Seamus Fogarty – Johnny K
What’s a musician to do in lockdown?
Play with himself!
Mayo-born, London-based tunesmith Seamus Fogarty (top) filmed himself playing a song from last year’s album A Bag Of Eyes using the miracle of split-screen technology.
The result? A 5-man band of Seamus Fogartys.
Nick says: Famous five.
David Donohue – The Barren Winter
You may remember that we concluded our You May Remember This series on underrated Irish artists last year with Carlow-born songsmith David Donohue.
Now David has released a retrospective of his work with The Floors on bandcamp called Six Long Years (top). It includes cult classics like Jesus Lived Six Years Longer Than Kurt Cobain and Love Song To My Guru and includes collaborations with the likes of Sonic Youth‘s Lee Ranaldo and Katell Keineg.
So it gives us the perfect opportunity to feature his beautifully written and sung The Barren Winter (above) with accompaniment by David Ayers and a nicely shot video by Amelia Caulfield.
Nick says: More please!
Breeda Murphy – Second Best
Cork singer/songwriter Breeda Murphy has an important message to anyone doubting themselves in these times: don’t feel like you’re second best.
Her new single wears its Jamaican influence on its sleeve. Producer Kenny Dread “pulls out the stops with old school B3 bubbles, skank guitar, and an African style Rhodes piano line”.
Nick says: Murphy’s lure.
Jim McHugh – Dave
Dave is a four-letter word.
Monaghan singer/songwriter Jim McHugh‘s New Wave stylings call to mind the likes of XTC and even Richard Thompson.
Dave is the new single from his album Pretending To Wake Up, which is out on May 28 and features Paul McCabe (bass), Paul Sherry (Electric Guitar) and Butch McNeill (Drums).
Jim (top) writes:
“In an original story of misspent youth, Dave unveils my interactions with a friend who was known for being on the wrong side of the law on numerous occasions.”
Nick says: The name of the game.
John Buckley McQuaid – Girls Who Lived In Hell
Come gather round, people, wherever you roam.
For Dublin-born, Denmark-based singer/songwriter John Buckley McQuaid has a few things he’d like to say about Irish ways and Irish laws. You can hear them on his new album This Is Where I Keep My Dreams (featuring a schoolboy John, top), which is out on Monday.
The lead single, Girls Who Lived In Hell, is a coruscating critique of the cruelty and sadism of the Magdalene Laundries and the society which spawned them.
John writes:
“The song is inspired by Steve Humphries’ documentary, “Sex In A Cold Climate“. The very idea of a young girl being consigned to a Magdalene Laundry for stealing an apple from a convent tree is so outrageously unfair and unjust – the tip of a veritable iceberg of abuse and degradation.
“So many tragedies have been concealed by complicity, complacency and corruption on a personal and public level. “Girls Who Lived In Hell” makes visible on a visceral level, what the Catholic Church (no admission or apologies as yet forthcoming) and the Irish State (apologies notwithstanding) and certain people, not only wish to forget but to keep forever hidden.
“The last Magdalene Laundry closed in 1996. The Irish Government as a matter of some urgency, passed the “Mother & Baby Homes Bill” in 2020, sealing these archives for 30 years. Nothing ever changes in a land of polished haloes.”
Nick says: The Protest Song is alive and well.
David Long & Shane O’Neill – Earth Moves
Flat Earthers, avert your gaze!
There’s a whole lot of NASA goin’ on in the new video by former Into Paradise singer David Long and former Blue In Heaven and Blue Angels singer Shane O’Neill.
The duo have been friends since they were knee-high to a Telecaster growing up in the Dublin suburb of Churchtown.
Long is now based in Kerry but the pair worked on their new album Moll & Zeis (top) remotely.
The album is available to buy on bandcamp.
Nick says: There’s a starman waiting in the CGI.
Sam Wickens – Murky Waters
Grey is the colour.
Sam Wickens delivers another soulful and atmospheric performance on his new single Murky Waters from his new 5-song Watson EP released today.
Filmed under a particularly ominous Irish sky, the textured monochrome video was made by DanDanDann productions.
Sam writes:
“Murky Waters is the realisation that I was raised and put through terrible circumstances. Constantly feeling alone through every obstacle that was placed in front of me.
Traumatic events seemed to follow me no matter where I ran, I started to believe that I was some sort of gatekeeper, that my purpose was to absorb the terrible things so others didn’t need too.”
The Bangor songwriter is due to play The Workman’s Club, Dublin on April 1. Fingers crossed.
Nick says: Play it, Sam.
Paddy Goodwin & The Holy Ghosts – Harvey
There aren’t nearly enough rabbits in rock’n’roll.
Step forward Paddy Goodwin (alumnus of the Trouble Pilgrims), top, who has a lot of fun with James Stewart‘s imaginary furry friend and pulls together some classic old movie footage to boot.
Nick says: What’s so bunny about peas, lettuce and understanding?
Francie Conway featuring Christy Dignam and Finbar Furey – Somewhere In Heaven
I’m gonna try for The Kingdom.
Kerry singer/songwriter Francie Conway (top right) has assembled a band of all the talents to play on his new album Hidden Gems on Satellite Records.
Members of The Zombies, Pink Floyd and Moving Hearts have all pitched in, while the impassioned single featured above boasts Aslan’s Christy (top left) on vocals and The Fureys’ Finbar on uileann pipes, tin whistle and banjo.
The video was shot in Harry Byrnes by David Ralph.
Since lockdown began last March, Francie has written over 25 songs.
Nick says: Conway ’21 Revisited.
Badhands – Indian Ocean
Water, water everywhere…
Dublin singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dan Fitzpatrick aka Badhands has recorded a concept EP about the world’s oceans for the Berlin-based label Proper Octopus.
Badhands says:
“Each song on this EP represents one of the five oceans, reflecting a personal interpretation of some of their distinct characteristics; but also linking together with overlapping musical themes to form a broader, singular piece.
“The music uses a mix of instrumentation (harmoniums, piano, orchestral strings, drums, synths) to evoke the pulse of the ocean and its many moods, ranging from calm and serene to explosive and powerful.”
Nick says: Not drowning but waving.
