Single: John Hynes - Caroline, I'm Yours

John Hynes - Caroline, I'm Yours

Info: Originally from Leixlip, Dublin-based singer-songwriter John Hynes has just released his debut single, 'Caroline, I'm Yours'. Having spent many years operating in other bands, most recently The Grand Wake, Hynes has struck out on his own. An official launch night for the new single will take place in the Vintage Room at The Workman's Club, Dublin, on the 20th of May.

'Caroline, I'm Yours' glows from start to finish, it's warm and recreates a scarily authentic mid to late 60's atmosphere. Hynes' vocals are perfectly matched to the music, a plodding yet calming bass-line, twangy guitars, and nuanced but multi-layered percussion wrap around you like a balmy summers evening from days long gone by. While his vocals don't touch on any of them, except perhaps the last in this list, the pervading tone conjures Scott Walker, Roy Orbison and Tim Buckley. There will undoubtedly also be comparisons to Father John Misty, one which is definitely audible in Hynes' vocal, but that would be to miss the woods for the trees, and future releases will no doubt confirm this. Very few, if any, Irish acts are dabbling in recreating baroque pop, and it's going to be intriguing to see where John Hynes goes from here.

Like / Listen & Follow:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicjohnhynes

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5fRm8X26KZhVNom3BdGwJu

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnHynesMusic

Playlist: Remy's Best of International Playlist - Issue #010

Oslo's Ponette

Info: It's always nice to dip our toes (ears?) into what's happening on the independent music scene outside of Ireland, fresh perspectives and all that. I think Playlist #7 is easily my favourite so far, I've been listening to it non-stop the last week on the way to work. There's a really nice mix of edgy indie, alternative rock, folk, electronic pop and more. A big chunk comes via the U.K., which is not unusual but not that common either, four London acts, one from Nottingham and another from Glasgow, as well as music from Scandinavia, New Zealand and the U.S.. Trust me, it's all good here, enjoy.

London duo Saint's Patience

Track Listing:

Childcare           'Film Club'            (London)
Ha the Unclear 'Big City'              (New Zealand)
Gallery 47          'Lefty'                  (Nottingham)
Catholic Action 'Doing Well'          (Glasgow)
Black Fly           'I Don’t Know'       (Vermont)
Ponette             'Freak'                  (Oslo)
Haides             'Need This'            (London)
Inca Maps         'That Wasn’t Easy'  (London)
Eda Wolf           'Rough Terrain'       (Finland / USA)
Saints Patience 'Taste Of You'         (London)

Live: EllyD & The DC Experiment - Double-Headliner 'Lucky' Single Launch

ELLYD - Lucky

Info: Irish artists ELLYD & The DC Experiment release their 1st singles of 2017, and both are coincidentally titled 'Lucky'! They decided to take this unique opportunity and celebrate their single launches together with a double-headliner in the wonderful surroundings of the MVP bar in Harold's Cross, Dublin, this Saturday, 29th of April.

FaceBook Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/208635946299328/

Admission: Donation.

The DC Experiment - Lucky

ELLYD

ELLYD (Elaine Doyle) has been a stalwart on the Irish music scene under the guise of various music projects for some time before deciding to undertake a solo venture and recorded her debut EP 'Rise' in 2016, debuting her new material in Berlin, followed by a string of gigs in Ireland culminating in a launch gig in The Workmans Club. 

The EP has been highly acclaimed for its consistently strong songs, blending Blondie-style vocals with a modern pop feel. 'Rise' reached number 8 in the iTunes charts and has been played on various national and local radio stations. 

ELLYD started 2017 recording new material and has just released her brand new single called 'Lucky'. 

www.ellydmusic.com


THE DC EXPERIMENT

The DC Experiment release their first song of 2017, the electronically-tinged 'Lucky', following on from the chilled out singles 'Wings of Dust' and 'Freewill' in 2016. Starting life as an acoustic reggae style song, 'Lucky' soon found itself as a regular live favourite and begged to be recorded. The experimenters stumbled upon electronic producer Derek Maher, upped the tempo to 160bpm and 'Lucky' began a new life.

http://www.dcexperiment.com/

Album: Miwon - Jigsawtooth

Info: 'Jigsawtooth' is the third album from Hendrik Kroez’s Miwon project. On this long-awaited follow up to his critically revered 'A to B (City Centre Offices)', Kroez displays his skill in marrying motorik techno infused rhythms and soaring pop ambient melodies. This is most evident on 'Charezza', which could be the most uplifting track in the n5MD cannon. Other cuts on the album utilize sweeping synth-work that encourage a near kraut/kosmische travel worthy flavor to the proceedings. It is now available on CD, as well as white, and transparent red vinyl.

