Dream Eyes – Heaven

Eyes on the prize.

Dream Eyes is the nom de plume of Tadhg Collins (top) from Monagea, county Limerick, but now based in Dublin. His shift in sound from acoustic to electronic sounds was born of necessity.

Tadhg writes:

“I was in a motorbike accident and got hit by a car, in 2019. Yeah, it was quite a big change in my life actually. My left arm was paralysed for a year and a half. It’s slowly kinda coming back to life again! I wasn’t able to play acoustic guitar for a long time, so I played synths.”

‘Heaven’ is his fourth single and was co-produced by Kieran Lane.

Nick says: Immortal synths.

Dream Eyes

Davey Long – Flesh And Blood

The city and the country.

The video for the new single from Davey Long’s new album Eitilt presents an intriguing contrast between the hustle and bustle of New York City and the pastoral bliss of a field in the Irish countryside.

The song features a reputable line of musicians playing on the tracks, including Dave Gough on bass, Rob Larkin on keys, Shane O’Dwyer and Eoin Drennan on guitar and James Delahunty on synth and video direction.

Nick says: Sure shot.

Davey Long

Micko Roche & Speckled Doves – Siog (Fagail)

Roche rumble.

Micko Roche (top) is a Waterford-based songwriter, composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who delights in sumptuous ambient electronic grooves.

The new EP, ‘Sióg‘, is a collection of five tracks, which includes four reworks of the EP’s title track.

The concept comes from a piece of music entitled The Dance of the Fairy which Micko composed for a contemporary dance adaptation of a children’s book. Each piece on the EP represents a life stage of the mythical creature.

Micko has collaborated here with ace electro duo Marc and John aka Speckled Doves.

All in all, it’s an exciting new venture from the southeast.

Nick says: Go Micko.

Micko Roche

Devin Reardon – Take Me To The Coast

The other side of Devin.

Though reared on the east coast of Florida, Irish-American songsmith Devin Reardon (top) is now living in Wicklow.

This is a paean to the carefree charms of summer with a splash-tastic video to boot directed by Maurice Supple.

Nick says: Give my love to Devin.

Devin Reardon

Tanoki featuring Tay Edwards – It Has Begun

Innovation once again.

Kilkenny songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and knob-twiddler supreme Paul Mahon (top right) aka Tanoki unveils his latest collaboration with rapper Tay Edwards (top left) as the third single from his forthcoming album File New. The result is a jazz-tronic/hip-hop narrative about the wonders and dangers of technology.

Paul says:

“Technology is beautiful. Stunning. Without it, two artists from across the world never would have made this song. But that same song is also a warning about that power.”

The video was created by Paul with assistance from David O’Reilly.

Nick says: Paul’s sonic boutique.

Tanoki

Tay Edwards

Francie Conway – Peace, Love & Rock & Roll

What’s so wrong with peace, love and rock ‘n’ roll?

Absolutely nothing.

Acclaimed Irish rock musician, singer, songwriter Francie Conway (top) is joined by David Richards (producer with Queen and David Bowie among others), Vivienne Boucherat and Chris White (from Rock’n’Roll Hall Of Famers, The Zombies), for this special recording, put ‘down’ at legendary Mountain Studio, Montreux, Switzerland.

Francie discusses the track here.

Nick says: All you need.

Francie Conway

Pete Kavanagh – Mercy

The sins of the fathers…

Pete Kavanagh (top) is a man on a mission. His new single is a powerful blues-driven narrative that is “a testament from an Irish working man in support of the victims and survivors of clerical and state abuse in Ireland, and indeed worldwide.”

Pete says:

“I attended primary school in Ireland in the late 1970s, a school with an obligatory Catholic ethos. I witnessed daily displays of physical and mental abuse. There was also sexual abuse. The Christian brothers, nuns, priests, teachers and community at large, collectively created an environment where this behaviour became the norm.

“By the mid-’90s, I was an angry young man with a guitar. I wrote songs to vent my anger and express my emotions. Music was a healing force, a form of therapy. It was during this period that I heard Christine Buckley (Dear Daughter) recount her horrific experience of life at St. Vincent’s Institutional School in Dublin (Goldenbridge). Her story moved me to tears and it inspired “Mercy”. I feel now is the right time for this song to be heard.”

Look out for his album Join Up The Dots on November 5.

Nick says: Clerical terror.

Pete Kavanagh

Nylophone – It’s Always Hallowe’en

Scary times.

Dreampop acolyte Niall Woods (top) aka Nylophone serves up a tongue-in-cheek horror anthem for the season.

The press release says:

“What a horrific year it’s been. Killer plagues and masks all year round make it seem like it’s always Halloween, and that’s exactly the theme of this release.

“Typically Niall’s output tends to be in the vein of melancholic dreampop, but for this release Niall has made use of a much grittier and kitsch sound palette. Think glam rock meets the Addams Family. Throbbing heavy guitars and wonky honky-tonk pianos blast out creepy chords while horror music staples like the mellotron, church organs and wolf howls make light-hearted appearances throughout.

“The lyrics are full of double-edged phrases that could either describe universal horror themes or be specifically applied to the past year.

“Drums were supplied by Chris Con, (formerly of Leo Drezden) and the song was mixed by Rian Trench (Panic Attacks/ Solar Bears).”

The video comes courtesy of Ignore The Spots.

Nick says: The deep dark Woods.

Nylophone

Rachel Mae Hannon – Closer

Neo-soul asylum.

It’s a vintage ’70s feast for Monaghan-born, Dublin-based pop/soul newcomer Rachel Mae Hannon (top) in the video for this single from her new EP Like It Is.

The press blurb says:

“‘Closer’ is about not being able to have physical contact with people in your life during the pandemic. It is about the longing of getting closer to people, yet the uncertainty of where people’s boundaries now lie.”

The video was directed by Rachel, Barry Kavanagh and Tim Shearwood.

Rachel has also just released another single – Tell Me – from the EP.

Nick says: Neo-soul sister.

Rachel Mae Hannon

Partland – After The Movie

Paradise in the picture house.

Galway-based singer/songwriter Partland aka Thomas McPartland (top) delivers an intense and emotional rock ballad that comes with his own stop-motion animation video.

The press blurb states:

“Borne out of Partland’s musings on the fairy-tale story arc of romantic films, ‘After The Movie’ considers what happens after the couple overcome their struggles and get their happy ending. Once the credits stop rolling, do they stay together?”

Look out for his forthcoming album The Empty Atlantic, which will feature a stop-motion animation film for each song, created by Partland himself.

Nick says: The battle of the sexes in the cineplex.

Partland