SONGS OF THE WEEK
Girl Band – Pears For Lunch
The sonic juggernaut that is Dublin's Girl Band continues to gear up to the release of their debut album Holding Hands With Jamie in two weeks (named after the producer on the album) with a jilted and rowdy track that feels like it's about to fall off its bearings at any moment. The whole head-spinning thing is accompanied by a video by Bob Gallagher about the image we project to others. It also contains the lyric “I look crap with my top off”.
little xs for eyes – Funk Island
little xs for eyes put their greatest strengths to play on their new single. Equal part male and female harmonies kick off the track before the band's penchant for bright and uplifting melodies takes us to a secluded place far away. Pure escapism.
Ports - Gameplay
It may feel like this Derry band have lost some momentum since they changed their name from Little Bear, but the moniker change was an indication of a band who are reaching further into themselves. When bands take think about their songs too much, the danger is that they can find themselves losing their own identity as they slip on someone else's. Gameplay is an indie/folk song that builds to a crashing band crescendo and recalls Grizzly Bear in tone while retaining what made the four-piece interesting in the first place. It's the first single from their forthcoming debut The Devil Is A Songbird.
Contour - Rearrange & Realign
Conan Wynne and Anna Doran's electronic project is interested in the fringe genres of drum and bass, breaks and ambient music. For the lead track from their newest EP, Blessed With Weird Things, to be released on Belfast's Champion Sound, the producer Wynne pairs Doran's sweet soulful vocal to some spidery Amon Tobin-style breaks and jazz flute ambiance.
NEW ARTIST OF THE WEEK
The Shruggs
The West Cork duo of
[ Kees Hendrickx and James DowningOpens in new window ]
keep things simple with guitar, cajon and voice – describing themselves as a “acoustic power duo”. That may sound questionable but there's an undoubted gift for strong melody present, as heard on new single titled, appropriately enough,
The Ooh Ooh Song
.
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Ciaran Lavery – Shame
Directed by Film By Rocc This Antrim singer-songwriter's songbook continues to impress with every play. This track has over 10 million plays on Spotify so giving it an extra video focus is a very good idea (it's also promoting the release of his debut album in Germany). As is the execution in the clip itself, which following on from the Girl Band video above, is coincidentally, all about the masks we wear in the world.
RELEASES OF THE WEEK
Slowburn - LDRX2
Dublin dance label Lunar Disko returns with a new release from Dave Hargadon and Phil Long aka Slowburn can be found exploring analogue house, spacious kick-heavy electronica and techno-funk. The highlight of the four-track digital/12” release is the cascading acid-leaning electro of
First One Back
.
