Album of the Month: Pursued by Dogs - Pursued by Dogs

Info: Dublin indietronica four-piece Pursued by Dogs released their debut self-titled album yesterday ahead of a launch show at The Button Factory on the 4th of May. 

It may not be something of much significance, or it could be another sign of yet further improvement in the ongoing quality of specific genres in the Irish music scene currently, but I have noticed over the last 12 months that the area of indie and electronic music has shifted away from merely attempting to be 'radio-friendly'. It's a genre that for quite some time has been the doyen of a small cluster of Irish bands who, intentionally or not, seemed to be more focused on emulating our U.K. neighbours than developing their own authentic sound. Whilst this can be a commercially successful exercise, it brings nothing new to the table for the genuine music fan, and I hope that doesn't come across in any way as snobbish!

I mention this because more and more acts appear to be taking stock of what music fans want rather than what they think they should be doing to attain success. Pursued by Dogs definitely fit into this bracket, and it's probably not all that surprising if you look at the band members respective backgrounds in music, these guys aren't wet between the ears.

Opening with 'Talk' this is self-evident, I'm immediately aware I'm listening to something that will explore avenues I want to hear. A seemingly simple triumvirate of synth, drum-pad and vocal sets a gradually widening soundscape that the listener can wander around with ease and start to absorb with little effort. Having first featured single 'Iceland' here in August of last year, listening to it anew and with a chunky passage of time has lead to far more appreciation, in some ways it works as being on the right side of the window of contemporary electronic music, it has strong popular elements (there are mini moments where I almost burst into Journey's 'Don't Stop (Believin')' in my head - but why?!), but sticks to its guns in terms of delivering a highly enjoyable upbeat tempo and simultaneously avoiding formulaic trappings. 

Pursued by Dog - Talk

I'm loving the moody flow of 'Banish the Spiders', the dual snap and click of the percussion, how the slow-breathing synth supports the keys and a nice sliver of 80's electro-pop all moving in circles, as if reaching out blindly and trying to find each other in the dark. A well-timed change of pace arrives on 'Swap Dimensions', it's really nice to hear the minimalist vocal interplay at the beginnig between frontman Andrew Brennan and Suzanne Purcell which in turn leads to a harmonic embrace. I'm a sucker for phat, thick n' gritty synth buzzes and behold they arrive at 2:42, yaws. 

The opening bars of 'Gliding Silence' give you pause for breath, and is another example of the broad range PBD can dip their toes into, that pause doesn't last forever however with the track unfolding into a colourful piece of glittering neon tubthumping. 'Whiskey Ruin' is another delightful single from the album, as it crawls up from the floor into a rising dance-floor anthem, probably the track in this collection most primed for a remix collab, I can imagine stuttering vocals being interjected into the chorus.

Pursued by Dogs - Whiskey Ruin (Live)

'Ease' takes on a shape-shifting and more metallic hue, small and subtle elements of industrial electronica with a dash of grime (not the genre!) sliding across its synths and pads, electro credentials in full swing here, this is the track you close your eyes to and drift away on, hypnotic rhythms. The album closes with another previous single 'A Tunnel', which shoots right back to how it opened, and again differentiates it from your run of the mill electronic indie. I haven't mentioned it up until now, but there are so many examples on this album of how the band do what feels right for them, the word risk may be a little bit over the top, but Pursued by Dogs' debut would not have worked in the manner it has unless they discarded the outside and went with their gut, which they clearly have, and that's the only creative marker of success when it comes to making albums that are great, and not just good, everything else is just noise ;)

Look / Like / Listen & Follow:

Website: https://pursuedbydogs.com/

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0udh077O2lZpj6KPKHw9xM?si=PDkRt_SIQRKpjYca83glCg

Twitter: https://twitter.com/pursuedbydogs/

Photos: Lemoncello with Junior Brother @ The Cobblestone, 26th April

All photos: Remy Connolly (on PC or Mac click first image for Slideshow)

Info: On Thursday night at The Cobblestone Pub in Dublin, Maynooth alternative folk duo Lemoncello (Laura Quirke - vocals / guitar, Claire Kinsella - cello / vocals) launched their debut EP, Stuck Upon the Staircase, in front of a sold out audience. The setting was intimate, rows of chairs leading up to the front of the stage and (for the most part!) an attentive audience. After opening their set together they were soon joined on stage by Claire's brother Kevin on double bass and harpist Alannah Thornburgh. More strings make for more joy as far as this punter is concerned, and as the evening progressed the music gently inched itself further and further into the realms of soul-soothing. Lemoncello's blend of mystical and contemporary folk sounds conjure up images of moving Harry Clarke characters from ancient Irish folklore, it is colourful and thought-provoking and vivid.

