Jack West has released his new single ‘A Little Shine’. Showcasing a lighter indie sound and warm glimmers of country the track is an upbeat and charming new single from this young yet mature songwriter. Glistening guitar radiates cosy tones through a buoyant beat injecting a dash of rock edge into the songs building backdrop and ethereal wall of sound. West’s raspy vocals exude passion as the track reaches its heavier crescendo while the effervescent instrumentation fizzes in the background. There is no denying this artists talent. West is developing his sound superbly. His ability to create sweet earworms which soothe the soul is admirable. ‘A Little Shine’ is a well crafted tune displaying tight production and mellow easy going tones sure to add a ray of sunshine to your day.
Dublin based neo-soul group Danny G & the Major 7ths have released their second album ‘The Lookout’. The album features 16 talented musicians and was mixed by Ken McCabe (Wolfhound Sound) as well as mastered for both vinyl & digital by Fergal Davis. The artwork used is from ‘Cityscrape 1’ by Irish artist Conor Gallagher.
Danny G & the Major 7ths’ ‘The Lookout’ is a smooth dose of retro soul, drizzled in R&B hues and lush pop tones. Exuding velvety vocals bathed in silken musicianship, each song is a wonderful easy listening experience to indulge in. Within the album the music is uncluttered and drifts on a light euphoric vibe, with soft embellishments on guitars and keys injecting sass and funk-fuelled moments to keep the album bouncing along.
Oozingstrutting guitar lines, foot tapping rhythms and soul drenched vocals ‘Believing ft. Grainne McCarthy’ showcases the band’s ability to surge swagger and sass into their music. The song is about the renewed optimism and almost spiritual belief in love, life and humanity that a new relationship can bring. With a surprising flute solo adorning the track Danny G & the Major 7ths display their fearless, rich and mature musicianship.
Filled with 70’s hues and R&B influences ‘The Lookout’ boasts a broader musical palette than the band’s debut ‘Love Joints’ and showcases an expansive wall of sound that is ethereal, laid back as well as groove infested. From South American percussive elements and jazz hues on trumpet and saxophone in ‘When It All Runs Out’ to the mood changer ‘Good Things Interlude’ the album is a luscious treat on the ears.
‘Good Things’ is an immaculately blended pop smoothie; sweet and creamy with zesty fruity elements on guitars keeping the track edgy while soft brass and keys melt into the honeyed melody. The track induces within the listener a state of dream-like bliss that is simply wonderful and difficult to shake off. Thick, juicy beats are full of hand clapping energy while the luscious harmonies and falsetto embellishments are the cherry on top of this delightful track – simply divine.
Like an opiate of lush melodies, tracks such as ‘Call Me’ cushions the listener’s ears in mellow supple retro-soul while ‘Little Rose’ skips and bounces with flutters of romance on keys. There is enough diversity on the album to keep you hanging from one song to the next.
One aspect of Danny G & the Major 7ths songcraft which is most intriguing is the deepening groove within each track as strutting rhythms, funky bass and guitar lines mangle beneath earthy flutes and emotive vocals. ‘Time The Healer ft. Fehdah & Zaska’ is a prime example of this and displays the band’s rich music and meticulous attention to detail – with a sun-kissed shredding solo and radiant vibes the track is a soothing yet energising gem.
‘The Lookout’ is an excellent demonstration of Danny G & the Major 7ths’ musical prowess. The album features a diverse range of genre’s which are blended into a tantalising collection of melodic mastery. The many musical nuances and exotic elements keep the listener engaged from start to finish and entice you to press the replay button again and again.
Post-Party have released their hotly anticipated new single ‘Being Honest’.The four piece have played venues such as the Roisin Dubh in Galway, sold out their headline Dublin shows, toured Ireland, performed at Electric Picnic and Indiependence, supported the likes of Miles Kane and The Sherlocks, as well as playing their own headline show at London’s Islington. Post-Party consists of Keelan O’Reilly, Peter Toal, Colin Peppard and Matthew O’Reilly.
‘Being Honest’ is an energetic blitz of indie rock. Doused in buoyant rhythms and vibrant guitar embellishments the track rushes with adrenaline while a bittersweet catchy melody wriggles its way into your head until you are mindlessly bellowing the lyrics back. The track broods through the verses with jagged guitar slicing through a thick humid soundscape before exploding into the expressive chorus and passionate crescendo. Post-Party flesh out their emotive songwriting and showcase their refined knack for melodies as the band load vibrant hooks and intricate instrumental builds into the song to create an upbeat crowd friendly tune. Boasting warm vocals and nostalgic guitar refrains alongside elastic bass grooves and pounding drums, ‘Being Honest’ is that radiant indie number sure to add a spring in your step and brighten your day. Keep an eye on Post-Party.
