Gemma Hayes – Hanging Around
Continuing our series of underrated Irish music since 1960, reader Ben Madigan advocates for indie queen Gemma Hayes (top) from Ballyporeen, County Tipperary.
Hanging Around is a single from her debut album Night On My Side, released in 2002 by French indie label Source. The video was directed by John ‘The Proposition‘ Hillcoat.
Now living in West Cork, Gemma is working on a new album due for release next year.
Nick says: The best Hayes of our lives.
Dave Thomas O’Gorman – Save Me From Satellites (Say You Will)
Cities that never sleep.
The new video by Paris-born, Dublin singer/songwriter Dave Thomas O’Gorman (top) features footage of some of the world’s busiest metropolises.
Dave studied music in Trinity College and is a former winner of the all-Ireland Slogagh music competition. His album is called Square Revolution.
Nick says: Satellite towns.
The Screaming Orphans – Song We Used To Sing
Happy Christmas from the Diver sisters (top) of Bundoran [County Donegal].
Joan, Grainne, Angela and Marie Therese have teamed up with ace songwriter John Spillane for this poignant stroll down memory lane.
The video features old photos and videos submitted by the band’s fans and friends reflecting on memories of time spent together.
The single is available from December 11. A llive stream concert on the band’s Facebook page takes place on Saturday.
Nick says: The stars of the county Donegal.
Hudson Taylor – How I Know It’s Christmas
They’re the kings of the castle.
That’s Kilkenny Castle where the singing siblings Harry and Alfie performed their sprightly Christmas single with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and a host of local choirs.
Broadcast last year on Christmas Eve, the live version features alongside the original studio version and a sparse piano version recorded during lockdown on their new 3-track single.
Fun fact: How I Know It’s Christmas was the most Shazamed song in Ireland on Christmas day last year.
Nick says: Taylor made.
The Raines – Bare Feet On Grass
Here comes The Raines again.
The Americana/folk trio formed after meeting on the Aran island of Inis Oirr and recorded this uplifting song in the Black Gate in Galway.
It has reached No.1 on the iTunes Singer Songwriter chart.
The band are:Juliana Erkkonen (vocals and fiddle), Ruth Dillon (vocals, guitar and ukelele) and Yvonne Tiernan (vocals, banjolele).
The Raines write:
“Written on a gloriously sunny morning during lockdown while swaying barefoot on a hammock in Connemara, this song focuses on some of the brighter moments that we spent with our respective families, and the beauty we experienced in the world around them. It offers a glimpse of optimism and hope in the continuing uncertainty throughout Ireland.”
Nick says: The grass is singing.
The Would Be’s – I’m Hardly Ever Wrong
Continuing our series of underrated Irish music since 1960, the spotlight turns on The Would Be’s from Kingscourt, County Cavan, helmed by the Finnegan brothers, Mattie, Paul and Eamonn.
I’m Hardly Ever Wrong is their brilliant debut single from 1990 with lead vocals by Julie McDonnell.
Favourites of the late John Peel and Morrissey, they went on to record a few EPs with new singer Eileen Gogan before splitting up.
The original line-up reformed in 2012 and released the album Beautiful Mess in 2013.
Nick says: Finnegans wake.
Kodaline – This Must Be Christmas
What a brilliant video.
To cheer us up in these straitened times, Kodaline have conjured a charming and sweet tale of an unemployed elf to go with their new Christmas single, which can be found on the deluxe reissue of their album One Day At A Time.
Director Lee Holmes said:
“The track is essentially about drowning your sorrows in a pub at Christmas and I loved how the band had put their own stamp on the traditional Christmas song.
“So for the video I wanted to create that Christmas feel but with a twist, playing on the idea that Santa’s elves are like seasonal workers who live among normal people during the year, until Christmas comes. And in these uncertain times it makes sense that their job security is in the balance, just like the rest of us.
“Kodaline have such a great track record for music videos so it was a privilege to get to work with them and create a video for their alternative Christmas vision.”
Nick says: Tinseltown in the reindeer.
In Motion – In Daylight
Continuing our series of underrated Irish music since 1960, reader Lovely Hurling bigs up 1990s Dublin shoegazing supremos In Motion, who were led by ace tunesmith Alan Kelly (vocals and guitar), Alan O’Boyle (guitar), Liam Ryan (drums) and John Duff (bass).
Their magnum opus was The Language Of Everyday Life, released on the Dead Elvis label in 1994. Kelly then went on to make two more pure gold masterpieces as The Last Post. Belfast label Bright Star Recordings released Love Lost and Dry Land. The ultimate underrated Irish songwriter?
Lovely Hurling writes:
“This is the epitome of floppy fringed, jangly, shoegazing that was me in the early ’90s. Now the fringe is long gone, there are only rattles instead of jangles and I can’t see my shoes anymore. Their album The Language of Everyday Life is a forgotten gem.”
Nick says: I second that In Motion.
Shiv – Letting You Know
We’ll always have Paris.
Zimbabwe-born, Kildare-raised singer Shiv (top) excites with this lush neo-soul ballad from her debut EP Me 2 Me, out on December 4.
The video was shot in the French capital by Santiago Sanchez and directed by Shiv.
Shiv says:
“It’s about the moment I finally realised that holding onto whatever was inside me wasn’t helping, that in releasing my deepest self and being comfortable with what that meant, I could finally let go of the fear that had embedded itself in my relationship with myself and my creative process.”
Nick says: A torch singer in The City of Light.
Auto Da Fé – November, November
Continuing our series of underrated Irish music since 1960, reader Lovely Hurling sounds the fanfare for 1980s New Wave acolytes Auto Da Fé, who formed in Holland and were led by former Steeleye Span singer Gay Woods and keyboardist Trevor Knight.
November, November was their debut single released in 1982 and produced by one Phil Lynott.
Lovely Hurling writes:
“Not alone does Gay Woods have one of the sweetest voices ever committed to vinyl, I think they have one of the coolest Irish band names.”
Nick says: Auto Da Fé for the people.
