner:

Something Stupid by Frank & Nancy Sinatra.

Andrew writes:

Dedicated to all the BS commenters. ;)

Thanks all.

Look out for a fresh Voucher giveaway later today.

Golden Discs

Last week: Win Nick’s Voucher

Larissa Tormey – Live Another Day

Larissa Tormey (top) is an Irish-Russian singer/songwriter, based in County Westmeath.

Conveyed in a video (above), created by Maxim Isakov, is Larissa’s response to a series of health scares that befell her and her family this year.

She says:

“This song was born in 10 minutes, as my little whispery chat to God and I am sure that many people will emotionally connect.”

Larissa is donating all the proceeds of this song to The Irish Music Industry’s COVID-19 Emerengency Relief Fund.

Nick says: Life-affirming.

Download here