Miwon's Jigsawtooth is an album that will immediately sweep you up and under it's blanket of ambient techno and electronic soundscapes. Opening track 'Fuzzy Words' is probably where I had hoped Tycho's Epoch album would have ventured last year but failed to do so. Thumping drum pads and gently stretched effects cast themselves across its 3 minutes and 20-odd seconds like a gently rippling wave.

'Charezza' follows, a feeling of isolation is present in its intro, chimes dangle and move in opposite time to the beat, there is a real feel of Eno's Another Green World meets fellow German downtempo electronic artist Paul Kalkbrenner, it's a really beautiful listening experience that soars slowly and with ease. Then comes the old school house sounds of the glitchy and slightly industrial sounding 'Spiderman', a thudding muffled bass-line and beat forcefully place themselves directly under the more delicate wisps of the synth.

'Shutter (Windmill Version)' shrouds itself in a dark yet flickering light, the beat on this is choppy like a guillotine cutting the song in to tiny fractions, there's a determined drive behind it which is balanced against the soft retro 70's sounding keys. Proceedings get decidedly funky on sixth track 'Pineda', with its air of Massive Attack ambiance, it trickles hazily with a very soft static backdrop.

Again industrial sounds crop up on the wonderfully spatial and creeping 'Mondharke', reminiscent at times of Death in Vegas' 'Aisha' at a reduced pace, it brings inhospitable and bleak alien landscapes to the fore. Following the upbeat and bouncy 'Cool Your Jets', Jigsawtooth concludes with its title track, an equally joyful piece to its predecessor, a retro computer game sound encompasses the optimistic beat, and at the half-way point a funky hip-hop burst introduces itself. Overall Miwon swirls us through a wide range of his sonic catalogue of visions on his new album, and it's a very, very enjoyable trip to take part in.

Look / Like / Listen & Follow:

Website: http://www.miwon.de/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Miwon/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5o04AvqHZxEh6l2TeBKNHQ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiwonMusic

Single: THUMPER - Fear of Art

THUMPER - Fear of Art

Info: In the run up to the release of their third EP, Pop! Goes The Weasel, which will be out in May on Little L Records, Dublin pop-punk-rockers THUMPER have shared their brand new single, 'Fear of Art'. 

The magic behind THUMPER lies in their ability, proven over time, to consistently write songs that you initially enjoy, but as time goes by and you come back to them, the subconscious part of your brain informs you that you love them an awful lot. I had this moment only last week when I was listening to another Dublin band's EP on a streaming App and one of their singles from last year, 'Rent Is Due' came on via the algorithm, damn that track is so bloody good I thought, THUMPER are great.

The second great thing about the band is that they give you what you want, but it never comes across as repetitive or reinventing the wheel, far from it. We are given the noise, distortion and vocal effects we've become accustomed to, but each track is absolutely distinct. So it is with 'Fear of Art', where previous single 'The Loser' was a nuclear explosion of static, on the latest single we have a bone fide early 90's Seattle grunge vibe injected with a hyper-version of the The Dandy Warhol's debut 1995 album Dandys Rule OK. Once again it THUMPER leave us fully gratified, they should consider mixing things up a little at this stage and release a shit single.

Like & Listen & Follow:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hellothumper

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1iMsLpQB3kldZ9s7pne7gP

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thumper666

Single: The Optimists - Not Her

Info: The Optimists are Dublin’s newest alt-pop band. Despite forming just under two years ago the band has already made a significant fan base in the capital region as well as Galway, Sligo and further afield. The band is made up of six members; Tom and Axel on rotating lead and rhythm guitar roles, Ronan on bass, Cheese on drums, Heather on vocals and Raaychull on vocals and synth.

