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 The Love Buzz. All found in our rotating playlist.
The Love Buzz – Freeloaded (Cool Kitten)
Like some chimera of LCD Soundsystem and The Offspring, ‘Freeloaded (Cool Kitten)’ keeps a lid on its energy during its laid-back verses with anthemic style. Waiting in the wings is explosive energy that pounces during the choruses, sweeping the listener away like a tidal wave. It’s got lightness, personality and heart in abundance, taking me right back to when music felt like it was about having a great time on a summer afternoon. WMA
Holly Munro – Big Kids
Holly Munro marks a new chapter with ‘Big Kids’ and its indie-pop charms. Marking three years since her debut and further proving a knack for the kind of relatable songwriting of her influences, ‘Big Kids’ is about living with friends in your twenties. That connection even extends to Munro’s former housemates appearing in the backing vocals. AC
And He The Fool – Little Women
and he, the fool is a chameleon of a band, taking on new colours and hues as the mood strikes them. The last release I heard was 2025’s re:place the thought, last year’s folk-inspired EP. I was expecting something with the same vibe but it seems I, the fool. The same blood is in Little Woman’s veins as re:place the thought, even if the results are less polished and the vibe is dramatically different. The tricksy musicianship and elaborate melody-work shines through and defines it as something distinctly and he, the fool-sy. WMA
McGrath – Rotha
One look at his tour schedule shows the momentum that the now Belfast based McGrath has built up even ahead of this debut release. The compelling ‘Rotha’ builds on that promise with his dynamic vocals carrying the emotional thread of a smartly produced first single. AC
Newdad – Kick the Curb
It’s been a little bit since last year’s Altar album but NewDad are still flying higher than ever. ‘Kick the Curb’ is NewDad’s first single since leaving Atlantic Records earlier this year and marks a distinction from their previous singles – a lurching yet relaxed song that focuses on ambience and mood over sheer energy. WMA
Lucy Blue – Who You Love
Taken from the rising Irish songwriter’s latest EP, ‘Who You Love’ is an indie pop ballad. While the adornments and instrumentation build through the track, a soft bed of pretty piano and Lucy Blue’s intimate vocal sits at the core of the yearning ‘Who You Love’. AC
Dose – Shelley
There’s a clear strand from nineties alternatives to contemporary post-punk in ‘Shelley’, the fifth single from Dose. The Dublin band, led by former Bitch Falcon powerhouse Lizzie Fitzpatrick draw inspiration from Shelley Duvall on this tormented, hypnotic release. AC
Playlist
