SONGS OF THE WEEK
The Dying Seconds – Children of the Magenta
On a cursory listen to the pleasing arrangement of the Dublin band's first single from their third album Ditto, The Dying Seconds sound mostly in a good place. Lyrics about crumbling bridges though, suggest a band that's been through the wars. Four years since the release of their last album, the band moved to London. Songwriter David Cantan promptly received word of the death of a close friend within a week. The band reshuffled its members and Cantan to make matters worse, got a long-term auditory illness that means he's unable to make music for more than an hour a day. A move to the Irish countryside and long walks composing resulted in a a recording process that was limited but has produced a stirring first single to begin with. Cantan will be unable to perform live so drink this in instead.
The Blizzards - Drop Down the Anchor
Bressie's career and advocacy for mental health awareness may have eclipsed what he did as a musician but the return of the band he fronts after a six-year hiatus attempts to address that. It's business as usual however on the music front, which is a good or bad thing depending on your taste.
Drop Down the Anchor
is anthemic-leaning power pop/rock which will be welcomed by old fans and radio playlisters.
Ensemble Ériu – The Tempest
The seven-piece Ensemble Ériu like to take tradition and bend it to their unique will that provides new perspectives on the material using marimba and clarinet, loose jazz drums and interweaving arrangements.
The Tempest
is our first glimpse into album number two, Imbas, to be jointly released by Raelach Records an Ensemble Music, a partnership that echoes this band's fresh outlook.
Lyra - Emerald
After an impressive debut in Rabbit In The Headlights, the Cork-born Londoner Lyra has done it again with a big drum-beating track of wonder and high drama. Her Irish accent dominates the choral atmospheric pop song that does the thing that is now coveted in new artists – sounds a bit like Enya.
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Ciaran Lavery – Let Bad In
Northern Ireland's Ciaran Lavery has previously proved himself a worthy singer songwriter with his debut album of acoustic folk and his nautical-themed collaborative album with Ryan Vail as Sea Legs. The Antrim musician's second album Let Bad In feels less like a singer-songwriter record and more like an assured and well-arranged version of Lavery's established craft. The album's two singles, the brass and piano-lead Okkervil River and the alt-country of Return To Form stand out. Lavery has also imbued his material with extra sonic details taken from found sounds and old VHS tapes, which support the album's theme of childhood and a loss of innocence. It's out Friday.
NEW ARTIST OF THE WEEK
Prymary Colours
If you're a fan of dark-gilded pulsing night-time music with a hint of electro eroticism, you'll love the sound made by Daz & Cayisha aka Prymary Colours. The deliberately-titled D0 you want it? is reminiscent of Factory Floor at their sleaziest. Catch the band at Life Festival this weekend. The accompanying video is NSFW.
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
King Kong Company – Scarity
Dan Directed: Jamie O’Rourke from Killer Rabbit Productions
The band who made their name with YouTube videos are going to be unavoidable at Irish festivals this summer with their crossover sound of 1990s clubbing, dub, reggae and electro. They release their debut album next week, and the video to their Groove Armada meets Apollo 440 single is, to continue the reference idea, an
Office Space
meets
Falling Down
story.
King Kong have a busy summer of gigs and festival appearances ahead. Keep an eye on their
[ Facebook Opens in new window ]
page for details