The six piece came together in January 2015 and have already added an impressive array of notches to their collective belt. They’ve rattled the ground of Dublin’s premiere music venues and even gotten a little continental. The Button Factory, The Workman’s Club and Whelan’s have all been left shaking in the wake of their natural gift for performance and the enchanting hooks of

their music. With hype building around their highly anticipated single; 'Not Her', they have recently appeared on Soundfeed.com and SPIN 1038’s Plan B.

In their press release for 'Not Her', The Optimists note that the tone and mood of the song contrasts the exuberant and high-energy style which characterises their live shows. In that sense I was surprised when I first listened to it, but no less impressed by quality of the recorded track. O'Grady and Lawrie's vocals and harmonies are truly impressive, and without doubt, they are one of the best pairing of singers in the country. 

Their second single is an indie-pop ballad, and despite the for withdrawn sound, they successfully build the atmosphere to restrained anthemic levels by track's end, with a slow-burning guitar loop and drums carefully and gradually lifting the 'Not Her' to its heart-felt crescendo. The Optimists' live shows speak for themselves, and it's nice now to get a feel for how they transfer to the studio, the next single is eagerly awaited already.

Look / Like / Listen & Follow:

Website: http://theoptimistsband.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theoptimists6/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4E2mtYFGWJMZrw27M0G6hZ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OptimistsThe

Video: Seskin Lane - I Never Forget A Face

Seskin Lane - I Never Forget A Face

Info: Seskin Lane are a Tipperary based pop/rock band founded in 2010 by Eoin Ryan Anthony. Three of the 5 are original members of arguably Thurles' most successful band The Rumours. Lane’s debut album 'Tasty Rainbow Rain' was released in 2011 and was followed by the release of their second album, 'The History Of Things To Come', in 2014. Seskin Lane are growing substantially in popularity by reaching more than 21,000 Spotify streams and can often be heard on some of Ireland's top radio stations such as RTE Radio 1, SPIN, Highland Radio as well as in many venues throughout the country such as Whelans, Crane Lane, Source Arts Centre. 

The band was one of the acts to play on the Salty Dog stage at Electric Picnic 2015. Seskin Lane recently presented their latest single release 'I Never Forget A Face' in front of more than 10,000 visitors at Semple Stadium, Thurles and it’s official video has currently reached in excess of 40,000 views on YouTube since the end of March. The band are currently working on the recording of their 3rd studio album due to be released in August, 2017. 

https://www.facebook.com/Seskin-Lane-196538647054101/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4FEqCtA8OXv0QO6yf56vyM

https://twitter.com/Seskin_Lane

Live: WOLFF Irish Tour, 27th April - 20th May

WOLFF - Flesh, Blood, Skin & Bone

Info: The High Kings of durty Irish blues-rock, WOLFF and band are getting ready to hit the road for their Irish Tour next Thursday, 27th of April, in his home county of Wexford at The Sky & The Ground venue, and will finish up on the 20th of May in Whelan's with support from one of our favourite local acts, Sub Motion, my freakin' ears! The full list of venues and dates are below.

Wexford trashy blues artist WOLFF has announced a 7 date full band headline Irish tour starting at the end of April. Having just completed a run as the opening act for The Blizzards on their Irish tour the last few months has also seen WOLFF supporting Irish rising stars Hermitage Green, UK behemoths Black Peaks and Nashville rockers The Cadillac Three. WOLFF have just been announced for two of Ireland’s most popular summer festivals, Vantastival and Castlepalooza. WOLFF’s track ‘Flesh Blood Skin & Bone’ is currently the soundtrack to the GAA Allianz League 25th Anniversary video campaign with is running across social media and in Croke Park.

Thunderous drums, growling bass, ferocious guitars and howling vocals combine to bring a huge sound to life on stage. Blending the power & fire of traditional blues with trashy garage rock riffs & in-your-face vocals, WOLFF strikes a shadowy figure. Like the lyric says 'You can sleep when you're dead & done' and it looks like this beast is just waking up.

