The Darkling Air is the happy result of the coming together of two veterans to the Irish creative scene. Forming as an independent duo in 2013, Michael Keeney and Rachel McCarthy previously worked together on the production side of albums…
Castlerock five-piece Brand New Friend’s new EP, ‘A Cure For Living’, is a burst of sunshine-pop melodies and lovesick lyrics. Across seven short and sweet tracks, we ride a musical wave, from speedy guitar riffs and crashing cymbals, to dreamy…
Belfast based Indie outfit SX-70, who impressed in reaching the final stages of the Chordblossom Kickstart band competition, released their latest EP ‘Empty Vessels’ early in 2020. It draws on their own musical influences with a lingering mix of swirling,…
It was in the Black Box in April 2018 that Matt McGinn debuted some of the music and ideas that would eventually become Lessons of War, alongside a “making of” documentary directed by local film maker Colm Laverty. Full of…
Much has been made of this post-rock trio from Letterkenny. A popular spawning point for some of Irelands most underrated underground acts (see Sheerbuzz), the latest act to ride the wave anti-establishment post-genrefication is Happy Out. With a cult following spurred…
It’s no small enterprise to self-fund an album, let alone record said album in the venerable FAME studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Home to Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Jerry Reed, Etta James, Wilson Pickett (among others) at various stages, that…
Derry should consider itself rather lucky to be the credited home of experimental soul music artist Queen Bonobo, or, as she is more casually known, Maya Goldblum. She is quite the worldwide artist; currently basing herself in Idaho for the…
Runabay mesmerise their audience with the sounds of the guitar, bass, percussion all blending together and of course those harmonies. Ever since we first discovered them through our Kickstart competition, we have been genuinely excited to hear what they are…
Its been six years since singer-songwriter Kitt Philippa announced themselves in Belfast. For many, it’s been a long six years of anticipation, in hopes of a debut album to arrive. But when themes such as theirs are considered – the relationship between…
Careerist have taken their time to get here. Despite earning a reputation as one of the most exciting talents in Belfast under the Hot Cops moniker, they took some away. After the best part of a year, they returned and…
What THVS lack in vowels, they make up for with unbridled rage and sonic aggression. Fans of the growing hardcore scene in Northern Ireland need no introduction to the heavy pop three piece, who have been thrashing and screaming their…
In a music scene with a very high standard and its fair share of brilliant indie folk bands it can be hard to set yourself your apart and bring something different to the table. However, this doesn’t seem to be…
Wilfie Gilbert has been known on the local music scene from quite some time. However, it is only recently that he has been catapulted to the forefront. Taking the plunge and becoming a full-time musician at 53 shows to have…
Just when we thought we’d heard it all from Neil Hannon, he surprises us with another curveball. The king of quirk is back. And he’s at his creative and colourful best. Office Politics is a unique offering. The twelfth album…
Adam Miles of experimental death metal band Disconnect works quietly in the background under the name Start at the End to make retro-sounding dream pop. His recently released Contrast EP provides just that, a stark juxtaposition to Miles’ other musical…