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 Niamh Regan. All found in our rotating playlist.
Niamh Regan – Waves
It’s hard to pick out a single track from Niamh Regan’s gorgeous new album Come As You Are but the track that spawned album title is certainly one of the finest. ‘Waves’ begins with intimate piano and voice, but erupts into a stirring ballad, with Regan’s emotive vocals paired with moving strings. AC
Maria Kelly – Drive
‘Drive’ is the latest offering from Maria Kelly, her first solo release in a few years. Kelly’s delicate voice is matched in tone by the track’s quiet, indie folk guitars, while the song builds in atmosphere and the lyrics long for closure. AC
Orla Gartland – Little Chaos
An infectious new side to Dublin born sensation Orla Gartland is released with her latest offering ‘Little Chaos’. This alternative pop rock track is whacky, witty, and full of fascinating instrumental twists and turns. MG
Stop Throwing Lemons – Untethered
‘Untethered’ is the third single from Galway based alt rock band Stop Throwing Lemons, and it is huge. The opening infectious guitar hook soon turns into something bigger than itself, and as the energy builds, each lyric is passionately delivered with stacks of sentiment. MG
Sarah Crean – Compliment Strike
Indie songwriter Sarah Crean’s latest is a song of empowerment, a reaction to trolls and negative comments online. A track with plenty of hooks, the bassline and guitar slink around underneath Crean’s confident vocals. AC
Annie-Dog – Fish
Annie-Dog explores a world of fascinating soundscapes with ‘Fish’, taken from her upcoming self-titled EP. Gentle yet impactful, the electronic singer-songwriter style song is glitch heavy, exploring ideas of being told there are plenty of fish in the sea during a breakup. MG
bog band – Dash
The first of two releases from bog band last month, and only the duo’s fourth to date. They’ve certainly been busy since March. On ‘Dash’, things are pared back from their previous singles though there’s still a clear affinity to soul within this more downtempo and off-beat release. AC
Fig/Astro – VR
Fig/Astro’s ‘VR’ is an impressive exercise in songwriting and production. It is groovy and atmospheric, making a lasting impression. Even with its repetitive nature, it is so full of life as we are constantly thrown subtle musical changes to grasp onto. MG
Morgana & Sorcha Richardson – Naked and Swimming
A collaboration between two fine Irish songwriters that reaches between Belfast and Dublin, which Richardson says was penned through voicenotes and touring. The pair’s voices prove a perfect match throughout, joining together on the floating chorus. AC
Kez – Overgrown
Kez’s voice is at the forefront of her newest release, but it’s surrounded by a bed of lush folk instrumentation with production that leans into the ethereal. With lyrics of a relationship that’s run its course, there’s a definite melancholy in ‘Overgrown’. AC
VERA – No Help From You
VERA certainly make their mark with debut single ‘No Help From You’, an indie-rock force to be reckoned with. Short and sweet, the song is unbelievably thrilling with 70s psychedelic grooves and a vocal performance brought to life by atmospheric backing and shouts. MG
Tom Gato – Warm
The third instalment of an upcoming conceptual EP from Lisbon based songwriter Tom Gato. Slow and raw, ‘Warm’ is an engaging listen that draws full focus on the lyrics with only bare guitar for company. The full EP Cave Painting shouldn’t be far away. AC
Playlist:
