Songs of the Week
The Would Be's - Bittersweet
25 years ago, a band from Kingscourt, Cavan found their debut single championed by John Peel, who went on to give them a Peel Session. The band rejected advances of all the major labels at the time and signed to an indie label. That early success didn't sustain and the band fell by the wayside. Encouraged by Tony Clayton-Lea's recent book 101 Irish Records You Must Hear Before You Die, the band returned and are having a small reappraisal thanks to the aptly-titled classic indie pop of Bittersweet.
Roisin Murphy - Exploitation
Murphy's new album Hairless Toys is inspired by a documentary she saw on New York drag culture (Paris Is Burning) which was an ostentatious answer to persecution and disillusionment. "Who, who's exploiting who?," Murphy sings on new song Exploitation (which comes in a full nine-minute version) and crosses Latin and house lines to make its point.
The Cyclist – Heart Of Stone
Prodigious talents should be encouraged. But in the field of electronic music, where age and background is obfuscated by moniker and mask wearing, it can be difficult to tell who's who. The Cyclist is a 22 year-old Derry lad who has stood out in his short time for his compositions which often sound like analogue approximations of modern electronic music. His latest EP, for Dublin's Music Is For Losers label, Hot House, has him ploughing his own furrow in a crowded space once more.
The Nightlife - Defeated
Skyscraping drums, yearning vocals, multi-layer harmonies, Dublin four-piece called The Nightlife mean business, specifically radio business with their impressive debut single.
New artist of the week
Wyvern Lingo
This Bray three-piece were given a leg up by Hozier association but they're starting to capitalise on it now with an increasing reputation that is leading to sold out gigs and industry interest. Karen Cowley, Saoirse Duane and Caoimhe Barry haven't quite nailed the one big tune just yet but their harmonic folk/pop songs recall The Staves and hold promise. Their recent EP song Used is a good intro.
Video of the week
Ben Gibson - Shirahata (Sunil Sharpe Remix)
Sunil Sharpe is perhaps Ireland's finest techno producer so it's good to see him get some support in the form a video for his recent Ben Gibson remix. The video, shot, edited and directed by MWK features actress Olivia Romao going about her day in Dublin. For more of Sunil's underestimated talent hit up his well-received Boiler Room set.
Album of the week
The Mighty Stef – Year Of The Horse
Dubliner Stefan Murphy has been toiling away making rock'n'roll to a small but loyal audience. For his latest with his band, Murphy decamped to LA to record with Alain Johannes who has form in the arena having made records with Queens Of The Stone Age and Arctic Monkeys. It was a smart decision as Year Of The Horse is plainly The Mighty Stef's best record yet, as the Dubliner's disposition is given a classic anthemic rock sheen that at times recalls Oasis, Nick Cave, The Coral and yes, the Queens too.
