Info: REMY's latest Irish independent playlist is here featuring some of the best tracks to be released over the last few weeks, and there have been many, all wonderful. Some are hot off the press just out in the last 48 hours including Pillow Queens, Flecks, Jackie Beverly, Orchid Collective and Proper Micro NV.
1) Pillow Queens - 'Gay Girls'
Belfast's Pillow Queens released their latest single 'Gay Girls' just today, simply gorgeous vocals and harmonies act as a memory of a past, the self-doubting self gets placed firmly in the dustbin for good. The self-assured version punches itself through a rambunctious and defiant chorus, but it's a defiance with nothing left to prove, the choral smackdown leading into the finale is a powerful act of defiance. Easily one of their most grabbing and enjoyable singles to date which has the smallest strands of Weezer DNA running through it.
2) Mount Alaska - 'Asterisk'
Dublin pair Stephen Shannon and Cillian McDonnell aka Mount Alaska, released the self-titled track of their new EP last week, 'Asterisk', and it is fucking awesome, as are the other three tracks. If I was in familiar company and heard this playing I would enquire as to who it was, if I heard it and was in unfamiliar company I'd be doing a shneaky Shazam on the sly, such is the instant pleasure delivered. It's haphazard and full on, can't recommend enough and I'll be listening to this for a long, long while.
3) Flecks - 'Doubles'
Flecks returned after a hiatus a few weeks ago with the awesome 'Samurai' which has already clocked up almost 45k streams on Spotify, without delay comes 'Doubles', and the magic continues. A skulking dark air whirls it's way around Freya Monks' commanding vocal, with the synths reverberating in an abrasive and grinding way, 3:30 is where peak-elation occurs. They are already on fire.
Jackie Beverly - Photo: Ciarán O'Brien
4) Jackie Beverly - 'Out of Reasons'
Remember the name. Dublin indietronica solo act Jackie Beverly released her debut single 'Out of Reasons' today, and it's gaining early and justified momentum already. Upbeat MGMT vibes abound at the beginning before melting away to more mellow and floaty verses, and then returning to gratifying drum-pad spurts. It really is a perfect balance between pop happiness and mood-driven electronic escapism, the synth is also extremely giving at the 2:06 mark. Choon.
5) Orchid Collective - 'Forces'
I'm really enjoying the gear-shift on Orchid Collective's new single 'Forces', brooding sounds and muffled echoes plant themselves in the ground, electronic hints, and then, their trademark hook-laden indie-pop revelry. With just over a minute and a half to go they deliver the smack-down, this is catchy, anthemic indie-rock at its finest. Interestingly they could have made an entire song out of any one of four distinct passages on 'Forces' and gotten 'away' with it, but they threw them all in seamlessly. OC continue to add to an ever-growing and varied set-list that is destined for the big stage, with far more to offer than most established bands in my opinion.
Orchid Collective - Photo: Imagery.By.Ró
6) Faraway Martin - 'Intoxicated'
A joyous breath of fresh air. Mayo's Faraway Martin released debut single 'Intoxicated' thematically deals with excesses and the ensuing regret. On my first listen I was reminded of a sing-song from the 1976 musical / comedy Bugsy Malone. That brevity explodes into something altogether far more raucous before long, you're only a true troubadour if you're accompanied by some brass in my book. Here we are spoiled by it, like Tom Waits minus the irritating gravely growl, Faraway Martin creates a whiplash cirque beserk that is so over the top it's amazing.
7) Proper Micro NV - 'Eyes'
Few replicate a worthy homage to 90's trip-hop than Limerick's Rory Hall, aka Proper Micro NV. New single 'Eyes' (taken from debut album Dormant Boy out 16th November) is effusive in its U.K. underground club characteristics, it's chill, trance-like and holds you directly under it's spell no thanks to Hall's exceptional soul vocal. If I were to describe Poper Micro NV's modus operandi in two words it would be 'slomo Moby'.
8) Feek - 'Faithleton'
Feek (BF Jack - vocals, Qboi Skew - sounds / electric guitar) release another dizzying RnB and hip-hop single in quick succession in the form of 'Faithelton'. This is what might happen when a stripped-down 90's rap track is knocked through the space time continuum and given the 21st century lick of primary-coloured paints. It's fun, frantic and lacks any portentousness.
To listen to our last Irish independent playlist, go here! https://thebestofmusicandfilm.blogspot.com/2018/10/irish-playlist-bitch-falcon-montauk-hotel-sive-columbia-mills-moylan.html