To open Lemoncello had Killarney-native Junior Brother, aka Ronan Kealy, who has been tireless in his gigging over the last 12 months, you could probably go and see him once a week over the course of a year at this stage. It's fair and merely observational to say that he had the audience captivated by the time he had reached the third song of his set. The unique twisting of his vocal, perfectly executed elongated moments of solely guitar-picking, and tragi-comic lyrical wit make it more than just a singer-songwriter coursing through their repertoire, it's an act, and a engrossing one at that.

  

  

News: More Acts Added To Together For YES At The Olympia, 2 May

James Vincent McMorrow - National

Info: There is less that one week until Repeal Project present Together For Yes at The Olympia. This Wednesday, 2 May a host of incredible Irish artists will gather together for one night of amazing music in order to raise funds for Together For Yes.

Acclaimed Irish band Delorentos’ determined rise has been a wonderful chaos – break-ups, labels collapsing, reformations and critical awards, worldwide tours and packed houses from Mexico City to Moscow. In a world where so much emphasis is placed on “brand new” they continue to revel in writing albums and playing live shows that are ever more passionate, raw and exciting! Their 5th studio album True Surrender is out tomorrow. 

Also joining this stellar bill are Little Green Cars. These Irish indie-rockers have made two acclaimed albums, 2012’s debut Absolute Zero, and the follow-up, Ephemera, in 2016. They are currently working on their third collection of songs. The band feature two lead singers, Faye O’Rourke and Stevie Appleby, and their songs are hallmarked with a dark lyrical essence. They have headlined concerts all over the world including a special open-air event at Iveagh Gardens.

Loah is Sallay Matu Garnett, a singer songwriter of Sierra Leonean / Irish origin who grew up between Maynooth and West Africa. Loah is an artist on the absolute rise! Her unique blend of folk and soul, which she calls ArtSoul, has been blowing audiences away. She has released three stunning singles/videos, performed at Electric Picnic, Body&Soul, Longitude, Cork Jazz Festival, Sounds From A Safe Harbour, and the Dublin Fringe Festival, amongst others. She released her debut EP This Heart last summer to critical acclaim.

They join the brilliant line up which includes Mary Black, James Vincent McMorrow, The Strypes, Le Galaxie, Thanks Brother, Mango, Veda’s Coven and the wonderful Sing Along Social.

We are also excited to announce that the speakers will be hosted by broadcaster and academic Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin. There will also be speeches by Minister for Health Simon Harris TD, Fine Gael TD Kate O’Connell. Tara Flynn and Ailbhe Smyth.

There are a limited amount of tickets still available, so move fast to get involved! 

Tickets are priced from €28 (inc. booking fee) and are on sale now and moving fast! Head to www.ticketmaster.ie / 0818719300 to purchase

All proceeds go towards raising funds for Together For Yes.

If you can’t join us at The Olympia, but would like to support, please head to https://www.togetherforyes.ie/ for information on how to donate. 

Premiere: The Felonies - Berlin Blues

Photo: Simon Meagher

The Felonies - Berlin Blues

Info: Today marks the release of the latest single from Wicklow four-piece The Felonies, and REMY is particularly honoured to premiere track 'Berlin Blues' on these pages, one which is sure to be one of the best Irish single releases of 2018. The band have been steering their way through, and exploring, varied takes on rock music since their inception over two years ago. Debut EP Impossible, Impractical veered from rough and tumble post-punk revival Arctic Monkeys homage ('Second Attempt') to contemporary interpretations of mid-60's psych-garage on 'Fire In The Snow'. Move a year further down the road and that early rawness started to settle, but the retention of psychedelic rock was notable on single 'Perfect Lie'. The exciting thing about it all is that this sound progressed seemingly subconsciously, and naturally, they were instinctively treading their own path.

