Badhands aka Dan Fitzpatrick (top) shares a brooding live band performance in Sonic Studios of a song from his new album Far Away.
It’s a slow-build, Jim.
Dan writes:
“First of the Day was one of the most difficult songs to record on the album, with its big arrangement and mix of instrumentation. When we play it live it’s a lot looser and more raw, so I really wanted to make a live video of the song that would capture the energy and unhinged nature of the band’s performance when we play it at gigs.”
Badhands album launch gig is in Whelans tomorrow evening.
Telefis – Archbishop Beardmouth At The ChemOlympics
The drugs do work.
Cathal Coughlan and Garrett ‘Jacknife’ Lee have released a new EP culled from their debut collaborative Telefis album A hAon.
The title track is a surreal journey that only Cathal himself can explain.
He writes:
‘Archbishop Beardmouth visits the ChemOlympics, in his full Byzantine-Slavic magnificence, the giant torso-curtain of hair announcing him. He is very gratified by what he sees.
‘Gone are the mandatory drugs tests and geopolitical skirmishes of yore, and in, instead, has come immaculate, chemically-enhanced performance. There’s only the occasional moment when the live camera feed has to be cut, in order to enable the re-reading of the script, and perhaps the replacement of a competitor.
‘At these times, His Eminence loses interest in the spectacle, and becomes aware of the obsequious ravings of a young man seated below him, who points at a laptop screen full of animated bodies – devised, the young man says, by a special form of artficial intelligence.
‘The youth tries to interest the prelate in buying into the “cryptocurrency” which will fund the growth of this technology, which is named “COPD-coin”. The young man explains that he named it this way because it represents a shock to the international order.
‘His Eminence appears irked by this, and begins to grill the young man, “You wish to destabilise your own Motherland in this way? And you dare to approach the Lord God’s representative with this treason?”
””No, no, Eminence”, the young man remonstrates, “It shall be prevented from trading in the Motherland. Only in the sinful and subhuman parts of the world will it be allowed to operate. Because those people are stupid, and decadent.”
‘The Archibishop raises an eyebrow and leans forward. “Well then, how much money do you need to raise from this scheme?”
‘Later, at the big reception for the dignitaries, there are home movie screenings. On the screen, we see vintage images of Ireland’s famed one-time Orthodox Jansenist Papal ruler, Archbishop John Charles McQuaid (sometimes depicted in the company of his earthly proxy, Éamon de Valera).
‘He parades through a life of saintly self-love (since unfairly besmirched by individuals unfit to have breathed the same air as His Lordship) – from long-con shrine, to concrete basilica, to institution of pious incarceration. It could be said that we shall not see his like again – but let’s give it a go. Viva crypto!’
…Galway singer/songwriter Seba Safe (top), real name Michael D’Alton. (Just stay away from Will Smith.)
Seba says:
“Oscars is a classic break-up blues buzz song. It’s about acting happy when you’re not, so friends and family don’t worry about you. Using happiness as a front. Also, the song questions the authenticity of other people’s happiness.”
Carlow-born, Clare-based songsmith David Donohue (formerly of The Floors) has just released his long-awaited solo album.
The title track is a wry, soulful look at the lives of his longtime companions.
Produced by David Ayers, the song features guest musicians Floriane Blancke (piano); Clive Barnes (pedal steel); and Julie and Jenny Morton (backing vocals).
Nick says: I heard there was a secret chord David played and it pleased the Lord.
Old school indie guitar lovers will rejoice at the re-emergence of Dublin stalwarts Sack (top), who have just uploaded a never-before-seen video originally shot 25 years ago.
The promo features singer Martin McCann in the back of a taxi and heralds the imminent re-issue of their classic album Butterfly Effect.
The band write:
“Sleeping On The Floor, taken from the 25th Anniversary remastered edition of ‘Butterfly Effect’, was originally intended to be the 3rd single released from the album back in 1997 but it never came out.
“We even made a video for it but it’s never been seen publicly, and only recently rediscovered in the Sack archive.”
Until today!
The remastered album will appear on double vinyl for the first time on April 22 and features new artwork by Martin McCann. The record is available here.
Darren A. Flynn (top), formerly of Italian/Irish Americana act Mongrel State, marks his return to the Irish music scene since literally dropping dead in 2018.
Darren writes:
“It took me about a year to fully recover after my heart attack, and just around the time I was feeling ready to dip my toe back in the water, feckin’ COVID happened!
“There were so many times over the last few years when I’d almost given up hope. I’m so glad that, finally, I’m able to get out there and have my music heard again.”
The acclaimed Johnny Butten brings the banjo magic and the track also features guest vocals by Tim Cullen (The Hot Sprockets), JM Burr (Lugosi) and folk singer Michelle Gahan.
Clare tunesmith Padjo Dolan (top) goes interstellar on his slow-building, anthemic new single.
Padjo writes:
“I had bought this Japanese import. Totally illegal on the road. I tore up the road, day and night. My girlfriend in the car beside me – it was a moment of magic. As for the name, about Saturn – I felt so free I could have been in outer space.
“Life is short, and those moments of magic are what make it worth living.”
Ain’t that the truth.
Dolan teamed up with Cian Boylan (Sinéad O’Connor), Conor Brady (The Blades, The Drays), Robbie Malone (David Gray) and Dave Hingerty (The Frames) to deliver a ‘feeling of discovery’ across its arrangement.
Nick says: Some things hurt more than cars and girls.
A songsmith from Blessington, County Wicklow, Graham Coe (top) finds a light in the darkness of the past 2 years on his new single.
To quote the press blurb:
“The song tells of a musician’s lament about the loneliness, uncertainty and numbness of long days during the pandemic and the realisation of having a strong partner and family by your side can help you through these tough times.”
Chris O’Brien and Graham Murphy from The Production Suite, Dublin, were behind the controls.
Now Paul is back with a new video that is charm itself.
Paul writes:
“This is a new venture for me. This song and video will be the first of many, I hope – I have quite a few songs written. People are probably expecting this stuff to be going for big laughs but it’s not. These songs and videos will be humourous but other things besides.
“I know I’ll lose some of you but I’m hoping a few of you will stick with me. ‘But I Like You’ is a love song, albeit a love song for cranky gits. We cranky gits have a need for love too. Hope you like it.”
Musicians include Mark Flynn (piano), Cormac Moore (bass) and Brian Moylett (drums).
