Tag Archives: You May Like This

Rollerskate Skinny – Speed To My Side

Continuing our series of underrated Irish music since 1960, readers Anto S and Gorugeen fondly recall 1990s Dublin noise boffins Rollerskate Skinny.

Dubbed Ireland’s answer to Mercury Rev and The Flaming Lips, the band comprised Ken Griffin, Ger Griffin (no relation), Steve Murray and Jimi Shields (brother of My Bloody Valentine‘s Kevin) and were named after a phrase in J.D. Salinger‘s novel The Catcher In The Rye.

Speed To My Side is a single from their second and final album Horsedrawn Wishes, released by WEA in 1996.

Gorugeen writes:

“I’ve lovely memories of bopping to this song in Fibbers many, many moons ago.”

Nick says: That’s about the size of it.

Gerr Walsh – A Town Called Forgiveness

Everybody walk the dinosaur.

Dublin singer/songwriter Gerr Walsh (top) uses footage of the scary scaly beasts from Harry Hoyt‘s 1925 silent movie The Lost World to complement his new single which he wrote during lockdown.

Additional musicians include Naimee Coleman (backing vocals), Max Greenwood (keyboard) and Tom Portman (lap steel).

Gerr’s new album will be released in 2021.

Nick says: We’re off to see the lizards…

Gerr Walsh

Bantum and Loah – NGLA

Collaboration once again.

Irish/Sierra Leone singer/songwriter Loah (above centre with, from left: Stephanie Dufresne, Fresh Princeeera and Angel Hart) teams up with Cork-based producer Bantum for this new single from their Sweet Sorrow EP.

The video was directed by Ellius Grace.

Loah describes her aethetic as “artsoul”.

She writes:

‘”NGLA’ is a Sad Banger – one of those Robyn-esque tunes that you can dance all night to while your heart is breaking.”

Nick says: How Loah can you go?

Loah

Bantum

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.

Dave Thomas O’Gorman

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 Raines

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.

Shiv

The Riptide Movement – Turn On The Lights

Christmastime in Dublin city.

Lucan lads The Riptide Movement share a hopeful message in their new single to lift the gloom.

Recorded in Texas, the anthemic song features on the current Guinness campaign #KeepTheLightsOn which “shines a light on pubs highlighting their readiness for a safe re-opening.”

The nostalgic video was made by Crooked Gentlemen Films in pre-covid times.

Nick says: My kind of town.

The Riptide Movement


Sam Wickens – Strange.24

Life’s a maze.

The powerful new single and video from Sam Wickens (top) deals with a sensitive topic close to his heart.

The singer/songwriter from Bangor, County Down, says:

“It’s a song about the acceptance of recovering from a battle with mental illness; the feeling of something changing within my life and trying to accept that it is actually happening.

“After fighting with mental illnesses for such a long time, the possibility of it leaving was a complete myth to me. Life without deep hopelessness seemed strange to me as I was accustomed to the black hole that was my normality.

“Just as you would need to get used to living in a new home, I had to get used to living as a person that was no longer mentally ill. This song was a therapeutic way to help me move on with my recovery.”

Strange.24 follows on from last year’s album All I’ve Seen and is the lead single from his EP Watson, due next February.

Sam plays The Workman’s Club, Dublin, on April 1, 2021.

Nick says: Sing it Sam.

Sam Wickens

Orla Gartland – Pretending

A restroom with a view.

London-based Dublin singer/songwriter Orla Gartland (top) hangs out in the jacks in the innovative video for her new single, directed by Rosie Brear.

With over a quarter of a million views on YouTube, Orla copperfastens her reputation as an internet sensation.

Nick says: Royal flush.

Orla Gartland

Mary Coughlan – Family Life

Now this is something special.

National treasure Mary Coughlan conjures a deeply felt cover of The Blue Nile‘s heartbreaking Christmas ballad Family Life from her new album Life Stories.

Mary says:

“The track ‘Family Life’ is deeply personal to me, I think it will resonate with people this Christmas in particular.”

Ain’t that the truth.

And here‘s the original version.

Nick says: Happy Christmas, Mary.

Life Stories