Photo: Stefan Tivodar

Those early steps were determined, but with their latest single, The Felonies have just skipped a few hurdles, it feels and sounds like they've been around the block a number of times and are now rushing headlong into a chaotic brand of rock music that they are making their own. It's a blistering pipe-bomb of punk-rock anarchy, a race to the finish-line of noise between each of the band members from the very first second, vocals, guitar, bass and goddamn drums trying to smack each other out of the way toward that incendiary climax. Here's a band currently holding the candle for Irish rock fans, and importantly, there's a message behind the music, with 'Berlin Blues' relaying the experience of two of the band members witnessing a sexual assault and the anguish resulting from the perpetrators sense of entitlement which it brought forth.  

Look / Like / Listen & Follow:

Website: http://www.thefelonies.com/

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

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/thefelonies/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0kE1o6khvNfnlC2eCYqbcm?si=d4iFuJuxRqGRz_XbL1sRkg

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thefeloniesband

Premiere - Chase Nova Band - Keep Your Head (Below The Waves)

Chase Nova Band - Keep Your Head (Below The Waves)

Info: REMY is delighted to premiere the new single and video from Dublin act Chase Nova Band, 'Keep Your Head (Below The Waves)'. Nova himself reveals the extremely personal nature of the theme behind the song; "It's written about my experiences in a psychiatric ward for a couple of months back in 2013. I was involuntarily committed and spent two months waiting on a tribunal to prove that I was sane enough to be let out. It's a pretty special one for me and it's kinda the reason I wanted it to be the first single off the new EP."

The balance between the heavy theme and light-hearted demeanour of the music is perfectly executed, even in its happiest moments you can't help but be touched by a strong tinge of sadness. The merriment is an aspiration of the protagonist, but we're told to 'Keep your head below the waves, you're better off not coming up until the ocean behaves', with the ocean clearly marking life itself and our environment, namely the people that surround us. It's the struggle between what we want for ourselves and what others want for us.

Musically it's a joy to behold, from the smiling ukulele, to the soft brush percussion and of course vibrant sax playing. Vocally Chase Nova relays painful and troubling memories with an authentic sense of feeling, but won't allow the nature of the best take all of the fun out of it. 'Keep Your Head (Below The Waves)' is a fine package, musically, in terms of subject matter and visually, it ticks all the right boxes.

Like / Listen & Follow:

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

Bandcamp: https://chasenovaband.bandcamp.com/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0mwn2WHuZ0YMmhdZvw4BqB

iTunes: https://t.co/dljsapHNkz

Twitter: https://twitter.com/chasenovaband

Single: Happyalone. - bodybags

Photo: Nicholas O'Donnell

Info: Cork trio Happyalone. seem to inexorably advance in leaps and bounds with each passing single, where their first track 'colours' was a beyond gorgeous mellow lo-fi affair that is still one of the best debuts I've heard from an electronic act, 'ur eyes' moved toward more atmospheric dub and trance, and signalled a big shift in sound. 'bodybags' though is a fire-starter, this is by far their best single, vocally it hits emotive levels, and this is a track that fans of Massive Attack's uncomfortable to listen to at times, yet a masterpiece, Mezzanine, will adore, namely, and in more ways than one, 'Inertia Creeps'. 'bodybags' is a huge leap in a very short space of time, I've no idea how Happyalone. became so good so soon. Someone, somewhere, book these guys for a gig in Dublin asap.

Look  Like / Listen & Follow:

Webpage: https://www.breakingtunes.com/happyalonehappy

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

Spotfiy: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07cGsRL23DtuPJnawMKACY?si=6fx0g38-S-qikydrdKEQFw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/happyandfriends

Album: Paddy Hanna - Frankly, I Mutate

Info: Normally when a mór le rá Irish album is released I'm in a hurry to get a review up and share my initial thoughts as best I can, but last February and March two albums came out in close proximity that dug a little deeper into me than normal. I knew that, as a result, in order to properly review both I really needed to live with them for a while. Paddy Hanna's Frankly, I Mutate is one of those albums, I had reviewed the colourful 'Mario Lanza' and the wonderful 'Toulouse the Kisser' over the past few months, and for me they set the scene in different ways.