And here's a small taster of what you can expect from one of the country's best live acts;

Tour Dates:

27 April · The Sky & The Ground, Wexford

special guest Jaxson


28 April · Mike The Pies, Listowel 

special guest Long Tail


29 April · Fred Zeppelins, Cork 

special guest Blaming Hannah


30 April · Brewery Corner, Kilkenny 

special guest Brand New Dead Things


6 May · Monroes, Galway 

special guest D Day


12 May · Central Arts, Waterford 

special guest Anna-Liese


20 May · Whelans, Dublin

special guest Sub Motion


Early bird tickets priced from €7 available from http://thisiswolff.com

http://facebook.com/thisiswolff

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1c8JO3Wgh09NP5hManofhE

Premiere: Motions - All I've Ever Known

Photo: André Varela

Info: Last year Dublin alternative-rock / electro-pop act Motions announced their arrival on the Dublin and Irish music scene with their delicious debut single 'Back To Where I Begun' which we were also delighted to premiere here, it was a track that wedged itself in my head instantly, and for months afterwards. Not long after that I saw Motions perform a full set and said single live on the main stage at Whelan's for the venue's Ones To Watch festival, it was nailed on.

Now, Motions return with their second single, 'All I've Ever Known', and we're even more honoured to premiere this new track. In their own words; ''All I've Ever Known' centres around the traces left behind after losing someone close to you. Emotive and exposing, the song is raw, energetic and reflective of the chaotic elements we experience in the grief of loss.'' 

Like / Listen & Follow:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MotionsMusicOfficial/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5R9IO8nJdSxn4MRvK2CMrq

Twitter: https://twitter.com/motionsmusic

Album: Curse of Lono - Severed

Photo: Hana Knizova

Curse of Lono - Pick Up The Pieces

Info: Acclaimed new London five-piece Curse Of Lono released their debut album 'Severed' on Submarine Cat Records on April 7th. A sumptuously cinematic record that combines harmony-laden Americana with driving, gothic alt-rock, Severed’ was produced at Gun

Founded and fronted by Felix Bechtolsheimer, formerly the singer-guitarist in British roots pioneers Hey Negrita, Curse Of Lono formed in early 2015, though the songs on 'Severed' were written over a 14-year period. They range from the perky, Paul Simon-ish new single 'Pick Up The Pieces' to the more lugubrious 'He Takes My Place', the almost jazzy 'London Rain' and the rootsy, rhythmic ‘Send For The Whiskey’. The album belongs as much to the Americana tradition and old faithfuls such as Little Feat as it does to more modern, playful practitioners of the form such as Beck.

http://www.curseoflonoband.com/

https://www.facebook.com/curseoflonoband/

https://twitter.com/curseoflonoband

Album of the Month: RO GANG - H.E.R.

Info: RO GANG (formerly Mr. Rosso) are a two piece recording project, turned full band set up, hailing from Dublin South-side suburbs - creating rambunctious lo-fi jams for all the family. Since the release of 2014's debut release 'Doom On Denton' the duo comprising of Isaac Clarke and Henry Ernest (aka Dr. Duloc) have gone from strength to strength, with a cult-esque following and gigs turning into riotous affairs. 

'H.E.R.' is informed by everything from Young Thug style trap production to Burt Bacharach's musical sensibilities. Cuttingly self-aware and uncomfortably hip. 

We are truly over-joyed to have RO GANG's new album, H.E.R., as our inaugural Album of the Month here on Remy. Formerly the aforementioned cult and insouciant borderline underground hitmen Mr. Rosso, Clarke and Earnest recall a pair of vibrantly nonchalant Professor. Weeto's laughing manically in the music lab at how easy it is to create dope songs that the masses can lap up.

H.E.R. is, well it's just as glorious as you'd expect from the duo had you heard their previous outputs, a ridiculous whirlpool of DIY that doesn't sound DIY at all, I'm blown apart inside by second track 'Love Me', listen to that rambling bass-line and squeaking electric guitar riff, the lo-fi buzz of the vocals, and then the masterful introduction of 90's idiot-rap at the 2:40 mark, powerhouse genius.

RO GANG - Smoking

'Oisin Goes To The Dogs Alone' is the definition of wonky, a completely mundane piece of conversational hearsay turned into a vividly droll tale of modern Dickensian despair. 'Best Friend' is a must listen on the album, is this an Irish Beastie Boys funk jam with added Badly Drawn Boy and a blast of heyday Republic of Loose, damn those boys can rap.

