We’re marking the end of summer but looking back at August. Aaron Cunningham selects some of his favourite releases of the month, including cover artist Zapho. All handily found in our rotating playlist.
Zapho – Big Song Blue
Self described as a queer James Bond style banger, and well, the shoe fits. There’s a cinematic quality to the track’s stirring piano and Zapho’s vocal which are quickly encased in beats and the slow pulsing bass. A swing for the fences style release that comes off.
Still Blue – Ladybird
A regular feature in our round-ups now, Still Blue’s latest single is a departure from the catchy indie of their first two releases. ‘Ladybird’ moves from more considered moments into a big emotive rock track.
Skinner – Dog Daze
A chaotic track woven through with jangly guitar parts and a roving bassline. Skinner’s great vocal line in the chorus are a highlight, and the whole thing jumps out further with a big sax solo in the track’s latter half.
Sprints – Literary Mind
Another big track from Sprints, following March’s A Modern Job EP. ‘Literary Mind’ builds from quiet to loud, replete with driving bass, pulsing guitar lines and Karla Chubb’s energetic vocals in a song about queer love.
Uly – Fishing
The lofi, chilled atmosphere of Uly’s ‘Fishing’ is punctuated by trumpet throughout and a brief guitar interlude later. Songwriter Rafino Murphy’s soft falsetto is a treat as well.
Lucy McWilliams – Break My Own Heart
A gorgeous new single from the now London based Lucy McWilliams. A meld of sounds through a shimmering pop filter, and McWilliam’s honest lyrics about self sabotage in a relationship.
Lemoncello – Always Neighbours
The first release from the two-piece in a couple of years, Lemoncello’s ‘Always Neighbours’ puts Laura Quirke’s voice at the forefront of a beautifully analogue mix, recorded in Co Down’s Analogue Catalogue.
Talos – Farewell / Kamikaze
We love a Talos track round here, and the latest the Cork songwriter is a typically slow building number. The track’s electronics and textures simmer under his emotive vocals on the power of goodbyes. The third single from his upcoming album this October.
Kyoto Love Hotel – Settling (July)
Irish duo Kyoto Love Hotel return with a new track ahead of a second EP next week. ‘Settling (July)’ features Laura Sheary’s distinctly delicate vocals over washes of synths and beats that rise and fall through the song’s movements.
Ciaran Lavery – Communion
Oh it’s a gorgeous return from Ciaran Lavery, his second standalone single this year. Written with Morgan MacIntyre of Saint Sister, ‘Communion’ is full of beautiful textures and vocals that search for answers. Musical contributions from Joshua Burnside and Robocobra Quartet’s Tom Tabori elevate proceedings.
Playlist