In a recent interview with NME Dubliner Hanna spoke freely about personal battles and how they interact with his craft; "I allude to mental illness in my work. It’s considered by many to be a neurosis that spurs on creative work, however it is nothing but a crutch on my own creativity. My time in a depressive haze is spent in complete emptiness, weeks will go by, my beard will have grown out, my pen dried up. So when indeed I allude to mental illness it would usually be during a happy period where I can function. One of the most important days in my life came when I finally opened up about depression and was not met with jeers but rather acceptance and understanding". 

Listening to his sophomore album you would outwardly get the impression of a highly creative musical maverick who injects humour and comedic brevity into his song-writing (which he does). When you listen to the lyrics on tracks such as the brimming orchestral piece that is 'All I Can Say Is I Love You', you start to ponder a bit more and take stock beyond the music itself.

The scene is set with 'I Saw The Man, Pt. 2', this reminds me of an interlude on a Waterboys album, it's a little morose, but it's very calming, and the piano is a little magical. Mood is flipped on its head with one of my favourite tracks on the album 'Bad Boys', musically it's just wonderful, in an almost nailed on Leonard Cohen impersonation, Hanna tells a story that can be interpreted in many ways, a distant summer memory of mischief, a sinister plot by suits, who knows, and my god that brass and percussion are immense. 

'Ida' is an early signal (on top of 'Bad Boys') of an artist whose mind is knee-deep in the best of the best of so-called baroque pop, I hear all sorts of wisps from Roy Orbison to Scott Walker's 'Copenhagen' or 'It's Raining Today' from Scott 3, but with more joy. Another boon of Frankly, I Mutate is that it never sits on its laurels, take 'Mario Lanza' for example, this is a bone fide modern pop song, the type of song your conservative parents in 1965 would just about allow a teenage you listen to, it has just about enough big-band sound to distract from authoritarian analysis!

'Reverends Grave' is a significant pause, as if our protagonist has decided to take a break from the stage and make a rare and brief outreach to a spiritual dimension, additional vocals by Saint Sister are most welcome too. We then arrive at the barn-storming locomotive of 'Toulouse the Kisser', it's brash, a dash of 50's rock rhythm pumps along like day-glo pistons on over-drive, can we love Hanna's defiant vocal any more than at this point on the album?

Photo: Stephen White (The Last Mixed Tape)

'Spanish Smoke' is a lovely surprise on the album, a rare blues-rock and soul moment, I'm a bit at a loss to draw comparisons here, from two genres that I'd like to think I know a thing or two about a thing or two on, and this is a welcome state. There's at least one more kicker to the heart left in the shape of 'Low Voices', after all of the boisterous and uplifting moments, there's an inescapably honest introspective, painfully so, Hanna passes you his diary to read for yourself. In a way the undercurrent of the whole album and its messenger lead directly to this point, outward / inward, joy / turmoil, together / alone. 

I often project myself into the future, with one of my nieces or nephews starting to express an interest in music, and in this scenario they ask me what albums they should listen to in order to develop their song-writing or expand their palate. Frankly, I Mutate is one that would slip off the shelf, and I'd tell them to work their way backwards from there.

Look / Like / Listen & Follow:

Webpage: https://www.strangebrew.ie/paddyhanna

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

Bandcamp: https://paddyhanna.bandcamp.com/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4UiGzElcM7K4u6HdZ9pC5b?si=GDdy7bNtQXa9HxwvdmdxpQ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/paddyhanna

Single: LIERS - Universal Female

Info: Pronounced 'liars', North County Dublin four-piece LIERS have just released their debut single, 'Universal Female'. Fronted by lead singer and song-writer Liz Seaver, the band provide their own original take on much-loved early 90's grunge-rock. They play their first Whelan's show this coming Thursday, 26th of April, alongside Sub Motion in support of Fangclub. 