Cormac Russell has released his new single ‘Lotus Train’. Canadian born, but raised in Ireland, Cormac Russell has taken his music across the globe, including England and China. He released his acclaimed third album titled ‘Regicide’ in May last year, which won very favourable reviews in the press, as well as airplay on national radio. He will be releasing his fourth record ‘Ghost Town’ this spring. Playing all the instruments himself, he draws from a wide range of influences; from indie contemporaries like Kurt Vile and Bill Callahan to literary giants like Whitman and Rimbaud.
Easy going and laced in passionate instrumentation ‘Lotus Train’ is a sublime single from Cormac Russell. The track travels on a steady beat and warm guitar strides as a lamenting harmonica pines in the background while raspy emotive vocals and earnest lyrics inject a dash of grit into a heartfelt melody. Exuding warm country tones between an indie rock backdrop the track is a wholesome gem which displays Russell’s tight, refined and expressive musicianship. ‘Lotus Train’ is an impressive new single from Cormac Russell.
Happy New Year to all our followers and subscribers. We have enjoyed finding new artists and music this year and we look forward to listening to the tunes 2021 has to bring. It’s been a difficult year but there was amazing music released this year! Thank you to all who have donated to the blog keeping us caffeinated all year round and the PR Companies, Tour Managers, Managers and Artists who have worked with us all year. A big Thank You, to the talented Musicians who took over our socials for our new exciting takeover performance sessions this year. We have created a playlist on Spotify with all the artists we have featured in 2020 for you to have a listen to. Enjoy!
1200BC has released his latest call to action in the fight against climate change, ‘Get it Done’.Specifically calling out the inaction of politicians in the face of one the biggest crises in history, ‘Get it Done’ was largely written in response to the controversial plans surrounding the proposed mine in Queensland, Australia.Originally a duo, 1200BC is now a solo band that sees front man Brett collaborating with musicians all over the world. Coming to music as a retirement project, 1200BC hit the ground running and haven’t looked back since with five albums already released and an impressive number of monthly listeners.
‘Get it Done’ is a light pop rock track laced in bright instrumentation and catchy melodies. The song drifts on vibrant guitar lines while bubbling rhythms and lush backing vocals douse the track in a 60’s dreamy vibe. Exuding warm cosy tones, ethereal instrumentation and pop melodies alongside earnest lyrics, ‘Get it Done’ is a spirited new single from 1200BC.
Dublin alternative rock band VLLNS are due to release their third single of 2020, titled ‘I Fade Away’, on New Year’s Eve. The track was recorded by Dan Doherty in Darklands Recording Studio in Dublin and was mastered by Pete Maher in London.
Slick, gritty and riding on a wave of exhilarating alternative rock ‘I Fade Away’ is a powerful display of VLLNS exciting sound.These guys have some serious talent. A rumbling drum foundation creates a body grooving soundscape while piercing guitar pines with an ethereal quality over a thunderous rhythmic section. The song gains momentum with each verse as the band lure you down a dark rabbit hole of kinetic alternative rock. Ominous riffs slice through the songs heavy atmosphere as the band ferment and craft the track superbly draping their intensified wall of sound in sensual bass embellishments and nimble guitar work right up to the bloodthirsty crescendo. ‘I Fade Away’ is a thrilling riff heavy new single from VLLNS marking them as a band to keep an eye on. Looking forward to hearing more from these guys.
About the track the band said “ The track draws inspiration from the realisation that life is a limited resource, and from how our youth and innocence can be so suddenly pulled from under our feet when we first come face to face with death.”
Stephen Kelly – frontman and songwriter for Dublin rock band Raglans, has released ‘Home Brew Volume 1’ a lockdown concoction of newly written and home produced material. Working with mixing engineer, Eamonn Conway (Raglans, The Scratch, Sorcha Richardson, Otherkin) remotely from pandemic bedrooms, ‘Home Brew’ is a collection of new tracks and bonus unreleased older recordings that have never seen the light of day until now.
‘Home Brew Volume 1’ is a cohesive, melodically rich collection of tracks which showcases the versatility of Stephen Kelly as an artist. The EP has a diverse and engaging soundscape oozing alternative edgy elements blended between indie pop melodies, rock n roll tones with the odd country twang thrown in for good measure.
