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 Tim Chadwick. All found in our rotating playlist.
Tim Chadwick – Call Me When The Coast Is Clear
Tim Chadwick’s debut album releases later this week, with the queer alt-pop songwriter teasing with latest single ‘Call Me When the Coast is Clear’ in mid-July. Between the production and Chadwick’s vocals, this track is smooth, leaving space for Prince-esque dramatics. AC
Shiv – cherry pie
Zimbabwe born Dublin based songwriter Shiv recruits Kojaque to join on new single ‘Cherry Pie’, produced by Soft Boy Record’s own Gaptoof. The easy-going flow from Shiv on a track “about the journey of coming home to yourself” swerves into a verse from Kojaque. The single precedes Shiv’s September debut album the defiance of a sadgirl. AC
Silverbacks – Selling Shovels
“Selling Shovels” is Kildare/Belgium six-piece Silverbacks’ first release since their 2022 album. A reference to “selling shovels during the gold rush”, the guitar heavy post-punk pop song is perfectly quirky and improbable. MG
Gurriers – Top of the Bill
The post-punk five-piece’s fourth single of 2024 as they gear up for their debut album Come and See, out mid-September. “A distorted love story”, it’s less in-your-face than some of their heavier efforts, but the snaking guitar line and Dan Hoff’s vocals ensure there’s still plenty of edge. AC
Kynsy – Stereo Games
A “wild ride through the chaos of love and self-destruction”, Kynsy’s ‘Stereo Games’ is an icy cool two and a half minutes of exciting lyricism and energetic vocals all which lead to an even more explosive chorus. MG
Kleio – Mercury
‘Mercury’ is Kleio’s superb offering to all things indie rock. Musically relentless, the pairing of buzzing guitars with the jarring drumming complements the softer side of the lyrics making for an unparalleled summer track. MG
Sun Mashene – Pale Azure
Describing themselves as post-shoegaze, there’s a number of influences going in Sun Mashene’s latest. There’s a hopeful atmospheric sound in this last single to drop before the release of their new album A Place We’ve Never Been later this month. AC
Zach Deering – Run
There’s a real melding of sounds on the latest release from Wicklow artist & producer Zach Deering. Bedroom pop with production that throws a lot into the mix, ‘Run’ is part of Deering’s ongoing mission to write the perfect love song and taken from his debut EP Power to Me and You, out later this month. AC
Sour Blood – The Devil
Another artist running up to a debut album (SUAS was released last week), Sour Blood’s last release was in 2021 before a string of singles this year. ‘The Devil’ sits at the mid-point of SUAS, a dark kaleidoscopic mix of instrumentation. AC
And So I Watch You From Afar – Years Ago
‘Years Ago’ is the last single before the North Coast heavyweights release seventh album Megafauna on 9 August. There’s definite nods to the band’s early days in this one, approaching a mere twenty years ago, but amongst the call & response guitar playing this track reflects their more contemplative moments of later years. AC
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