Tag Archives: new Irish music

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WIFE – new single and EP from ex-Altar of Plagues man

What you may need to know…

01. James Kelly, formerly of atmospheric black metallers Altar of Plagues, continues his solo electronica journey as WIFE.

02. Following the band’s disbandment, WIFE emerged as a complete break from Kelly’s previous associations and body of work, with Pitchfork premiering debut single Bodies in late 2012. A debut album, What’s Between, followed on Tri-Angle Records, American touring, and LADBible immortality came soon after.

03. In case you missed it elsewhere earlier this week, streaming above is the video for Glass Interruption, the lead-off for upcoming EP Standard Nature, releasing on September 23rd via Profound Lore.

04. Pending more announcements on this side of the pond, Kelly’s next excursion will be a string of live dates Stateside with Animal Collective.

Verdict: Tense, challenging electronica that both keeps you in its atmosphere and in suspense.

WIFE

Pic: Pedro Roque

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Chris Power – Cork beatsmith returns with WhytFaux: The Conman & Slim

What you may need to know…

01. Amid an already stupidly-decent few weeks for Irish hip-hop comes another quality drop, this time from Cork beat-maker, previous column featuree and chicken roll aficionado Chris Power.

02. As mentioned previously, Power’s been a busy man, working with much-fancied MC Atari Jones, and hip-hop royalty in Illa J (J Dilla’s brother), with another flurry of new material due later this year.

03. Streaming above is WhytFaux: The Conman & Slim, a brand-new tape of instrumentals laden with smooth sampling and boom-bap goodness. Cover image  (top) by Shane O’Donovan features the entrance to Castlepalooza (Charleville Castle, Tullamore, Co Offaly),

04. This is also the debut release from the newly-formed label arm of Cork’s Cuttin’ Heads Collective, a multiple-headed beast of DJs, producers, promoters and other such folk that have banded together to advance the cause of beats in Leeside society.

Verdict: Innovative, yet instantly accessible sample-play and well-placed skits abound. Serious business.

Chris Power

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St. Marge, Recomposing from CUR on Vimeo.

CUR – DIY math/metal/hardcore from Dublin

What you may need to know…

01. Weighty yet atmospheric post-metal from Facing man Ro Conlan‘s new project CUR.

02. An one-man, do-it-yourself enterprise, the project’s debut extended-play, Fossil Feud, was self-released late last week.

03. Streaming above is the official visual/promo for lead-off track St. Marge, Recomposing.

04. In finest independent-music tradition, Conlan is pursuing a new business model beginning with this release. Listeners can grab the EP for free or donations, or subscribe to CUR and receive new music and other ephemera as and when it comes into being, in addition to discounts off future physical releases, should you so desire.

Verdict: Taut, considered and thoughtful, while sacrificing nothing in heft.

CUR

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Anna’s Anchor – new single Hampton and album

What you may need to know…

01. Limerick singer-songwriter Marty Ryan lives and works on the road under the nom-de-guerre Anna’s Anchor.

02. Never short on ambition, the indie/emo-influenced troubadour has self-released singles, EPs and a zine; travelled to each of the islands off our coasts and written/released a song about each; and in the process of shooting the massive album artwork for new album Nautical Miles (available for pre-order here), wound up catching pneumonia.

03. Streaming above is the video for the album’s lead-off single, Signal Tower. Filmed while on tour around Ireland, it takes in 200 locations and over 1300 road-miles. Also above, brand-new single Hampton, available for free download.

04. Playing this Sunday at the Nvr Mnt Records BBQ in Greystones, you can catch him throughout August in Belfast, Tralee and Cork.

Verdict: Honest in his endeavours, and earnest in his creations, without being either overwrought or cliched. A journey worth taking in, stories worth sitting down for.

Anna’s Anchor

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Spekulativ Fiktion – new tunes on the way

What you may need to know…

01. At last, an excuse to talk about Corkman Sean Murphy, a.k.a. rapper and beatsmith Spekulativ Fiktion.

02. Emerging earlier in the decade with scattered live appearances and periodic single releases, Spekulativ Fiktion arrived seemingly fully-formed with 2013’s Deathly Words, a gritty, incisive extended-play that touched on external themes & internal monologues. This was followed in 2014 by Slave Labour, a transcendent piece of collaboration with Limrock beat god Deviant & Naive Ted.

03. Streaming above is a live cut from office fave Alan Newman‘s Boss Level Series, with Spek and Switch X spitting over one of Newman’s own (saucy!) beats. FIlmed in Cork City’s White Street car park, a local graffiti hall-of-fame.

04. Himself and Switch are starting a new group off the back of this collaboration, and guest appearances are due soon on upcoming records for Sligo’s This Side Up and beatmaker Mankyy.

