Three Underneath – You’ve Been Had

Hands up, nobody moves, nobody gets hurt.

The brilliant new video by Dublin guitar devotees Three Underneath sees the band hold up a bank… but it’s a cinematic thrill ride with a neat twist.

Singer Daragh Murray writes:

“I was writing the lyrics about the music industry. The mental toll of being constantly rejected. But sure, sometimes I read through the lyrics and think they could apply to all sorts of situations. It’s a song of desperation – of being at the end of your rope.”

The song can be found on their eponymous album.

Nick says: Take it to the bank.

Three Underneath

Cathal Coughlan – Owl In The Parlour

A hoot.

The ageless Corkonian contrarian Cathal Coughlan (top) crams a lot into this cryptic puzzle of a song from his new album Song Of Co-Aklan which is out this week on Dimple Discs.

Andy Golding worked his magic with the animation.

Nick says: Owl at the moon.

Cathal Coughlan

Lisa Gerrard & Jules Maxwell – Noyalain (Burn)

The star of the county Down.

One of the greatest voices of this eon, Lisa Gerrard, has teamed up with the touring keyboard player from her band Dead Can Dance – Jules Maxwell from Bangor, County Down – as well as producer James Chapman of Maps to deliver a singular atmospheric soundscape.

The striking video comes courtesy of Polish arthouse film director Jacob Chelkowski.

Look out for the album Burn on the Atlantic Curve label in May.

Maxwell has also just released an instrumental album Nocturnes.

Nick says: Falling for a Dancer.

Lisa Gerrard

Jules Maxwell

Clannad featuring Denise Chaila – In A Lifetime

Collaboration once again.

The stars of the county Donegal, Clannad, revisit their classic duet from 1985 with Bono’s part now sung by recent RTÉ Choice Prize winner Denise Chaila. And it’s every bit as good as you’d hoped it would be.

The picturesque video was shot in Dunlewey Church overlooking Poison Glen in the Gweedore area of Donegal.

Nick says: We came because we heard the harp.

Clannad

Denise Chaila

Paul Quin – Life On Earth

You ain’t heard nothin’ like the mighty Quin.

Electronica pioneer Paul Quin (top) – who was one half of synth-pop duo Biazarre in the late 1980s – wears his heart on his sleeve on the title track of his comeback album, due in October on the Russian label Scent Air Records.

The songs on the album reflect on his life as a valued member of the LGBT community and the homophobia he has endured.

The video was shot in Laragh House, County Kildare, by Philip Kidd.

Nick says: The Quin-ner takes it all.

Paul Quin

Emma Langford – Free To Fall

An adorable pooch is a man’s best friend.

That’s the message from this beautifully made video for the latest single by Limerick nu-folk songsmith Emma Langford (top) from her excellent second album Sowing Acorns.

The promo was written, produced and directed by Laura O’Shea who also stars in it alongside Tony Doyle and Bryony Flatman. Not forgetting Doug the dog.

Hi-fives all round.

Nick says:Who’s a good boy?

Emma Langford

Wyvern Lingo – Rapture

We’ll always have Berlin…

Wyvern Lingo decamped to the German capital to record their second album Awake You Lie. The video for the song Rapture was shot by Aodhagan O’Flaherty and Sierra Graves and features the band – Caoimhe Barry, Karen Crowley and Saoirse Duane – making their way around Berlin.

The trio from Bray, County Wicklow, toured as Hozier’s backing singers and support act and most recently featured on the Women In Harmony cover of The Cranberries’ Dreams.

The band write:

“A recurring image during this album writing process was light, the lack thereof, and wanting to see things more clearly, for ourselves and others. We called the album “Awake You Lie” because it evokes an image of night-time when someone should be sleeping but can’t, due to restlessness or worry. Things are always clearer in the light of day.”

Nick says: Bray of light.

Wyvern Lingo

Kojaque – No Hands

Is it too real for ya?

Cabra rapper Kevin Smith (top) aka Kojaque delivers a raw gut-punch of a single that lays it all on the line.

The self-directed video – starring Oscar Nolan as the kid, Karen Connell as the mother and James Smith as the dad – also hits home hard and leaves us in no doubt we’re dealing with a serious homegrown talent here.

To quote one YouTube commenter:

“The best thing to come out of Dublin since Paul McGrath.”

The good news is there’s an album round the corner.

Nick says: Who loves ya, baby?

Kojaque

The Jonah Medal – Septembering

I’ve got a peaceful easy feeling.

The Jonah Medal is the new project by former La Rocca singer Bjorn Baillie (top).

The Wicklow-born musician recorded it in the legendary Laurel Canyon in the Hollywood hills in LA as well Nick Cave‘s studio in Brighton, UK.

And it has that free-wheeling Crosby, Stills & Nash vibe.

Bjorn writes:

“The song is about being in the middle of the mid-life storm. You’re pulled every which way by the younger who need and rely on you, and the older who need you for a whole other set of reasons.

“I like the word September as a metaphor for middle-age. You’re no longer in your Spring-youth. So being in your 40s is Septembering. The things that have come along in your life, the people who have become part of your family, and define who you are now. The responsibility and weight of those relationships is reflected in this song.”

Nick says: A star is Bjorn again.

The Jonah Medal

Denise Chaila featuring Jafaris – Anseo

Regular, mature readers will know that we feature every genre under the sun – from folk to dance to hip-hop and everything in between – in this column, posting over 250 Irish music videos a year.

A case in point is Zambian-born, Limerick-based rapper Denise Chaila (top), who we proudly championed when she burst onto the scene last year.

Now Denise’s star is about to go into orbit after winning the prestigious RTÉ Choice Prize last week for her album Go Bravely.

The most recent single Anseo features guest vocals from Jafaris with a memorable video shot in Dromoland Castle and directed by Stephen Hall.

Nick says: Go Denise.

Denise Chalia