After the success of the band’s debut album We’ve Been Talking, Wicklow, Ireland-based
instrumental four-piece Enemies will release a limited edition 7” vinyl featuring the songs ‘Coco
Et Moi’ and ‘Robert Reid’.
At the news of Bob Marley’s untimely death in 1981, musicians Bunna and Madaski formed a band and named it in
honour of one of Marley’s best known, best loved songs- Africa Unite.
Clockwork Apple returns this April 8th with a line up consisting of 3 unique and incredibly talented acts. Headlining the night are Brad Pitt Light Orchestra who are supported by little xs for eyes and Seeping into Cinemas.
Having spent the last year perfecting new material for their forthcoming debut E.P., TouchWood’s foray onto the stage is one of the most hotly anticpated of 2011 so far and promises to blow the socks of punters.
Lumiere is two distinct voices cut from the same geographic cloth.
One is Éilís Kennedy, whose sound has ready access to the soul without need for scaffolding or spotlights. For over a decade, hers has been one of the most underrated voices in Irish music.
Celebrated Bay Area punk legend Matt Freeman of Rancid and Operation Ivy fame released the long awaited, self-titled debut album for his side project Devils Brigade on August 31, 2010 via Hellcat Records.
Tickets on sale now priced €16.50 (including booking fee) from WAV Tickets [lo-call 1890 200 078], www.tickets.ie & Ticketmaster outlets nationwide. 0818 719 300 – Republic of Ireland customers 0844 277 4455 – Northern Ireland customers 00353 1 456 9569 – International customers
“There’s something about Emeralds’ sound that really is theirs alone. The way they set loops against loops, with super-fast pinwheeling oscillations buzzing out of control on top, turns their tracks into perpetual motion machines, gathering incredible force as layers accrue. It’s a big part of the magic of this band, and what distinguishes even their most new age-flavored compositions: the overload of information, the spray of frequencies, the thrilling, viscous rush.” – Pitchfork 8.3 (Best New Music)
“Does it Look Like I’m Here? is a certifiable boon for all somnambulant bliss-seekers; swathed in sheer luminescent pools of joyous, amorphous analogue and crowned by diaphanous shards of brightly lit neon nimbus.” – BBC
Emeralds is John Elliott, Steve Hauschildt and Mark McGuire.
They are currently based in Cleveland, Ohio. Their music is of an improvisational nature and is synthesizer and guitar-centric, however vocals, electronics and field recordings are often utilized to create dynamic textures amidst melodious backdrops and minimal structures.
Though their sound cannot be pinned down to one specific genre, it recalls the organic/electronic explorations of Ashra, Coil, Terry Riley and Popol Vuh to name but a few.
‘Does It Look Like I’m Here?’ is the third official album by Emeralds (after “Solar Bridge” on Hanson, and the self-titled LP on their own Wagon and Gneiss Things imprints, as well as countless small edition tapes and CDRs on a host of labels) and once again it presents another radical new direction for this Cleveland trio.
It sees the group moving from playing single oscillator analog synthesizers to really complex analog and analog/digital hybrid as well a great deal of guitar synthesizers, not to mention fine tuning their skills as brilliant tunesmiths. Simply put, the results are outstanding.
Comprising of a number of tracks from their recent ultra limited 7” vinyl series on Wagon, as well new compositions exclusive to this release. This fine selection of tunes surpass anything they have achieved in their 5 year career. Perfect melodies intertwined with ripping sequences and a guitar sound that floats perfectly throughout. Although most tracks cover new ground in that they follow a shortened ‘pop format’, more long form cuts such as the towering ‘Genetic’ and the title track will give fans of their earlier work something to grab onto, or totally let themselves go depending on the state of mind.
Having spent all their lives in the relative isolation of Cleveland means their music has developed into a vital, stunning unique hybrid that may have not been able to blossom in more active urban centres.
‘Does It Look Like I’m Here?’ heralds a turning point for all those involved and is perfect vivid soundtrack to emerge out of the recent harsh grey winter. Fresh, shiny and totally essential.