Boasting deft production and first rate musicianship, ‘Pile Up’ sets the EP in motion. The tracks luring, enticing beat is the perfect appetiser for whats to come. From the sun kissed swag of ‘Hollandia’ to the sweet ballad ‘Same Old Town’ the EP provides emotive and passionate tunes showcasing Kelly’s musical prowess – the latter displaying poignant songwriting “Forever lonely waiting on tomorrow”.
Exuding witty lyrics and wonderful melodic changes, the attitude soaked ‘Shit Song’ is a brisk, glorious assault on the senses. As in all ofKelly’s music his tracks are brimming with rich instrumentation as he spreads slinky basslines and slick guitar lines over a punchy rhythmic backdrop – a joy to listeners ears. Within ‘Home Brew Volume 1’ each song flows into the next with ease, subtly revealing different aspects of Kelly’s musicianship.
Arguably the most intriguing track on the EP ‘Icarus’ is a dynamic shot of adrenaline. Perhaps it’s the deft lyrics combined with invigorating use of instrumentation but there is something special about this track. Radiating ethereal guitars, eerie soundscapes and a rumbling bass the track is one of the highlights on the EP. The song emits kinetic energy and a magnetic personality that entices the listener to press the replay button repeatedly. It is utterly sublime.
‘Fallen Heroes (Live)’ triumphantly brings the EP to a close. A jangly live track laced in good vibes, witty lyrics and a heartening sing along refrain. This catchy ditty is a treasure at the moment. Providing us with a hint of live atmosphere through a fun, free spirited track, it is a superb way to end the EP.
Stephen Kelly presents a well crafted and charming collection of tracks which showcase his refined musicianship and exceptional knack with melodies. The earworm gems are a delight on the ears and mark Kelly as a first rate songwriter. Looking forward to Volume 2.
Having got her start on a LGBT/womxn in music DJ course, Irish DJ Sleepless Beauty plays the festival circuit, spinning electro, nu-disco, synth, and tech-house. She has played at The Button Factory, Lucky’s, Ruin Bar, Drop Dead Twice, Street 66 and Berlin Bar. Sleepless Beauty is a member of The Gash Collective, a resident at Doyle’s and Lost Lane, and has performed at Body & Soul, KnockanStockan and All Together Now. She closed out the Bandstand in Body and Soul on Friday night 12-2AM at Electric Picnic. Sleepless Beauty has a collection of songs on mixtape. Indie Buddie decided to have a listen.
Sleepless Beauty is a trailblazer bringing together elements of disco, tech house and jungle to create an authentic and wholly immersing sound. Sleepless Beauty keeps her mixes light and refreshing as swirling synths are richly weaved between intricate percussive lines and seamless song shifts to create a satisfying listening experience. Oozing pulsing base lines and echoing vocals the vibe never falters. ‘Tribal Fiesta’ which is perhaps my favourite mix so far brings the summer breeze right into your ears transporting the listener to a tropical sunkissed world of Sleepless Beauty’s creation.
Killer house beats keep the momentum bubbling throughout as Sleepless Beauty meanders between hypnotic techno and light disco with ease allowing the dynamic synths to playfully move between thick, heavy bass builds and sticky beat slaps. Mixes such as Pride 2020 are driven by a robust sequence of notes and beats which are made complete by vocals and tunes that you can’t help but sing along to. Sleepless Beauty is an extremely talented DJ with mixes doused in driving energy with an understated anthemic feel.
Moncrieff has recently released his second EP ‘The Class of 2020’. Having spent most of early 2020 in the solitude of his friend and co-producer Toby Scott’s home studio in Brighton, Moncrieff has created a collection of songs free and unconfined by genre that capture the zeitgeist of an ever changing musical and cultural landscape. Moncrieff’s debut body of work ‘The Early Hurts’ EP featured lead track ‘Like I Do’, this debut radio single (released in Sept 2019) received extensive airplay across national radio racking up nearly 12 million audience impressions and 5 million streams. The success of the single and EP led to Moncrieff selling out his first headline show in Dublin in less than 3 hours. His growing reputation also landed support slots touring with headline Irish acts Picture This and Walking on Cars.
As far as sophomore EP’s go ‘The Class of 2020’ is a musical triumph which boasts the unique genius of Moncrieff. Within this catchy, upbeat and candidly honest EP Moncrieff pushes boundaries and expectations while being extremely forthright with his emotions. The rich and utterly lush production on the tracks is masterful and something to be admired. If his debut ‘The Early Hurts’ EP had you thinking Moncrieff is an exceptional artist – ‘The Class of 2020’ will not only confirm your hypothesis but tell you the artist has more talent up his sleeve than he is letting on.
