Every month we take a look back at the best new releases from Northern Ireland in our featured playlist. A showcase for the sheer amount of talent coming out of the North, and a playlist worthy of repeat listening. This month’s cover artist is The Florentinas. Words by Aaron Cunningham.
FEATURED TRACKS
The Florentinas – Weatherman
A band on the rise, ‘Weatherman’ is just the third single in three years from the indie rockers. A track that builds further on last year’s brilliant ‘It’s Not In Vain’, ‘Weatherman’ puts frontman Paddy Boyd’s big vocals to the fore on with a hook-laden chorus amidst slick instrumentation.
The Wood Burning Savages – Hand to Mouth
It’s been a while since we’ve heard from The Wood Burning Savages, with their last release their 2018 NI Music Prize winning debut album. Despite the wait their fire hasn’t diminished a jot, ‘Hand to Mouth’ is a fierce and defiant shout against today’s economic instability. It’s like they’ve never been away.
Fräulein – Pet
The latest from London based two-piece Fräulein is a 90s inspired grungy slice of alt rock. Heavy guitar and percussion builds round the muted verses while vocalist Joni Samuels lets loose. They may be half Dutch, half Northern Irish, but we’ve no problem claiming them.
Lucy Bell – Love Me The Most
Another artist who’s kept us waiting on new music, now living in London, Lucy Bell returned last month with a new single. ‘Love Me The Most’ rises from the gentle verses into its filmic reprise, led by Bell’s emotive voice. Accompanied by a gorgeously shot video from Broken Film.
King Cedar – Songbird on the Gray Hill
It’s been a long road to this release from Bangor songwriter Stephen Macartney, with the promise of this debut album teased over the years. A beautiful first single from the upcoming March full release, marking the first album on Third Bird Records. ‘Songbird on the Gray Hill’ was written for a friend in need and recorded in Montana back in 2018.
Henry Likely – Handover
Former vocalist for early noughties band Ablespacer, songwriter Robin H L Regan marks his first release as Henry Likely with ‘Handover’. An understated track populated by piano, almost painfully soft vocals and slow beats of percussion, it builds into something bigger by the song’s conclusion.
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