On 'Punk Rockers' the duo bring hip-hop satire to another level, the lyrics may as well read 'we can rap any words we want and you aren't even listening because, the music'. But we can't denigrate the comical beauty of the actual rhymes; 'I'm coming up like a new erection, going back in time like a Two Direction (sic, for me)...a RO GANG for the new election, I'm a no gang like a gang of boys, I put away my corduroy and bought myself a new toy, it's a little thing called credibility, you think I'm funny, I'll use you up like a Duracell'.

Another piece of high-grade beauty arrives on 'Boys Club', probably what you'd end up with if Mac DeMarco and Eels decided to do a collab together following a bag of skank after listening to the Mr. Rosso / RO GANG back / nu catalogue. 'Your lips when they kiss are like a gyrating bliss' sneaky. The album pulls the curtain down with the intention of being calm and failing via 'World Star', filtering jangle-pop through a sonic flux capacitor, screeching vox and wild guitar solos crash to a stop, pause, Hank Williams in mono singin' through an empty silver bean can, amateur back-garden shed math-rock, FIN. 

RO GANG are wild-southside cowboys, riding roughshod over everything you think you know or feel about music, and H.E.R. is about as inventive as it can get.


Like & Listen:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rossorocks/

Bandcamp: https://littlelrecords.bandcamp.com/album/h-e-r

Single: Sub Motion - Decoy

Sub Motion - Decoy

Info: One minute and 52 seconds, this is all it takes for Dublin rock four-piece Sub Motion to smash the house down on new single 'Decoy'. Despite the limited amount of time the band exercise a manic escalation of chaos, layer upon layer at a breath-taking pace. Geary's vocals sear like a red hot poker across the supersonic speed of guitar, bass and drums, at times doffing its cap to Weezer's more outrageous outbursts, 'Decoy' has such condensed energy it should be in the Hadron Collider. An explosive and highly gratifying rock thumper from one of the hottest tickets in town right now.

Like / Listen & Follow:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/submotion/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1kMvXqzY7diupFmwMfrkAO

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sub_motion

Video: This Side Up - Billy No Mates

This Side Up - Billy No Mates

Info: 'Billy No Mates' is This Side Up's feel good anthem from 'Full Fat'. The song has a brazenly optimistic buzz to it. It’s the groups most heavily streamed song, a summer No.1 but with a dark edge! In it Myster-E and Shaool take on the persona of two of our greatest vices, drugs and money. 

This Side Up have joined forces with Gavin Fitzgerald for the visuals on this one. Tongue in cheek fun with girls, cars and fivers. 

'Billy No Mates' is the fourth single to be released from Sligo rap trio This Side Up's full-length debut album Full Fat which was released late last year and was both 2FM DJ Dan Hegarty and The Irish Times' Nialler9's album of the week on separate occasions in November. 

TSU play The Grand Social this coming Saturday, 22nd of April, and event info is here.


Look / Like / Listen & Follow:

Website: https://www.thissideup.ie/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thissideuphiphop

Bandcamp: https://thissideupire.bandcamp.com/album/full-fat

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0tFkSpeYo3W5Wim8FfBMuJ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThisSideUp071

EP: Mr. Billy Fitzgerald - An Introduction

Info: Mr. Billy Fitzgerald is a charming, witty, and self-deprecating champion of 90s R&B rhythms, folksy acoustic guitar, and remarkable harmonies that are informed by the likes of Prince, Beck, and Eels. His debut EP 'An Introduction' was released on April 14th, before commencing a national tour at the end of April that takes in Cork, Belfast, Galway and finally, a show at Whelans, Dublin.

He spent three years in the studio working on the debut EP – completely alone – writing, recording, experimenting and exploring. The outcome is a concoction of old-school drum machines, down-to-earth acoustic guitar, joyous harmonies, and catchy melodies. Billy’s trademark upper-register and sweet, sweet falsetto is layered on top resulting in a liberated take on solo songwriting. 'An Introduction' is the forerunner of Billy’s first long-player due later this year.

The first track on An Introduction, 'Give Me A Chance' is immediately gripping, and buzzes between so many decades and artists in such a confined space that you're still collecting them in your head after the track has ended. It lays the funk on thick, in a most deliciously straight-up manner, and Mr. Billy Fitzgerald's falsetto is indeed quite an incredible medium to lift a song that didn't really need any more lifting up to some wonderful heights. If I was to be an absolute brute I would clumsily put The Doobie Brothers, James Brown and George Clinton into a mixer with Alabama Shakes.

