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 Cruel Sister. All found in our rotating playlist.
Cruel Sister – XOXO
XOXO is such a punchy, moody track. Dublin’s Faith Nico punctuates her lyrics with fiercely fuzzy guitar, channelling the frustration caused by a music scene that asks so much more from its women than from its men. Top-notch lyricism, dreamy vocals & almighty composition make this track a stand-out in any playlist. WMA
$ONA BLU€ – Good 4 You
Irish-Sri Lankan $ONA BLU€ follows a busy 2024 with new single ‘Good 4 You’, less than a year from her debut. ‘Good 4 You’ is soft RnB at heart, full of acoustic textures weaving through $ONA BLU€’s honeyed vocals. A great way to kick off a new year. AC
Somebody’s Child – Last Night I Held Your Hand
Effortlessly cool, Last Night I Held Your Hand is fun, catchy pop rock with a penchant for interesting, ambient sounds. Consistently good work from a solid band that always deliver and a marked evolution even from their 2023 self-titled album. WMA
Ólafur Arnalds, Talos, Niamh Regan & Ye Vagabonds – We Didn’t Know We Were Ready
A tribute to the late Eoin French of Talos, the collaborative track was first written and performed back in 2023. Following French’s passing last November, it was performed on the Tommy Tiernan show and has now been released as a single. A beautiful, contemplative track that features French’s vocals alongside contributions from friends that serves as a wonderful, emotional tribute. AC
Brigid Mae Power – You Don’t Know Me
Recorded in Analogue Catalogue studios, Brigid Mae Power marked 2024 by recording the songs that got her through it. The result, Songs For You, features nine covers of classic songs including this version of ‘You Don’t Know Me’, recorded by the likes of Ray Charles. The stripped back production allows the vocals to shine through with nostalgic melancholy. AC
Paddy Hanna – Oylegate Station
Released ahead of album number five, ‘Oylegate Station’ has Hanna on typically off-kilter form. A hypnotic, jaunty piano line leads us through Hanna’s lyrical journey, with occasional guitar inflections. Upcoming album Oylegate, which charts the “euphoric highs and crushing lows of parenthood” is released this April. AC
Ginnels – Lands Faraway
With guitar and bass lines that sound like The Smiths through a surf-rock lens, Ginnels tease new album The Picturesque, out in a few days. The soft jangle-pop is accompanied by songwriter Mark Chester’s breezy vocal. The album is Ginnels’ first long release in quite a while. AC
Amy Michelle – atrophy
Amy Michelle releases her first single of the new year with ‘atrophy’. Taken from the Mullingar artist’s upcoming EP Nothing Holy is Free, ‘atrophy’ is a genre bending track that takes its cue from the likes of NewDad, as Amy Michelle reflects on toxic relationships. AC
Matthew Xavier Corrigan – Salt
A gorgeously bare release from Cork songwriter Matthew Xavier Corrigan. The gentle flow of Corrigan’s vocal washes along with the track’s simple acoustic rhythm as he sings about “letting yourself down”. The second release from his next album. AC
Four Faces – Overnight
The new single from Dublin band Four Faces is indie rock poured through a pop filter, with their rock sound bolstered by slick production. Melodious hooks are delivered through both the vocals and guitar lines for a track that kicks off a year of big plans for the four-piece. AC
Skinner – Jesus Wore Drag
Skinner’s debut full length New Wave Vaudeville landed this month on Faction Music. ‘Jesus Wore Drag’ may be one of the less frenetic tracks but Aaron Corcoran’s dynamic vocals, the uptempo beat and sax driven breaks are all building blocks of the album as a whole. AC
Madams Last Discovery – Work of Art
Despite their live presence over the past couple of years, ‘Work of Art’ is just the four-piece’s second release. A rich and darkly psychedelic track with bite, their second single puts Madams Last Discovery in line with their contemporaries, proponents of an exciting time for Belfast bands. With a place on the Oh Yeah’s Scratch My Progress programme, 2025 could be an exciting one for the band. AC
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