On a personal level I can relate very closely to the sound LIERS proffer on their debut release, and in a sense this was what hooked my interest pretty much straight away. The verses ping out to Foo Fighters' debut 1995 self-titled album, one of the very first CD's I bought when it came out, tracks such as 'This Is A Call' and 'Alone + Easy Target' spring to mind. The guitar riff at the song's opening also inhabits a space which crosses over Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana, all three bands cited by LIERS as influences.

What's refreshing about LIERS is how they drag these sounds through a black hole into 2018 and make it their own, this might sound like a re-invention, but it's certainly not. First off the band hammer home their imprint in the second-half, particularly from the 2:18 mark onwards, and match up very well to the sound of peers such as Belfast / London duo REWS. 'Universal Female' is more what you'd expect from a third or fourth single after 12 months of releases, something that bodes very well for the foreseeable future.

Like / Listen & Follow: 

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Uf2xcfKlm6djAaPHaqMfo?si=HQE58-msTv2uKyd_gbBOwQ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/liers_band

The VidList #011: Lemoncello, Brass Phantoms, Laura Ryder, Train Room

Brass Phantoms - Photo: Ciaran O'Donnell

Lemoncello - Stuck Upon the Staircase

Info: Lemoncello duo Laura Quirke (guitar, vocals) and Claire Kinsella (cello, vocals) have shared the video for their title-track single, 'Stuck Upon the Staircase', from their forthcoming debut EP which will be released on 26th of April next week in The Cobblestone in Smithfield. Shot by the inimitable Myles O'Reilly of Arbutus Yarns at The Elbowroom in Stoneybatter, the acoustics carry the soft yet powerful beauty of their harmonies and respective strings, acoustic and cello. It's a sweeping and moving meld of traditional and contemporary classical folk with an inescapable Irish story-telling hue. If you enjoyed this single you I recommend you catch them live with the pair playing festival slots for Vantastival, Body & Soul and Arcadian Fields this summer.

Brass Phantoms - Disciples

Dublin indie-rock and post-punk five-piece Brass Phantoms continue to refine and develop their sound on latest single 'Disciples', featured on one of our March Irish Playlists, the accompanying video was shot by Ciaran O'Donnell. Of the track itself we wrote; "A new band member in Colleen Heavey, and a new level of impact, Brass Phantoms have stepped up to the top of the ladder with new single 'Disciples', all of the elements which made previous singles such as 'City of Wolves' and 'Indigo' so appealing, the punch and kick of the drum, anthemic punch the air vocal and sizzling guitars are woven into something that sounds slightly different from the Dublin post-punk quintet."

Laura Ryder & Ampersand - Soda Pressing

We've long been fans of both Laura Ryder's live performances and recorded material such as debut 2016 EP haiku and last year's Vestigial album. With her band Laura Ryder & Ampersand create a jovial and theatrical delivery which is ably reflected in the music video. When we reviewed her debut album last year, regarding 'Soda Pressing' we noted; "Unexpectedly 'Soda Pressing' immediately reminds me of something you might find on The Frames' Setlist, I'm just waiting for Glen to come in with a whisper over the strings and piano. The song then gallops off into a carnival atmosphere at its half-way point before coming back down, toying with our musical feelings, and with one last throw of the dice it catapults off into the ether, like a rocket headed to a cartoon Moon." 

Train Room - The Lives of Others

Mayo's Joe Monaghan, aka Train Room, has shared his new video for latest single 'The Lives of Others', which was shot in his home county along White Strand in Louisburgh. Also featuring on one of last month's playlists we wrote at the time that he is; "An act that always manages to walk the tightrope of yearning and placid song-writing... his latest single 'The Lives of Others' throws a belly full of blues guitar at earnest song-writing. It's simple compared to his other singles, but that tinny vocal effect, excuse the pun, resonates, as always, on this sweet number."

News: Record Store Day 2018 - 21st of April

Info: Record Store Day was conceived in 2007 at a gathering of independent record store owners and employees as a way to celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding nearly 1400 independently owned record stores in the US and thousands of similar stores internationally. The first Record Store Day took place on April 19, 2008. Today there are Record Store Day participating stores on every continent except Antarctica.  