“..electronic, goth-inflected pop…a sublime mix of reverb slathered female vocals, stretched over icy electronic backing, hammered down into a four track diy style, the end result is a glitchy take on goth pop done by doppelereffekt or a zola-jesus-in-da-club slammer.” – Rough Trade
For several years now, Danny Todd has been an accessory to great music from Northern Ireland. A gifted guitarist, songwriter and producer, he has finally found the perfect vehicle for his unique hybrid of pop, rock, indie, country and electronica.
It’s all but inconceivable that J Mascis requires an introduction. In the quarter-century since he founded Dinosaur (Jr.), Mascis has created some of the era’s signature songs, albums and styles. As a skier, golfer, songwriter, skateboarder, record producer and musician, J has few peers.
Grammy-winning Irish vocalist Susan McKeown wants to bring depression into the light. Her seventh solo album, “Singing in the Dark,’’ explores creativity and mental illness.
Valentine Black is the alter ego of Kildare musician Peco Mc Loughlin. Having fronted a number of bands, most recently indie-rockers Bright Light Fiasco who enjoyed success with two top 40 singles, Peco decided to go solo in late 2008.
2minutes2midnight, a four piece rock outfit hailing from the North East of Ireland are well renowned for their home brew of no-nonsense rock and roll and expert showmanship which has earned them many accolades over
their career so far.
Gavin started his musical career behind the drums, the foundation of his obsession which developed further as the drummer became a self-taught bassist, keyboardist, guitarist and singer, maturing a sound in countless bars from Dublin to Auckland.
US noise merchants Today Is The Day make a long overdue return to Irish shores when they play Whelans on Saturday 9th April. Main support will be Retox, featuring members of The Locust and Swing Kids, with Dublin’s Drainland opening the show. Doors are at 7pm.
Milan Jay started off as John G. Millane’s one man band from Ballinasloe but he has since been joined by Joesph Kenny also from Galway. Their indietronic sound has been likened to 90s indie stalwarts the Beta Band and Super Furry Animals.
A Plastic Rose are here to inject some much needed passion into our lives. The Belfast/Sligo four piece have been blowing minds all over the UK and Ireland with their incendiary live shows, and are set to release their debut mini-album, The Promise Notes, in 2011.
Few bands have been so successful from the release of their first album. The five members of Ken Zazpi and their melodic pop-rock seduced thousands of fans with a large number of successful singles from the “Atzo da bihar” album (Yesterday is tomorrow).
Fighting for Jane successfully merge the intimacy of a singer-songwriter with mainstream indie pop/rock-their female vocalist,strong rhythm and bass section along with catchy guitar and synth lines,they are showing themselves to be ones to watch.
With ‘National Cancer Strategy’ picked as one of Hot Press albums of the last year where writer Peter Murphy describes Jinx as ”The Nation’s Greatest Protest Singer”Dundalk man Jinx Lennon returns like a human pirahna fish to uplift people and sink his teeth into a fearless warts n all look at the darker side of life in Hibernia/Oirland.
We Go Go and The Vibes play upstairs in whelans on Thursday 21st April, as part of their joint Irish tour, The tour has taking in venues both north and south of the border, with an attack on the UK also planned for late summer. The tour has been descibed by Hotpress as “A double-header definitely worth catching”
This is How we Fly draws together four artists working at the creative edge of their fields. This remarkable group pulls on strands of innovative Irish music, free improvisation, Swedish fiddle music, traditional dance vocabulary and contemporary folk, creating an infectious performance engaging both the feet and the mind.
Dr Feelgood’s legendary machine gun guitarist Wilko Johnson has confirmed a one night only date with his band at Whelan’s on Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May. Tickets priced €26.50 including booking fee go on sale on Wednesday 9th March.
Rhob Cunningham has had quite a year. In May 2010 he released an album under the banner ‘Our Little Secrets’. After gathering a willful band of likeminded cohorts, it was a project that gathered huge legs and massive interest, from audience, peers and industry folk alike.