Every month sees more and more great Irish music released to the world. Aaron Cunningham and Martha Greer select some of their favourite releases of last month, including cover artist Lemoncello. All found in our rotating playlist.
Lemoncello – Harsh Truths
Fresh from signing to Claddagh Records, Dublin based duo Lemoncello released their first single in two years with ‘Harsh Truths’. Their matched voices are entwined round their elemental, melodic folk which is built around finger picked guitar and textured cello. The first hint a big year for Lemoncello. AC
Niamh Regan – Madonna
Propelled by a constant drone, Niamh Regan paints a painfully beautiful picture with her latest single ‘Madonna’. Her skilful song crafting is showcased by tender vocals and acoustic guitar as she speaks of the violence women suffer. MG
Danny Carroll – Golden Hour
A gently vibrant single from songwriter Danny Carroll, taken from debut album I Am The Cheese, released today. The second of three singles from the album, it’s gorgeously understated with Carroll’s storytelling meandering alongside the track’s soft folk. AC
Nerves – Thirteen
‘Thirteen’ by Mayo-Galway born Nerves is a whirlwind of dynamic shifts, from explosive gothic choruses to a shoegaze instrumental pierced by buzzing guitars. Its industrial style is graceful insight into their upcoming EP ‘Glorach’. MG
Mhaol – Pursuit
The first release from a new-look Mhaol. Now a four-piece following the departure of vocalist Róisín Nic Ghearailt, Constance Keane (Fears) has taken on lead vocal duties. ‘Pursuit’, a song about being followed home at night, slowly burns and rises to a persistent beat. AC
Gurriers – Des Goblin
Gurriers return with a headbanging psychedelic-punk fusion. ‘Des Goblin’ is an intense tune about self-obsession, war, and climate change that leans towards a spoken word style amongst heavy dance influenced instrumentation. MG
Annie-Dog – The Pressures of the Heart
A first release from Annie-Dog (The Magazine Club), named after the Smashing Pumpkins of the same name. Released via indie label Dance to the Radio, ‘The Pressures of the Heart’ is an exciting, self-produced debut. That production melds idiosyncratic sounds including fast beats, reverberating guitar and Annie-Dog’s captivating vocal. AC
Monjola – Often
Nigerian-born, Dublin-based Monjola first of the year is the smooth ‘Often’. Extolling the fear of overthinking, it’s a track with a change of pace throughout from the quick paced intro to the more laid back R&B of the verses. AC
Tolü Makay – Mind & Body
Another from our Nigerian-Irish contingent, as Tolü Makay returns with the ethereal pop of ‘Mind & Body’. Makay’s haunting vocals reverberates over the textured and rising synths. AC
Anamoe Drive – Procrastination
A softly enticing track from songwriter Oisín Leahy Furlong aka Anamoe Drive. The latest single from his upcoming debut album Breakfast in Bed, released 8 March, it’s a quiet ballad with room for psychedelia to take hold. AC
HousePlants – No Pushover
Following 2021’s debut album, HousePlants announce album number two alongside some Irish dates in April & May. Duo Paul Noonan & Daithí tease it with new single ‘No Pushover’, mining inspiration from LCD Soundsystem in the rhythms but the track evolves into something more. AC
Jossle – Mother
Side A of a new single release from Jossle, ‘Mother’ is a collaboration with Cork based DeCarteret. The track combines jazzy acoustic rhythms with a lofi beat, with Jossle’s soulful vocal complimented by the verse from DeCartertet. A new sound for the London based songwriter. AC
Virgins – S O F T E R
A debut album from five-piece Virgins seems only right considering their steady rise over the last couple of years. With its heavy wall of guitars and riffing bass heightened by the dreamy vocals of vocalist Rebecca Dow, ‘S O F T E R’ sets the stall out for April’s full length nothing hurt and everything was beautiful. AC
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