Spring is in the air and thoughts are turning towards festivals and summertime. For bands, that means, it's time to set up their stall with plans for the rest of the year and there was certainly a feeling of renewal last week with the premiering of lots of new tracks.
Songs of the week
Girls Names – Zero Triptych
The Belfast band followed up their excellent recent album The New Life with more renewal themselves in the form of the gear-change three-part track inspired by the Group Zero art movement. "A zone of silence and of pure possibilities for a new beginning," is a manifesto of sorts uttered by Otto Piene of Group Zero, and the band have taken that to heart with an 11-minute track that moves between shimmering synths, kraut and post-punk and leaves the impression of exhilarating possibilities to come.
little xs for eyes – Logical Love
The Dublin six-piece have the best of both worlds being evenly split between guys and girls. It's a beneficial setup for their music which takes broad inspiration from pop, folk, indie and synth music. Logical Love is harmonic synth-pop with an '80s sheen and is among the band's best work. Their second album Everything Else is released on April 13th.
The Dead Heavys – Liquidator
For something more old-school, the latest single from the Waterford band has a Primal Scream/The Coral rock vibe to it. Backing vocals from Aisling Browne add to the Scream comparisons. The track is a free download from their website. Ones to watch.
Fight Like Apes – Pretty Keen On Centrefolds
Dublin's best pop band without guitars, the Apes will release their self-titled third album next month, which will come two years after they raised the money for it on Fundit. Their new independence meant self-reliance and there doesn't sound like there was anything bloating the recording process with the band's trademark pop punk demeanor in full effect on the sinewy new single.
New artist of the week
Kicking Bird
This Dublin four-piece have been around since 2012 but they're really starting to come into their own now. Alt-folk with rock guitars and bright harmonies are their speciality. Stream their debut EP on Spotify. They've gigs in Cork, Galway and Mayo next month.
Gig of the week
Everything Shook @ ATRL, Dublin (€14) - https://www.facebook.com/events/783028305067033
Good Friday doesn't mean the dearth of gigs it once did, at least not officially. Worth paying a visit on the dry day are Everything Shook, the alt-electronic vocal-lead trio of Robyn Bromfield, Jessica Kennedy and Áine Stapleton who will launch their first release at ATRL, Trinity Technology and Enterprise Centre, on Pearse Street. Support comes from Sunken Foal, Hauer and Donal Dineen.
Video of the week
Túcan - Teardrop
Sligo instrumentalists Túcan released their new album Towers on Friday and it was heralded by this rather melty-headed video by Bob McGlynn to accompany the band's Massive Attack Teardrop cover.
Album of the week
Skelocrats – Bella Bella
Popical Island have been the main proponent of indie-pop music in Ireland in the plast five years. Skelocrats, born out of the label and featuring members of bands Land Lovers, Grand Pocket Orchestra and Groom are a mini-supergroup playing a combination of all of what the label does best and their second album is a fine distillation of all of it. Highlights include the classic pop of Lyin' Eyes, the "bockety indie" of Doing The Cuckoo and the charming jangle of BCE.
