Lilla Vargen – Blueprints
“I was having visions of us having children. How could I be so dumb?”
Now that’s a killer line.
London-based Ballymena torch singer Lilla Vargen (top) gives Adele a run for her money with this emotionally raw ballad ahead of a tour next year.
A shout-out to the slick lyric video by James Hofbauer too.
Nick says: Love hurts.
Sorcha Richardson – The Starlight Lounge
Get yer skates on.
The new video by cult Dublin songsmith Sorcha Richardson (top) is a skater’s dream.
Co-produced by James Vincent McMorrow, the single is quintessential Sorcha.
She says:
“Sometimes life’s biggest changes occur through a series of very small and intimate moments. This is a song about joining the dots between them, surrendering to the knowledge that something pivotal is happening, and taking a leap of faith when you’re still not sure which way the story is going to go.”
Nick says: Lounge wizard.
James Vincent McMorrow – Gone
A lyric video with innovative, psychedelic visuals?
That’ll be the sleek new single from Dublin alt.pop pioneer James Vincent McMorrow (top).
James embarks on an extensive European tour next Spring.
Nick says: …but not forgotten.
Soda Blonde – Love Me World
It begins with singer Faye O’Rourke ( top second right) cleaning house before transforming into a brilliantly staged epic live performance of both released and unreleased songs.
The band say they have been influenced by Jonathan Demme’s iconic Stop Making Sense (1984) live film and Lila Avilés’ The Chambermaid (2018).
Nick says: Blonde ambition.
Declan O’Rourke – Andy Sells Coke
The songwriter’s songwriter.
That’s Declan O’Rourke (top), who has been eulogised by the great Paul Weller, who produced and plays bass and piano on Declan’s new album, Arrivals, due in February on the eastwest label.
The powerful message of the new single Andy Sells Coke rings loud and clear in this live studio session.
Declan says:
“It’s a forty something’s rude re-awakening to nightlife in the city…”
Nick says: White lines (don’t do it).
Pic: Lawrence Watson
Aine O’Gorman – The Poor Ground
Based in West Cork, singer/songwriter Aine O’Gorman (top) teamed up with co-writer and vocalist Victoria Keating, co-writer Jamie Kelly and multi-instrumentalist and producer Martin Leahy to pay tribute to the souls of the Mother And Baby home in Tuam, County Galway.
Nick says: Very moving.
Scullion – Eyelids Into Snow
Continuing our series of underrated Irish music since 1960, reader Paulus puts his hands together for folk veterans Scullion, who came of age at the 1980 Lisdoonvarna festival.
Eyelids Into Snow is taken from their second album Balance And Control released in 1980 and produced by the late, great John Martyn.
Paulus writes:
“This is the original line-up with the late Greg Boland, Philip King‘s high harmonies and gentleman-troubadour Sonny Condell.”
Nick says: Snow business.
A.S. Fanning – All Time
Love is in the air.
Berlin-based Dublin crooner AS Fanning (top) charms the pants off us with the new single from his second album You Should Go Mad, out later this month on Proper Octopus Records.
Filmmaker Mark Logan of Collective Films has also made a memorable video to complement the song, shot on Super 16.
Mark says:
“When we first heard A.S Fanning’s “All Time” it really struck a chord with us. It set us on a path to truly capture the rawness and beauty with which Fanning crafts each mesmerising note, melody and lyric…The video depicts three parallel stories that occur at different times and different stages of life, but all in magical West Cork, Ireland.
“This film is a response to the timeless nature of Love, which can be felt from this majestic tune.”
Nick says: Timeless.
The Idiots – Pinned
Continuing our series of underrated Irish music since 1960 (unearthed by our recent Golden Discs music competition ), reader Tarfton Clax points us in the direction of 1990s Dublin indie guitar acolytes The Idiots, led by Brian Mooney.
Tarfton writes:
“A lovely ditty about sharing a squat with a heroin-addicted rentboy who overdosed on a number of occasions.”
Brian Mooney’s most recent project is The Next New Low album ‘And As For Loss‘ – a masterpiece.
Nick says: A tale told by The Idiots.
Rebekah Fitch – Dust
Belfast’s answer to Adele?
Introducing 24-year-old Northern Irish alt.pop newcomer Rebekah Fitch (top) who can certainly hit those high notes with real emotional heft.
The affecting video was directed by KAM and stars Derek Halligan and Norma Hughes Ingram as Terry and Ellen.
Nick says: Dust never sleeps.