This is a day for the people who make up the world of the record store - the staff, the customers, and the artists - to come together and celebrate the unique culture of a record store and the special role these independently owned stores play in their communities. Special vinyl and CD releases and various promotional products are made exclusively for the day. For several years, 60% or more of the Record Store Day Official Release List came from independent labels and distributors. The list continues to include a wide range of artists, covering the diverse taste of record stores and their customers. 

On the first Record Store Day, Metallica spent hours at Rasputin Music in San Francisco meeting their fans and now each year hundreds of artists, internationally famous and from the block, flock to record stores around the world for performances, signings, meet and greets and to fill their own shopping bags with music

Some of REMY's 2014 Record Store Day scoops

So what's happening in Ireland tomorrow? Well-known vinyl stockists and establishments such as The R.A.G.E. on Fade Street, Tower Records on Dawson Street, Spindizzy Records (George's Arcade), The Sound Cellar and Freebird Records on Wicklow St. will all be participating in Dublin. Tower Records will have DJ sets from The Hot Sprockets, Fontaines DC, David Kitt and Claire Beck between 1pm-5pm. Golden Discs in Dundrum SC will have a live performance from one of our favs Molly Sterling. Elsewhere around the country our old pals Classified Records in Dundalk will be opening at 9am to welcome punters, whilst at their Wexford store Frankenstein Bolts and Rachel Grace will be performing. The chain will also have live music and DJ sets at their Newbridge, Athlone, Patrick St. (Cork), Limerick and Waterford stores. Some shops will also have considerable sales on existing stock so additional bargains are to be had. This is by no means an exhaustive list of participating stores so check with your local store to see what's happening there.

Crate-digging frenzy at the old HMV store on Grafton Street in 2014

To ensure you get as much of what you want, you need to (a) get in early! (Tower Records will be open from 8am) and (b) hit up more than one shop, as not all stores will be stocking every release. So what are the exclusive releases we can expect to see on the shelves tomorrow? The full list is at the below link, but some that I personally will be interested in are as follows;

Air - 'Sexy Boy' 12" picture disc

Arthur Lee & Love - 'Coming Through to You' - The Live Recordings (1970-

2004)
Bert Jansch (3 LP's) - 'L.A. Turnaround', 'Santa Barbara Honeymoon', 'A Rare Conundrum'
Bob Dylan - 'Masters of War' 7"
Car Seat Headrest - 'Twin Fantasy' (Mirror to Mirror)
David Bowie (3 LP's & single) - 'David Bowie', 'Now', 'Welcome to the Blackout (Live)', 'Let's Dance' 12"
Jeff Buckley - Live @ Sin-É - 4 x LP set in deluxe packaging for the first time on vinyl
Mac DeMarco - Old Dog Demos
Mansun - 'Wide Open Space' 12"
Marc Bolan & T-Rex - 'The Final Cuts' (limited to 2,000 copies worldwide)
Mogwai - 'Ten Rapid' - collection of singles, B-side and rarities
Prince - '1999' (unavailable on LP since 1983)
Sigrid - 'Don't Kill My Vibe' EP 12" - first time available on vinyl
Sigur Rós - 'Route One' (Limited 500 copy run)
Sufjan Stevens - 'Mystery of Love' EP
Wilco - 'Live at The Troubadour' 11/12/1996

There's also another big release tomorrow that I am particularly interested in but I'm keeping to myself for now...! Happy hunting, digging and spending!

Full list of releases is here https://recordstoreday.ie/the-list

Premiere: The Elephant Room - Connexion

The Elephant Room - Connexion

Info: REMY is thrilled to premiere the brand new single and video 'Connexion' from Dublin-based lo-fi pop band The Elephant Room. The single is taken from their forthcoming EP Music On The Bones which is due for release on the 3rd of May. 

The Elephant Room are the band that the earnest lo-fi music fan can fall in love with straight away, so much haze and mind-drifting is to be found in their music which now spans almost 7 years. You make your own sense of their lyrics, or none at all, either works, as the main objective is to not really think at all, and just submit, switch off your thoughts and let it lap at the edges of your ears and brain; "Blind eyes often find, inside an absent mind, that abstract thought soon gets old. Blood is streaked across the white teeth of an old piano. Your senses are uplifted like a bubble in the breeze."