'Old Loves' sees him proffer a slightly different style. This is weird on a purely personal level, as at times it reminds me of a lost track on U2's Achtung Baby or Zooropa, mostly vocally, but also in terms of effects. It's certainly the most 90's sounding track of the three, (and come to think of it there are also echoes of Beck's Morning Phase in here too) and it dawns on you that Fitzgerald doesn't even have to try and sound cool, it's a natural result of his sound. 

Third and final track 'Work For It' is a tasty bruiser of a song, following a straight-up pinging drum-pad intro, Fitzgerald gets all honky tonk on our asses á la Creedence Clearwater Revival. With lovely interplay between acoustic, bass and keys, the snapping rhythm and beat providing a seriously uplifting and chaotically enjoyable gospel choir vibe.

It's been a long time since I've heard a collection of tracks where the acoustic guitar is so central yet in the grand scheme of the whole, almost becomes incidental due to the bristling rhythm and nature of the rest of the instruments. I quite simply, really enjoyed An Introduction an awful lot, and tickle me pink, I can't wait for the album to come around now.

Look / Like / Listen & Follow:

Website: http://www.mrbillyfitzgerald.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrbillyfitzgerald/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0TDdvkqkOcZYmrxQ4yIfqJ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrbillyfitz

Premiere: Femmepop - Bright Noise

Femmepop - Bright Noise

Info: We are very privileged to premiere the brand new single, 'Bright Noise', with accompanying video, from Cork electronic artist Femmepop's latest album, Dancing With Myself. The video itself was produced by film-maker Andrew Marshall, with lighting and pace fitting in perfectly with the mood of the second track on the aforementioned album. In our recent review of Dancing With Myself, we described 'Bright Noise' as follows; 'a deep and looping bass-line opens up the track, O'Sullivan's vocals are crisp and clean, and by the time the synths kick in you are under water and floating.' And so it goes with Margaret O'Sullivan's music in general, atmosphere is a key component, and it's always dropped right down the middle of a sphere of electronic soundscapes for us to wrap around ourselves.

Listen to 'Bright Noise', and the full album, here;

https://femmepop.bandcamp.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Femmepop

Twitter: https://twitter.com/femmepop

Video: Sun.Set.Ships - Song for Brothers

Sun.Set.Ships - Song for Brothers

Info: Monaghan electronic trio Sun.Set.Ships have been a massive firm favourite around these parts from the very first time they graced us with their blissfully breezy lo-fi electro-pop sounds. Conor Bellew, Ciaran Curley and Ryan Mulligan seem to effortlessly create soundscapes and moods that carry you off to the most sun-kissed corners of your mind, and this is all poured into the magical 'Song for Brothers'. The single has been one of the best Irish tracks we've heard from any genre over the last few years, and deservedly gets the visual treatment to accompany it courtesy of Canadian film-maker Johnny Diensthuber.

2016's Man.Must.Explore was an easy choice for our Top 20 Irish EP's of the year and you should definitely check it out of you like what you've heard above.

Like & Listen:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sun.Set.Ships/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2B8z98IjaWBHo1FSi07yY1

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SunSetShips

Live: This Side Up @ The Grand Social, Saturday, 22nd April

This Side Up - Snappin' feat. Hamo

Info: The hippest hoppers to come out of the west of Ireland since fellow Sligo rhyme-master, Blindboi Tadhg Dall Ó hÚigínn in the mid-16th century, This Side Up have announced their latest headline show for The Grand Social, on Saturday, 22nd of April. Support on the night will come courtesy of Bleak Stack and t-woc; 

Live MCs, Turntables and one lump of a sound system.

It's Bleak Stack to start. They bring tunes from a reality not too far from our own. This is some heavy shit! Next up it's This Side Up bringing that West Coast Boom Bap.... izitya?! To keep the buzz going well into Sunday t-woc takes control of the vinyl. Dancehall riddims and original tunes.

