Every month we’ll be rounding up some of the best new tracks from north and south in our best of Irish feature. With so much incredible new Irish music every month, there’s a lot to keep up with. Here are some of this month’s best, with words by Aaron Cunningham and Ben Magee.
Ryan Vail & Ruth McGinley – Chrysalism
Ryan Vail both builds upon and moves on from his collaborative Borders project, adding the considerable talents of Ruth McGinley to new track ‘Chrysalism’. A beautiful, varied mix of classical & electronica that sounds like rainfall. AC
Biig Piig – Feels Right
One of Ireland’s more exciting exports, this groove-ridden track from Biig Piig has everything you need from a modern pop song. Favouring a more well rounded and pervasive dance rhythm than the lofi jazz of past releases, this track really does what it says on the tin. BM
Christian Cohle – Drown Me Slow
Bold and breathtakingly intense, Cohle’s atmospheric ‘Drown Me Slow’ is illuminated with steady synths and vocals that seem to float until the track’s distinctive vocal rip that raises the stakes. Taken from his upcoming debut album. AC
Magazines – Pink And Green
With elements of Wolf Alice, The Cure and The XX, Magazines have quietly established a standing as one of the more exciting new bands in Ireland. ‘Pink And Green’ has prolonged instances of vibrancy, depth and colour – one of my fave releases of the year. BM
Rosie Carney – Bullet Proof … I Wish I Was
Ireland’s adopted songwriter Rosie Carney’s upcoming The Bends’ reimagining has already birthed five gorgeous covers, but ‘Bullet Proof’ is the perfect track for Rosie Carney’s soft vocals and contemplative piano. AC
Feef – Who Are You
Delicate and beautiful Indie folk hailing from Roscommon. Lo-fi vocals give a bit of weight and depth to an otherwise airy and bright folkish sway. Perfect winter walk music. BM
Landers – Just Thinking
A fine example of the creative powers of Irish artists in Berlin, Irish-German trio Landers’ ‘Just Thinking’ is the captivating and understated result of a live recording session in Berlin by the new group. Intimate, ambient and unburdened. AC
Melina Malone – Realize
I first got into Malone’s sound when I covered one of her tracks for Across The Line. On her newest, she maintains the same sweltering rhythms and groovesome vibes. Combined with the arresting nature of their vocals, Malone has secured herself as one of my artists to watch in coming months. BM
Patricia Lalor – To Cope
Just 15 years old with a few EPs and singles already under her belt, but her latest is one of the young Wexford’s artists best this year .Like a warped take on Radiohead’s ‘Everything In Its Right Place’, ‘To Cope’ is an absorbing lo-fi track that hits the off kilter sweet spot. AC
Sprints – Manifesto
There have been a number of bands to catch our collective ears over the last few months. Sprints have established themselves, along with the likes of NewDad and Magazines, as one of the leaders of the pack. ‘Manifesto’, their latest, is a slide of dark, smooth post-punk/rock that is immediately and utterly gripping. BM
Omonoko – Weight in Gold
Chordblossom Kickstart winners Omonoko have found a new rhythm, new vigour and a new sound on ‘Weight in Gold’. Snaking guitars, earworm vocals and polished production all come together for an addictive single. AC
Strange Boy – The Pope
Idiosyncrasy is the nature of the game and Strange Boy is at the top of the list. With upbeat Celtic rhythms blended with its hip hop roots, there is little out there that sounds quite like ‘The Pope’. More Bog Gothic Beats please. BM
GRWL – Overstayed
A gorgeous debut single from the Dublin artist. Flying a little under the radar, GRWL’s ‘Overstayed’ is bedroom pop with sultry vocals, guitars that blur in and out all enveloped in a hazy atmosphere. AC
Tandem Felix – The Assassination
Fiercely original but lovingly gentle, Tandem Felix’ new single weaves a London crime scene and ‘the assassination of president music’ into a track that is almost throwaway in its delivery. AC
