Every month we’ll be rounding up some of the best new tracks from north and south in our best of Irish feature. With so much incredible new Irish music every month, there’s a lot to keep up with. Here are some of this month’s best, with words by Aaron Cunningham and Ben Magee.
Jackie Beverly – Sea Glass
Known for her artful blend of electro and folkish influences, ‘Sea Glass’ sees Beverly fully invest in the lushness of both. Synthy created sounds and deep traditional harmonies blend effortlessly to create an airy, vibrant and unique track. BM
Kyoto Love Hotel – You Unfold
Another wonderful addition to the string of great electronic pop songs already behind them, ‘You Unfold’ is the latest from Cork/Belfast duo Kyoto Love Hotel. Stirring, dreamlike and textural. AC
Orchid collective – Thunder
The alt-pop quartet continue their string of tight, hook-laden dancefloor fillers with Thunder. Warped pulses give the normally polished pop feel a sense of character – a track you can imagine being sang at one of the cult stages at Electric Picnic. BM
St Bishop – Dreaming
A heartfelt message to ex wrapped in a hook laden and smooth as silk pop song. As retro as it is current, the electro-pop of ‘Dreaming’ from St Bishop aka Stephen Bishop sounds primed for radio. AC
Bicep – Apricots
Fresh off their nomination at this years NI Music Prize, the electronic duo maintain their place at the top of the mountain of iconic NI electronic artists. Contains the same dark, panicked energy as hits like ‘Glue’ but they’ve swapped the cinematic space for a claustrophobic euphoria. BM
Rejjie Snow – Mirrors
It’s hard not to feel happy for Rejjie Snow – after all, everyone loves a winner, and the rapper stays winning on his newest. Bright and vibe laden with a strongly unique voice, ‘Mirrors’ is best appreciated with your hair down and the volume up. BM
Nealo ft Molly Sterling – All The Leaves Are Falling
Nealo and Molly Sterling make for some sound, combining on ‘All the Leaves Are Falling’ from Nealo’s debut album of the same name. A nostalgic but troubled tale, Nealo’s laid back delivery is punctured with heightened emotion from Sterling’s anguished vocals. AC
Maria Kelly – Keeps Me Out
Part of HAVVK’s collaborative EP Plans with Friends, featuring 5 reworked and cover versions of their own tracks. Labelmate Maria Kelly’s beautifully stripped back reworking of ‘Keeps Me Out’ retains the darkness of the original but her voice shines brightly, yet delicately through. AC
Yenkee – Life in 3/4 Time
One of the more idiosyncratic releases of the month, there’s elements of psychedelia, lo-fi, 70’s rock and contemporary pop in this track. Synthy, warm and busy, Yenkee’s experimental nature is what keeps us coming back – and what makes him one of the most original Irish artists in recent memory. BM
Lucy Gaffney – Send Me Away
The latest guise of Lucy Gaffney is under her own name. ‘Send Me Away’ takes a little of the 90s cool of previous band MMODE to carve out an excellent track. Gritty melodies pair with driven euphoria under Gaffney’s enchanting vocals. AC
EFÉ – Garden
Wavey lo-fi and arid melodies are the highlights on this late summer track that looks to encapsulated the last rays of the good months. EFÉ’s vocals have a heavy, addictive sway and an easy listening character that brings the likes of Amber Mark to mind. One to watch in the future. BM
Bitch Falcon – How Did I Know
The latest and last single from Bitch Falcon fast approaching debut album. Led as always by frontwoman Lizzie Fitzpatrick, ‘How Did I Know’ is an expression of frustration from the Dublin rockers, both lyrically and sonically. AC
7th Obi – Confusion
One of Ireland’s lesser appreciated hip hop voices, but also one of its most talented. Blending a myriad of beats and rhythms, 7th Obi plays the part of vibe conductor on this track and you find yourself hanging onto each of his instructions before long. BM
Loah ft Bantum – NGLA
A collaboration anyone and everyone should get behind. The pairing of Loah and Bantum has seldom produced anything less than exemplary – and NGLA is no exception. Varied and polished with colourful waves and elaborate pulsing beats, this release is as swaying as it is hypnotic. BM
Neptune M. – Metaphor (Version 1)
Anyone blessed to have witnessed Donegal’s Neptune M. will have left wanting more. The hope of a full release still out of grasp, a first track ‘Metaphor’ found its way online recently to ‘get some admin sorted’. Sensual and awash with a chorus of Maryann McDonnell’s unmistakable vocals. Without doubt one to watch. AC
Arborist – The Mountain Will Come to You
A little drop of new music following his NI Music Prize nominated, and simply wonderful second album. On the surface ‘The Mountain Will Come to You’ is a beautifully easy folk song but that’s simply proof of McCambridge’s deft songwriting and arrangements. One half of a double A-side 7″ on Rollercoaster Records. AC
Playlist