Event info and tickets are available at the below links;

https://www.facebook.com/events/296944214069809/

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/this-side-up-t-woc-bleak-stack-tickets-33393739574

t-woc - virtue is this

Bleak Stack - When We're Whole One Day

Album: Femmepop - Dancing With Myself

Design: Demetryjus Guajara

Info: Femmepop is the moniker of Cork electronic and dream-pop solo act Margaret O'Sullivan, who has had a prolific output of music going back to the release of her debut EP, Kick, in 2008. A slew of singles, 2 additional EP's, and the wonderful From A Girl Who Never Sleeps (2014) album later, and we are delighted to have a fresh LP on our hands in the form of Dancing With Myself, released just two weeks ago.

Every aspect of Femmepop's delivery, from music to artwork, is like a Renaissance version of the 1980's, not imitation, but from a parallel version of the decade that existed on another habitable planet in a galaxy many light years away. The intro to 'Boys & Girls' sounds like the beginning of an infomercial from a long, long time ago, or closedown theme music when a channel is offline overnight, ah those were the days. The track is rich and every single space filled with a relentless drive to envelop us with 100% pure 80's electro-pop.

A sharp change in mood and tone follows on second track 'Bright Noise', a deep and looping bass-line opens up the track, O'Sullivan's vocals are crisp and clean, and by the time the synths kick in you are under water and floating. 'Bled For You' has a deep house undercurrent, a thumping muted bass seems to move independently from the gentle nature of the rest of the track, Femmepop grasps control and then lets go repeatedly throughout the track, alternating chorus and verse methodically. 

'Breakout', gosh, what an intro, an almost mono sounding bass and beat pump in a loop, the vocals and lyrics like the gentle strokes of a paintbrush over the music; 'And don't you know, rage is not for girls, and don't you know, anger is not for girls, no way'. The defiance is understated, yet very clear. '1998' feels like a major homage to where Femmepop is from musically, it's the bridge between the 80's and 2017, the monologues breaking the track very nicely, and creating an atmosphere that is warm and gives pause for thought.

Dancing With Myself wraps up with its title track, an alternate cover of a Billy Idol number. It's a very enjoyable lo-fi version of Idol's song, almost indiscernible from the original. Femmepop's sophomore album has many highlights, and is beyond majestic when it comes to rattling our nostalgic cages. One observation however is that when the time comes for a third album, a notable shift may not be a bad thing, that said, no one has nailed retro 80's electro-pop as well as O'Sullivan to date.

Like / Listen & Follow:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Femmepop

Bandcamp: http://femmepop.bandcamp.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/femmepop

News: Nix Moon Announce Series of Live Video Releases for May

Nix Moon - Soul Traffic

Info: If you're like me, and on occasion, sit on your living room floor with your musty and worn Big Brother & The Holding Company, Creedence or Sam Cooke vinyl clutched close to your chest, bawling your eyes out and wondering, to quote Paula Cole; 'Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?'. All is not lost, and neither shall it be, as long as the likes of Dundalk's Nix Moon are giving us the grooves, the funk and the axe-mastery we crave and need. 

Following the release of last years unanimously loved Soul Traffic EP (above), they have been in the Windmill Lane Recording Studios putting together a series of three live videos of unreleased songs, be, the, hokey. We look forward very much to sharing said vids here upon release; Nix Moon will release three live videos, recorded at Windmill Lane Recording Studios, on May 7th - 'Autumn Night', May 21st - 'When the Devil Opens the Door', May 28th - 'Hua Hin'.

In the meantime, here's a bit about the band and a zinger of a live performance at January's Whelan's Ones To Watch.

Since forming, Nix Moon have featured on highly esteemed festival line ups including Electric Picnic, Knockanstockan, Vantastival and many more. They are moulding and adapting authentic Irish elements and indigenous instrumentation with current, comprehensive themes while oozing energy and enthralling crowds with their melodic sound.

Last October, the band won 'Best Performers'at the Busker Fleadh 2016 . Following this success, they have gained airtime on 98fm Big Breakfast with Cooper and Luke and recording sessions at the prestigious Windmill Lane Recording Studios.

With the release of their debut EP 'Soul Traffic' in July 2016, the band are growing in magnitude within Irish and overseas music circles. Airtime on RTE Radio 1, Newstalk 106-108fm, and presently with seven festivals coming up, including Electric Picnic, Longitude and Vantastival, 2017 is kicking off.

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/nixmoonmusic