For those who are new to the band's sound, 'Connexion' perfectly summarises a large part of where they're coming from, there's that off-beat and slightly wonky timing that recalls American acts such as The Lemonheads, Death Cab for Cutie and Pavement. I would highly recommend perusing their discography over at their Bandcamp page (linked below), in particular last single 'Naive Green', as well as 2014 album Body and their delicious debut album Dining With the Dead. Take some time to yourself and disappear into The Elephant Room.

Upcoming gigs:

April 21st - The Bello Bar w/ Stitch Jones, Boom Child and The Motives.

https://www.facebook.com/events/2117248268315685/

May 11th - The Taproom/Drop Dead Twice E.P. Launch w/ Oh Boland. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/923060451189311/

June 30th - Fibbers w/ Huntings 


Look / Like / Listen & Follow:

Webpage: https://www.breakingtunes.com/theelephantroom

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

Bandcamp: https://theelephantroom.bandcamp.com/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1ZUmjcNqxYHU8UhRCK4329?si=Nt4Btw9mT6ejir2_tasxkw

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElephantRoom100

New Album Releases: April - Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Eels, Chrome Sparks, Janelle Monáe & more

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Photo: Tom Spray

Info: REMY's monthly new album releases round-up returns (rather belatedly) for April, featuring singles already released from albums coming out over the next two weeks (and previous two) in the above playlist. There's a horrifically boisterous opening courtesy of Unknown Mortal Orchestra and their single 'American Guilt' from latest LP Sex & Food. Mr. E is back with Eels' new album Deconstruction and the new if familiar sound of single 'Bone Dry'. Repping the Irish album releases are Dublin indietronica outfit Pursued By Dogs and their 2017 single 'Iceland', their self-titled album will be out next week on the 27th of April. 

There's some very gratifying electronic music from both Chrome Sparks' self-titled release and Daniel Avery's album Song for Alpha. I'm loving the subtle old school soul backdrop to Janelle Monáe's rn'b delivery on her third album Dirty Computer, some of her best moments are in here since the ground-breaking ArchAndroid in 2010. Two acts I'm really interested in, and looking forward to, digging deeper into are Paris outfit En Attendant Ana via their Lost and Found album and I kinda fell in love with the off-kilter and escapist mystery of Oregan-based chamber folk solo act Laura Veirs' The Lookout, I'm (very) late to the game, this is her twelfth album since 1999, I have a lot of back-listening to do. Finally I'm quite excited about Twin Shadow's first album in 3 years, Caer and unbridled indie-pop go-getters Say Sue Me's Where Were We Together.

Eels - Bone Dry

Release Dates:

Out Now:

Unknown Mortal Orchestra - Sex & Food

Daniel Avery - Song for Alpha

Eels - The Deconstruction

En Attendant Ana - Lost and Found

Laura Veirs - The Lookout

Say Sue Me - Where We Were Together

Chrome Sparks - Chrome Sparks

27th April:

Janelle Monáe - Dirty Computer

Pursued By Dogs - Pursued By Dogs

Twin Shadow - Caer

Irish Playlist #026: Arvo Party, Heroes in Hiding, Rosborough, Father! & more

Info: It's only a week since the last independent Irish Playlist here on REMY, but the singles continue to come thick and fast, and more importantly, are qualiteeee. There's a nice mixture of genres too from experimental electronic, indie pop, contemporary folk and some sweet old school blues rock.

So much great music, but sometimes, and in a way thankfully it's not too frequent cos that would kind of ruin it a little, something stunning comes along that pushes your insides beyond simply enjoying what you are hearing. Belfast's Arvo Party has that affect, last year's self-titled debut album was a masterpiece, and now new single 'Liberté', if you'll excuse my parlance, is an absolute fucking banger. There's a very tidy balance between chill and beat-tastic euphoria on his new single, this is all my guilty dance pleasures and proud electronic pleasures rolled into one, there's nothing better than when the first single after one of your favourite albums reaches far beyond your expectations.

