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 Nerves. All found in our rotating playlist.
Nerves – Empty
Returning from a two year break from releases, the band have been working on new sounds. ‘Empty’, co-produced by Daniel Fox (Gilla Band) brings a heavy and fractured sound to the fore with feedbacking guitars, driving bass and increasingly frenetic percussion underpinning vocals of loss and mental health in rural west Ireland. The band promise a debut EP Glórach. AC
Sprints – Heavy
A band that kicked off the new year in some fashion, Sprints’ debut album Letter to Self found its way into the Irish and UK album charts upon its January release. Taken from the album ‘Heavy’ is typical of the band’s often fiery punk sound. AC
NewDad – Where I Go
NewDad capture their best features with ‘Where I Go’, a soul-stirring song that transports me back to the time when I first discovered the band. With melancholic guitar, a sturdy bassline, and ethereal vocals full of personal and reflective lyricism, it is no surprise NewDad continue to take the Irish scene by storm. MG
Villagers – That Golden Time
January sees the return of one of Ireland’s most lauded songwriters with Villagers’ Conor O’Brien giving word of album number six with brilliant new single ‘That Golden Time’. A sleepy and hazy track with a full of spectrum of colour in the instrumentation that Villagers does so well. O’Brien describes this as his most vulnerable album, but the spark remains on this new single. AC
Fears – 4th of the 1st
London based Fears announces her second album affinity, due late March, alongside new single ‘4th of the 1st’. Her first release in two years, the single features the hallmarks of Fears’ captivating sound with her ethereal vocals floating amongst sparse and haunting production and lyrics of self assurance around modern dating. AC
Echo Northstar – Waking Up
‘Waking Up’ is a stirring striped back piano piece rich with ghostly vocals. Echo Northstar uses the song to reflect on the joy and destruction of childhood, making it hard not to feel immensely moved by the hypnotic reverberation of the track. MG
Birthday Problems – E.L.E.
There’s a joining of musical minds in new project Birthday Problems. The collaborative duo sees Matt Harris (Havvk) paired with longtime Havvk producer Rocky O’Reilly (Oppenheimer). Any new Rocky project is worth a listen, and the first single here boasts the vocals of Ailbhe Reddy. A dark and brooding piece. AC
Stray Planets – Glowing Rectangles
The unbelievably catchy drum groove alongside the just as groovy bassline that opens Stray Planet’s ‘Glowing Rectangles’ perfectly sums up this LCD Soundsystem like banger. Lyrically exciting, the synth heavy song features vocals from Gilla Band’s Dara Kiely and uniquely celebrates the innocent joys of smartphone addiction. MG
Sharkett – Searching for Paris
Following her debut release last November, Sharkett has released second single ‘Searching for Paris’. A big, searching track that holds influences from a range of sounds with the atmospheric electronics burgeoned by her classical training and more than a shade of pop. AC
Niamh Bury – Budapest
Dublin born songwriter Niamh Bury builds on her string of singles in 2023 with ‘Budapest’. The warm folk of the track is intimate, with Bury’s voice and every instrument ringing through clear as day. Her debut album Yellow Roses is set for release in late March. AC
Megan Nic Ruairi – See You Better
Taken from the singer-songwriter’s debut EP Made of Sin released in January, ‘See You Better’ is a real rousing track. The piano-led number rises and falls with Nic Ruairi’s vulnerable vocal amidst soft horn arrangements. AC
Robbie Stickland – Waiting For You
Robbie Stickland’s deeper vocals perfectly compliment the sparkling guitars on this indie-pop track. The Banríon guitarist brandishes a real lo-fi vibe to this love song which appears ahead of new album Lastingness on 10th February. AC
Tomcat – It’s Not Always Gonna Be Like This
A poignant debut single from Derry four-piece Tomcat, ‘It’s Not Always Gonna Be Like This’ covers the bases of soft indie-folk and spirited pop-punk. Instrumentally the song leaves room for the effortless lyrical flow whilst offering moments of glory for each member to display expertise. The reverberating ambience of the drum heavy ending is particularly captivating. MG
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