Every month sees more and more great Irish music released to the world. Aaron Cunningham and Will Mac Aoidh select some of our favourite releases of last month, including cover artist HAVVK. All found in our rotating playlist.
HAVVK – Happening Again
HAVVK’s music always has atmosphere to spare, atmosphere it can lend to the neighbours when they run out. ‘Happening Again’ doesn’t buck this trend, thrashing guitars and ominous songwriting create an incredibly vibey, spooky-scary song punctuated by punchy, biting vocals. HAVVK never disappoint. WMA
Dream Boy – purple
Dublin quartet Dream Boy have put out some brilliant music in the past year or so, and their latest colour ‘purple’ follows on the heels of their June EP Drowning in Blue. ‘purple’ retains their shoegaze love affair but it owes even more to the sound of 90s grunge. Through this new directness the band take on sexism through a fierce chorus and even commentary on Irish radio’s gender imbalance. AC
Æ Mak – We Came From Stars
I missed Æ MAK so much. It’s been a year and a half since ‘ABC Side Baby’, her last release. ‘We Came From Stars’ is such a new sound for her also – much more minimal, much more vocally-focused. It’s a warm hymn of a song, wrapped up in a bow by the trademark production style that’s unmistakably Æ MAK. WMA
Ye Vagabonds – On Sitric Road
With the next Ye Vagabonds album only two months away, ‘On Sitric Road’ only serves to ramp up the anticipation. It has, after all, been two whole years since their last release (the stunning rendition of ‘The Parting Glass’, featuring Boygenius). ‘On Sitric Road’ is a beautiful tune, simple in its instrumentation to highlight the gorgeous vocals of the Ye Vagabonds lads. WMA
Basciville ft Ailbhe Reddy – Your Own Head
Frequent collaborators in the Irish music world, brothers Cillian & Lorcan Byrne release under their own moniker Basciville. ‘Your Own Head’ is the brothers’ first release in a few years, bringing in the talents of Ailbhe Reddy. Reddy’s voice is a perfect match for the heart of the song, with dual vocals about staying true to yourself. A beautifully low-key folk track. AC
How I Became A Wave – 05:00
A softly spoken new track from Cork songwriter Pat Carey aka How I Became A Wave. Just his third release under the name, ’05:00′ reflects that early morning feeling with vocals that follow quiet piano notes before intimate strings and instrumentation bring in new textures to it all. AC
Careerist – Sicko
Almost six years to the day from their debut album, Careerist return with new album Silver Birch Lodge. While overcoming uncertain moments in the band’s future in those intervening, they’ve brought an expanded and renewed sonic palette to an album that will please the devotees among us and find new ears. Second single ‘Sicko’ hits with a stomp from Carl Eccles’ dynamic vocals and sharp guitar parts but there’s a whole world beyond it on Silver Birch Lodge. AC
Playlist