Verdict: With a prophet’s eye, and a most writerly verbal prowess beneath his Cork-accented flow, Spekulativ Fiktion is one of Irish hip-hop’s cornerstones.

Spekulativ Fiktion

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Ash – Power-pop trio to receive Oh Yeah Legend Award

What you may need to know…

01. The tight-knit Northern scene continues to honour its trailblazers and forebears with the Oh Yeah Legend award, previously bestowed upon The Undertones, The Divine Comedy, Therapy? and Terri Hooley. This year, it’s the turn of Oh Yeah Music Centre namesakes Ash.

02. Potted story to save time: teenage Iron Maiden tribute band start playing power-pop in the venerated Northern tradition, fetch local management attention, rocket straight to the top after their GCSEs off the back of a genius string of three-minute bijoux; burn out and still make a low-key gem of a difficult second album; return to form and conquers the world; do effectively whatever they please thereafter, including a series of alphabetically-labelled 7″ singles released fortnightly for a year, and setting up a studio in New York.

03. Like there’s anyone left in the country that needs any further info on Oh Yeah (streaming above), or any other of that immortal run of singles in the mid-Nineties-to-early-noughties.

04. The band will be honoured by the music centre named for their globe-straddling single, at a special ceremony before they perform their album 1977 (from start to finish) for its twentieth anniversary, at the Mandela Hall in Belfast on November the 11th. Tickets on sale now.

Verdict: Well-earned.

Ash

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Same D4ence – new EP released this morning

What you may need to know…

01. Recent featurees in this column, the trio of Size, Hazey and MC B more than merit repeated mention.

02. Following the release of the video for A Beauty Named Shannon, as well as an acapella appearance at The Hip Neck Blues Collective‘s farewell show, the trio release their second EP, Exclamation Marks!, via Limerick hip-hop cornerstone The Unscene.

03. Stream (and download) the EP in its entirety in the widget above. Production from one-man duo Deviant & Naive Ted, and guest appearances from members of trad iconoclasts Lynched and beatmaker Mankyy.

04. A compelling bonus take from the shoot for the Beauty video, a freestyle filmed in an old handball court and making the most of the acoustics there, can be found at the band’s Facebook.

Verdict: A singular, focused slab of eloquent, yet distinctively Limerick-accented hip-hop, that raises the bar that little bit higher.

Same D4ence

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WRY MYRRH – appearing from the ether shortly

What you may need to know…

01. Comprised of composer/GASH Collective organiser Ellen King, and composer/Crevice member Irene Buckley, WRY MYRRH offers a sparse take on improv electronics, with sinister, brooding drone and noise inflections.

02. Debuting in January of this year at Cork’s Community Print Shop, the duo have since shared a stage with Sophie Cooper and the Tor Invocation Band.

03. Streaming above is TWO, one of two pieces currently uploaded to the project’s Soundcloud. Stay with it to the end.

04. Making an infrequent appearance at MMOTHS’ upcoming Cork date at the Triskel on the 30th, alongside Underling.

VERDICT: As exploratory as it is unsettling, WRY MYRRH’s minimalist improv is likely another experience again when immersed in it in a live situation.

WRY MYRRH

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Axecatcher – new EP and upcoming shows

What you may need to know…

01. Metallic hardcore is the order of the day from Derry four-piece Axecatcher.

02. Intriguing genre nerds in 2012 with debut single The Odalisque, the band have kept fairly prolific, releasing EPs in 2013 and 2014, while supporting bands like KENMode and Rotting Out has kept their profile up.

03. Streaming above in its entirety is third EP Common Blood, self-released on the band’s Bandcamp last week. Coming soon to other platforms.

04. One can safely assume that a new EP means gigs to be announced in short order. Stay tuned to their social media for more.

Verdict: Nothing fancy and no polish, just a big, focused, fupp-off racket. Sound.

Axecatcher

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TALOS – New single and upcoming dates

What you may need to know…

01. Since the last time we checked in on Eoin French and collaborators, Talos have finally announced an upcoming extended-play, O Sanctum.

02. Recent live outings have included the Mitchelstown caves, as part of Clonmel Junction festival, as pictured above in a stunning shot by Christian Tierney.

03. Streaming in the link above is the video for slightly more blissed-out new-single Your Love Is an Island. Prepare for feels. Video directed, edited and graded by the mighty Feel Good Lost.

04. He plays Dublin tomorrow night at Dlight Studios; Wednesday night at DeBarra’s in Clonakilty; and Kilkenny Thursday night at St. John’s Priory.

Verdict: Evocative, without getting overwrought and earnest. It is getting increasingly difficult to see how French and co. aren’t going to be massive at some point in the near future.

TALOS