October has come and gone but we’re looking back at some of the great new music released to the world. Aaron Cunningham and Ben Magee select some of their favourite releases of the month, including cover artist Clara Tracey. All handily found in our rotating playlist.
Clara Tracey – Strange Flowers
A track that encapsulates the creativity that flows through Clara Tracey’s debut album. Black Forest moves through visual and retro references to innuendo and dream sequences. The latter is where ‘Strange Flowers’ picks up, a journey that segues from its woozy swirls to heavy psychedelia excitement via a vintage late night piano section. AC
Aoife Wolf – The Wetlands
The title track from the Offaly artist’s upcoming EP, ‘The Wetlands’ is a simmering track that moves from breathy verses to the heightened uneasiness and emotion of the song’s choruses while never escaping the internal conflict at the song’s heart. Released with a video that reflects the track’s title and drama. AC
Aoife Nessa Frances – Chariot
Another offering from Ireland’s talented cabal of folksters, Frances is one of our best singers and songwriters, and her second album is a statement release. Tracks such as ‘Chariot’ and ‘This Still Life’ as consistent in quality but diverse in all other quantifiers, showcasing Frances’s versatility. Released on Partisan Records, the home of Fontaines D.C. and Just Mustard, ‘Protector’ is filled with depth, stunning lyricism and ethereal arrangements, and is in the running for my album of the year. BM
The Mary Wallopers – All For Me Grog
The Dundalk rabble-rousers have been folk-music-favourites for some time now. Since their charming rendition of the old Scottish drinking tune ‘Cod Liver Oil And The Orange Juice’ propelled them to semi-viral infamy, they’ve quietly established themselves as an unmissable mix of comedy, chaos, politics and craic. This applies to both live and recorded settings. Their self-titled debut is a culmination of everything we love about them, warts, grog and all. BM
Paddy Hanna – Nightmares
Taken from Paddy Hanna’s fourth studio album Imagine I’m Hoping, ‘Nightmares’ is a typically brilliant and inventive track. Sounding sweet, soulful and jangly, it’s a song about nightmares and the reassurance of a loved one. AC
Crybabyamy – Validation
One of the scene’s best-kept secrets, Crybabyamy has already garnered praise, cowrites and commissions from some of the biggest songwriters, publishers and labels in the world. On her newest, ‘Validation’, she channels funky rhythm sections and modern pop production on a slice of easy-listening electro-pop that is so infectious that you can help but dance to it. What sets her apart however s her lyricisms, subtle and understated but universal and intimate simultaneously. One to keep your eye on, she’s probably working on your favourite song ever right now. BM
Somebody’s Child – Sell Out
The latest from the pretty prolific Cian Godfrey aka Somebody’s Child. A more direct and in-your-face sound as guitars take centre stage and the narrative deals with striving for authenticity. AC
Ciaran Lavery – My Body’s A Zombie For You
Originally written for Ryan Gosling’s band, Lavery takes a new spin on this track. Aided by the Cathedral Quarter choir, Lavery goes full gospel on this track. Bringing his own penchant for vocals recorded as the missiles are crashing down to give this track somebody and new life, the piano lead cataclysm of this track has a heartbreaking quality to it, and its veering nature between the subtle and the ornamental is to be admired and loved. BM
Kez – How Can You Not See
A powerful, stirring introduction to Dublin’s Kez with her first single ‘How Can You Not See’. A long, slow building track that takes clear reference from Radiohead’s ‘Fake Plastic Trees’ and featuring a clear and compelling vocal. AC
Lauren Ann – Adelaide
A fresh signing to the Dublin-based Faction records, Lauren Ann has had the dream start to her career that all young perfumers would want, and the songs to match. Fresh off her performance at Ireland Music Week and support slots for Twin Atlantic and Tom Grennan, Ann dropped her latest track ‘Adelaide’. Verging between Shoegaze, alt-rock and indie-pop, it is her best to-date and symbolic of an artist on the rise. Combining a wall of sound guitars with lo-fi vocals and an edgy rhythm section was just what the doctor ordered. BM
Ways of Seeing – Every Night
The project of songwriter James O’Donnell, ‘Every Night’ is the latest of three singles released in the last months ahead of his debut album End Comes To Light, out last week. Interesting production lends the track its slow burn which runs from the sparse to the vibrant. AC
milk. – Human Contact
From the visuals to the production, milk’s ‘Human Contact’ rings out with The 1975’s influence. Slickly and smartly produced, the affected vocals and radio friendly beats give the track its plentiful appeal. AC
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