Maria Kelly – The Sum Of The In-Between

For alt.folk’s sake.

Irish singer/songwriter Maria Kelly (top) journeys inwards on the title track of her debut album, released on VETA Records on October 15.

Maria writes:

“The sum of the in-between’ is a long list, laying out every messy, chaotic, complicated thing about me. It’s about giving myself permission to look directly at this current version of myself without criticising everything I find.

“For me, that’s what this album is about – permission. Permission to face myself, permission to feel it all, permission to get the help I deserve – no matter how uncomfortable or painful that might be.

“Who I was, who I’ll be, I’m ‘the sum of the in-between’; I guess I’m saying that the current me matters more than this rose-tinted version from my past, or this ideal version that I long to be. So, maybe it’s just time I gave her a break.”

Maria plays The Workman’s Club, Dublin, on November 12.

Nick says: Maria’s the name…

Maria Kelly

Three Underneath – Sun May Glow

“The sun may glow one more time for you.”

Irish neo-grunge enthusiasts Three Underneath (top) evoke happy memories of Nirvana and Soundgarden on the new single from their self-titled debut album, due October 15.

Singer and video director Daragh Murray writes:

“This album is our calling card. It’s our real debut. It had to be self-titled, because it shows all facets of where we’re at right now. The last 18 months have been challenging to say the least and I think this album pretty much chronicles our journey throughout The fear and confinement to the love, hope pragmatism — there’s plenty of heavy, straight-up rock and some quite candid introverted stuff in there!”

Nick says: Solar power.

Three Underneath

Keeley – Never Here Always There

Never forgotten.

Dublin indie pop classicist Keeley (top) pays loving tribute to the memory of Inga Maria Hauser – the teenage German tourist murdered in Northern Ireland in 1988 – with this song from her Brave Warrior EP on Dimple Discs.

The video is edited by David Hodgson and produced by Keeley.

Check out the Keeley Chronicles blog.

Nick says: Inga lives.

Keeley

Davey Long – Last Train To Tupelo

Elvis has re-entered the building.

Davey Long (top) pays homage to the King of Rock’n’Roll on his new single.

The press blurb says:

“Last Train To Tupelo was inspired by Peter Guralnick’s definitive biography of Elvis. The song depicts Elvis on a Mississippi-bound train, headed back to his birthplace. It features a guitar solo and a piano solo and a percussion section.”

Nick says: From Ireland to Graceland.

Davey Long

The Crayon Set – Summer Song (Gui Boratto remix)

The last days of disco.

Homegrown electro-pop enthusiasts The Crayon Set celebrate the release of their new album Disco Downer on September 24 with this nifty remix of their single Summer Song by ace Brazilian producer Gui Boratto.

It’s a banger!

The band’s Robert Baker writes:

“The album has a happy-sad dynamic going on – we’re always trying to write and record the perfect pop song but lyrically the songs couldn’t help but reflect the increasingly stressed-out, messed-up world we breathe in every day.

“So that’s where the album title came from – the idea of sad bangers, melody with melancholy, downer disco. In terms of the disco thing, it is a bit tongue-in-cheek but we did incorporate more electronic elements and we wanted to get people dancing more.

“With the help of our producer Stephen Shannon, we focused more on mood and groove. Our previous album ‘Lost Languages’ was more folk-rock and acoustic, so it was probably a reaction to that.”

Nick says: Baker’s treat.

The Crayon Set

Robert Power – Face In The Crowd

Move over, Frank Sidebottom, there’s a new papier-mache face in town.

Robert Power presents his charming new video with the charismatic Arudhra Krishnaswamy dancing in the sunlight around Dublin city. It was directed by Robert and Electra Grant.

Originally from Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary, but now based in Dublin, Robert is a man of many talents.

The press blurb says:

“Having also trained at The Gaiety School Of Acting and gone on to work professionally as an actor, writer, producer, director and voiceover artist, Robert’s critically acclaimed play, A Story Of Destiny, directed by Olivier Award Winner Donnacadh O’Briain, will showcase alongside some of the best of international theatre at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

“Currently he is in development with various projects including a brand new arts programme (Radio Robert) and several scripts, while he also continues the process of recording and performing his original songs and music, live, in beautiful and interesting venues, with exciting new ensembles of different players from around Ireland.”

So a bit of a slacker is our Robert!

Nick says: Power to the people.

Robert Power

The Cranberries – Never Grow Old

This morning.

Just ‘dropped’.

Celebrating what would have been Dolores O’Riordan’s 50th birthday.

The band wrote on Facebook:

“In order to celebrate all that she inspired and the joy that she has given on her 50th Birthday, her bandmates, friends and family, have pulled together a brand new playlist called ‘Remembering Dolores’ which is available now on all streaming platforms.”

The Cranberries

Cat Dowling – Freedom

If you go down to the beach today…

Kilkenny-born, Dublin-based songsmith Cat Dowling spoils us with yet another cracking alt.rock tune that brings to mind the halcyon days of PJ Harvey. It’s her first single since signing to cult label Forever In Financial Arrears (FIFA).

Cat says:

“Sometimes we think big. Sometimes we think small. Sometimes we think with all we have got. When we have limited access to other humans, the humans closest to us are the most important humans of all.

“This video was filmed on a bitingly-cold December afternoon when light was sparse, winds howled and the skies randomly opened. We managed to find the sun, fell in love with the wind and forgot about the camera. It was mainly filmed on Donabate beach and Dollymount Strand in Dublin. Freedom is best explained and expressed in childhood when there are no limitations, everything is possible and we are free to be truly ourselves.”

Nick says: Cat power.

Cat Dowling

Paul Callan – The Chesty Crow

This bird has flown.

Lo-fi Louth-based songsmith Paul Callan continues his ambitious monthly musical journey with a spell-binding strum that evokes memories of early Elliott Smith.

Paul writes:

“This year I will release one song per month. All songs are produced by myself in (or around) my one-room cabin buried deep in the woods of Ireland’s North East . This will then be compiled, along with some other songs, into an album which will be released when the year is over.”

The previous months’ entries are all available at his bandcamp page.

Nick says: Fly me to the tune.

Paul Callan