SONGS OF THE WEEK
Rusangano Family - Heathrow
The energetic rap trio of God Knows, MurLi and MynameisjOhn released the best Irish rap album in recent memory in 2014's Rusangano Family. Now operating under the album name, the Limerick group will release
Let The Dead Bury The Dead
in 2016. With two African-Irish rappers who have found a new life and family in Ireland from their own family's Togo and Zimbabwe roots, Rusangano are well-placed to speak about migration and the modern plight of a refugee.
Saint Sister - Castles
Gemma Doherty and Morgan MacIntyre's folk partnership continues to pay dividends for ears with more beautiful melodies and harp tones present on
Castles
. Their “atmosfolk” music gained industry attention at this year's Hard Working Class Heroes festival ande the duo will release their debut EP, recorded in Kerry with Alex Ryan, bassist with Hozier, on Trout Records next week.
Conor Walsh – Quadrivium
The Mayo musician Conor Walsh is a purveyor of piano-based minimal atmospherics but his new EP
The Front
takes on more ambitious dynamics that approach the likes of Olafur Arnalds and Nils Frahm in its soundtrack scope.
Quadrivium
from the EP is analogous to Arnald's electronic partnership with Janus Rasmussen as Kiasmos, all starry-nighted elegance.
Augustus & John – There Goes My Train
The Galway-based duo Mike Smalle & Matteo Grassi dropped a superb album last week in
Against Water Hull.
A highlight of which, among many, is this bouncy electronic song that recalls the equal effervescence of Chemical Brothers'
Star Guitar.
Cut Once – Playing With Fire
The Dublin pairing of Michael Heffernan and Aisling Browne are marking themselves out locally with their soulful pop take on electronic music.
Playing With Fire
is accompanied by a video shot on the streets of Dublin city.
RELEASE OF THE WEEK
Alarmist – Popular Demain
Dublin post-rock band Alarmist found a new audience at the 12 Points Festival for contemporary jazz acts over the last couple of years. It's easy to hear why jazzers took the band to their hearts, when you hear their wild time signatures, spacious live recording and zig-zagging song structures. That's all evident on the band's just-released debut album of complex instrumental music. Its stunning vistas are conjured by players with a highly skilled musicianship. Embedded in the impressive music are wistful electronic textures that permeate the atmosphere and create an impression of Alarmist as outliers of rock, jazz and electronica.
.
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
All Tvvins – Darkest Ocean
Shot with the help of drones on an Irish beach at magic hour, Feel Good Lost's video for All Tvvin's FIFA 2016-featured
Darkest Ocean
is as as big as the tune.
