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 Myles McCormack. Words by Aaron Cunningham & Ben Magee.
FEATURED TRACKS
Myles McCormack – What I’ve Been Promising
New from Myles McCormack, ‘What I’ve Been Promising’ is the lead track from a promised second album in the new year. Belfast’s McCormack explores communication and connection through the track’s gorgeous acoustic grooves that progressively expand through the song’s runtime. A masterful songwriter. AC
Family & Tribe – Summer’s End
Belfast based songwriter Stephen Jones gives us a first taste of new project Family & Tribe, worked on collaboratively with producer Matt Duke and a cast of musicians through the pandemic. ‘Summer’s End’ is a big introduction, cinematic with orchestral touches and a rolling pace underneath Jones’ lyrics about lost love, the track has some and stirring moments. AC
Chalk – Velodrome
Three-piece Chalk found themselves plenty of attention with their debut single earlier this year, but seven months on with a first headline Belfast show on the horizon this week their second single is gaining even more traction. Doom laden vocals match the sheer urgency of the track’s instrumentals with a sound that takes on the power of The Prodigy and of course Ireland’s own Gilla Band. 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
Robyn Maddox – Curtain Call
‘Curtain Call’ is the debut single from self confessed alternative pop songwriter Robyn Maddox. Guitars weave around Maddox’s strong vocals and varied production that throws plenty into the mix. 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
Von Loop – I’ve Got A Light
Taking their cue from the Northern Irish tradition of strong indie rock, Bangor group Von Loop released their second single last month. ‘I’ve Got A Light’ is an uptempo rock track with a catchy hook of a chorus and plenty of energy. AC
Drew Makes Noise – Something to Kill
A Halloween track with plenty of scope beyond the spooky season, ‘Something to Kill’ is heavy. Belfast artist Drew Makes Noise gives it his all across a song that rages against capitalism and modern life as guitars chug underneath strings and synths and a vocal that takes note from the likes of QOTSA and even Nick Cave. AC
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