Aislinn Logan: Photo - Rory James
Info: We're being non-standard again and squeezing 11 tracks into the latest independent Irish music playlist due to the number of quality releases over the last few weeks. We open with Dublin indie-rock act Motions and their latest single 'Coincide' (which is actually part of a double A-side along with 'Say Goodbye', listen here), the four-piece have hit a streak over the past year with their hook-laden singles and are the perfect fit for fans of the genre looking for something with a contemporary edge rather than just reinventing the wheel.
A real peach of a track comes from new Dublin trip-hop act Sal Dulu, 'Duluoz Dream', it's acid-jazz vibes bring you right back to the best of St.Germain's Tourist album, forlorn sax effects with a zippy beat make for a highly enjoyable listen. Our favourite Galway band The Clockworks return with another stomping indie rocker with their latest single 'The World Owes Me A Favour', a wry and satirical look at the non-thinking acceptance of mediocrity in the modern age, with a lovely dash of Madness-esque ska adding a nice kick to the energy of the track.
A few weeks ago Belfast contemporary folk act Aislinn Logan released her new double-single, 'So Loud' / 'Dance With Demons' (listen to the latter here), it was premiered on The Line of Best Fit and featured on The Thin Air also. Currently residing in London, Logan has also seen her tracks featured on BBC Introducing, BBC Radio 6, and 2FM among others. 'So Loud' is an emotional and atmospheric piece of music which is lifted to dreamlike heights by Logan's vocals, lyrically it is vivid and has an ancient feel to its ambience.
Wicklow indietronica quintet Columbia Mills have released their latest single, 'This City Doesn't Feel Like Home To Me' which recalls early Interpol (Turn On The Bright Lights) and The National (The Boxer), a high tempo percussion and call-to-action vocal drive the track energetically from start to finish with a rising vocal that slams it across the line for it's rousing finale.
Having premiered on Nialler9 last week, electronic solo artist 1000 Beasts released the first of a number of planned collaborations with Irish acts which will include Ryan O'Shaughnessy, Janet Grogan, SYLK and Travis Is A Tourist among others. The track is titled 'Wonderland' and features jazz and contemporary pop vocalist Briony, it also has an unique accompanying video which will be released publicly shortly. There's a strong 90's house / dancefloor feel to 'Wonderland' reminiscent of a less tripped-out Sneaker Pimps or the wonderful Blueboy, the single itself is a very tasty sampler of what may lie ahead with producer Cian / 1000 Beasts next releases.
ROCSTRONG
If ROCSTRONG tells you to be cool, you better listen up. One of the most enigmatic pop acts to emerge from the Irish music scene over the last few years, new single 'Be Cool' is hot off the press. It's a very different sound from the solo acts previous singles, it's smooth, velvet and has a restrained funkiness that leaves you all mellow inside. It took me a while to figure out what it reminded me of and then finally I tweaked it, 'Be Cool' has a Jamiroquai groove and the backing band are all throwing their 70's disco-lather everywhere, and it's sticking, from wah-wahs to synths, this one grows very quickly on you.
A solid debut single emerges from Belfast alternative-rock trio The Sea, Close By and their wonderfully puzzling titled track, 'Humphrey's Got A Heat Lamp'. Their math-rock leanings shine through on the singles second-half which is taken from forthcoming EP, Peppermint. The lo-fi buzz of the track and suitably placed breaks throughout also make for a nice stop-start motion to the music, the EP should be an interesting listen from the newcomers.
Sticking to Belfast, the excellent Gnarkats also released their latest single, Something To Say' this week. Howling backing vocals and fuzzed out guitars coupled with relentless drums combine to dizzy you in all of the best ways across its just under three minutes duration.
High energy indie dance artist Donal Quinn releases the follow up to previous single 'Massif Anthem' with the tub-thumping 'Blurred', the Drogheda act throwing some high tempo shapes into mash-up of 90's rave and Mike Skinner's The Streets on his more high-paced moments, lovely stuff.
Last year Kilkenny alternative-pop band Harbouring Oceans caused a big stir with the release of their debut single 'Enso', a track we listened to pretty relentlessly and also featured in our best of end of year list. Now they are back with an equally strong new single in 'City Lights', incorporating the emotion and atmosphere of it's predecessor, but wrapping it in an anthemic rock blanket. Rumours the band have been scheming something special during the break between the singles appear to be true, with the five-piece now planning on releasing a slew of singles, one per month for the remainder of 2017, a debut EP, music video and a hip-hop collaboration, be the hokey!
To hear our previous independent Irish Playlist, head along over here http://thebestofmusicandfilm.blogspot.ie/2017/07/playlist-remys-irish-independent-top-10.html