A long time ago in a galaxy not so far away Dubliner Conor Thornton was the frontman of a sultry rock band named Voxx who I was a big fan of. After a brief hiatus Thornton returned as a solo act whose style is difficult to pinpoint with each passing single, the sands shift quickly here. New single 'Heat' sounds like it's sampling The Specials and vocally comes across like a whispering Michael Hutchence. A slow burning reggae groove slithers like a snake throughout, with the listener strapped to a chair in a dark room waiting for the ankle bite.

Father!

A pretty big gulf has been crossed from my first listen of Father! not too long ago and his debut self-titled EP, I love raw fuzzed-out music but it took me a while to become accustomed to his faded vocals and the din, I still enjoyed it, in particular track 'Antigone' which we featured last month, but I'm more gratified sooner by new single 'Thank You'. I can really appreciate what Meath musician Sean Brunswick is creating here under his moniker, there is far more longevity in abandoning or caring about preconceptions of how to deliver your music. 'Thank You' is a lovely, lovely piece of lo-fi guitar-jangle that breezes effortlessly through the ears, I'm excited now, but probably should have been sooner.

I was starting to get a bit worried about these boys, it has been a while since Heroes in Hiding released their 2016 EP Curtains. The indie-rock band hold a special place in my heart because, aside from their great song-writing, they've been at the forefront of the Irish music scene pretty much since this current golden era commenced. After a bit of a gap between releases you'd expect something fresh, and I had to double-check I was playing the right track when 'I Live for You's intro kicked in, yep, it's HIH alright. Sticking to their bedrock formula, the Dubliners also cast the net wide here to expand and heighten the broad strokes of their sound. There's the dabbling in subtle electro-beats, bitta brass, and sampled interludes, and it's tub-thumping, good to have them back, and there's a debut album right around the corner now too.

Donegal alternative folk-rock act Alan Finan already has pedigree behind him, with a 2016 Other Voices performances, and new single 'Slumber' featuring as Hot Press' Track of the Day upon release. For me from both an observational and personal taste perspective he nails everything on 'Slumber', skilled acoustic playing, added instrumentation to lift the track beyond the pale, and an impressive vocal. I love the flitting atmosphere he creates, from that hollow palm-beat on the guitars body at the opening, he builds up to a delightfully addictive and rhythmic motion that gets lodged in your head. This a really great single from a thinking song-writer. 

Staying in the northern hemisphere of the island we have the latest single from Derry's Rosborough, 'Another Lesson'. Rosborough is currently one of the most exciting acts within is genre right now, gaining plaudits all across the board, he has taken the traditional alternative-pop mantle back to its audience and gained a strong following from those more disposed to the alternative rather than the pop. It's a blistering pop-rock single which exemplifies why his live shows have been held in such high regard over the last 12 months. 

An American-tinged early noughties alternative-rock and power pop number bursts out courtesy of Dublin trio Sandy Kim and their latest single 'Sympathy'. Things I'm really digging here are (a) the drums - it's frenetic and impressively paced, I could probably listen to them in isolation and be very happy (b) the jangle-pop and lo-fi guitar soundz and the Lemondheads / Evan Dando-esque vocals, everything works so well combined and it's most invigorating.

With brush on snare and soft acoustic strumming, a deep cut 'bow' of an opening bass-line introduces the Americana-rock twang of Mayo band The Kerbs' new single 'Creep'. There's a soft swagger about this song, meandering, standing back, and letting it all soak in. This is a traditional alt-rock and blues fan's type of song, a foot-tapper that is impossible to resist from The Kerbs.

'The Apple Truck' by Dublin band Gorilla Troubadour is the kind of song I imagine playing in the background if I found myself standing in the middle of a busy road in my dressing-gown wearing shades and having an auld fag as the traffic swerved around me. Wah-wah, blues-rock, funk, and soul vocals that recall not only early, but opening salvo Republic of Loose, have me fully on board. With any luck these guys will get famous too soon and end up throwing TV's (remember them!?) out of hotel windows, seriously though, stick to this template, expand on it, and this time 12 months (or less) they could have jaws dropping. 

To listen to REMY's previous Irish Playlist, #025, go here! https://thebestofmusicandfilm.blogspot.ie/2018/04/irish-playlist-sleep-thieves-maria-kelly-hilary-woods-lisa-canny.html