‘PLAYLOUD’ jump starts the EP – lathered in electronic production, R&B and infectious pop Moncrieff’s fun, euphoric expression of youth surges through playful soundscapes and witty lyrics “I’m a f*cking unicorn if I say so”. Oodles of attitude spills all over the EP. From quirky censored F word’s to catchy shout along choruses – it’s an energetic start to the EP. Moncrieff utilizes his unique and soulful vocals to inject rich depths through the rapid lyrics in ‘PLAYLOUD’ and surge emotion and velvety tones into the upbeat, urban pop ‘AMERICA’. A track that is vibrant, rich and laced in satirical commentary ‘AMERICA’ displays Moncrieff’s versatility as an artist through tropical rhythms, jangly soundscapes and a catchy chorus subtly scented with the aroma of Fun Boy Three’s ‘It Ain’t What You Do (It’s The Way That You Do It)’. The track is an impressive earworm which will chime in your head for days, its infectious rhythm unabated by any other tune you play after it.
Moncrieff doesn’t pull punches lyrically in this EP. He delivers an exhilarating middle finger to those in power failing to support society; “We chase our dreams while you spread your lies, Build castles in the sky, Heaven knows we’re all gonna die” in ‘AMERICA’ and rips shreds out of himself in ‘Sad and Horny’ “I’m a looser yeah i’m just a creep, who would wanna f*ck me”, it’s an honest account of his journey and thoughts on this year expressed through slick, first rate musicianship. The lush falsetto on the latter is simply flawless and gives listeners a teasing reminder of Moncrieff’s debut work – a clever addition and one that works so well. The chorus of ‘Sad and Horny’ erupts with subtle bursts of luscious pop followed by bubbling beats and simmering synths which blossom into a catchy release of tension as Moncrieff gravitates from glistening pop into a more melancholic undertone.
Similarly the dancefloor bop ‘DANCE’ follows the glum lyrical theme ‘we’re born, make money then we die’, however once again Moncrieff packages the ominous message within an upbeat infectious gem. ‘Dance’ is arguably my favourite track on the EP. This tightly produced glitter ball is drenched in bitter-sweet dreamy melodies, warm vocals and a catchy whistle along feature. Destined for the kinetic energy of a live show, the body moving beat, sweet electronics and jaunty guitar make this track a delight on the ears.
Moncrieff brings the EP to a close with the first demo he released this year during lockdown, the tender and earnest ‘in my room’. This beautiful track is again, a throwback to ‘The Early Hurts’ EP and the ruminating, depressive side of Moncrieff. Brooding, sombre and soulful Moncrieff coos a bittersweet melody atop ethereal soundscapes and lamenting piano creating an expansive, lonely and almost celestial backdrop. His wonderfully expressive vocal delivery hits hard and is raw and honest. Riddled with pain and expressing heartfelt emotion the track winds down the EP to a perfect end. ‘in my room’ is a poignant representation of how many people felt this year. However the track can be interpreted in many ways, for example it is a wonderful contrast to the upbeat, energetic bravado of opening track ‘PLAYLOUD’ where youthful angst has the potential to take on and change the world whereas ‘in my room’ is vulnerable, afraid and filled with doubt. Looking at the EP as a whole one can see Moncrieff is allowing the listener to glimpse different opposing facets of his personality and emotional state, which in truth on introspect is within each and every one of us. Moncrieff is vividly painting through the medium of music how we all feel at times. We may put on a brave face but within we are vulnerable and filled with doubt. Subtle messages, themes and nuances such as these lurk throughout the EP, within the lyrics, soundscapes and musical embellishments, deftly left obscure by the artist for the listener to make their own assumptions on the topic at hand.
Another point of interest is Moncrieff is ending the year as it began for the artist. His first release of 2020 is his curtain call as well – the finale of a chapter, the end of a crazy year and ‘in my room’ aptly closes the chapter or does it ? .. the haunting nature and sorrow of the track feels as if it’s a small break before everything kicks off again… Intriguing to say the least.
‘The Class of 2020’ displays a different facet to Moncrieff as an artist. His sublime ability to make you feel the pang of his isolation and emotional state through tonally tight, crisp and full flavoured production is awe-inspiring. The dynamic energy within each track is infectious and each song warrants its place on the EP creating a compelling and thoroughly enjoyable collection of tracks. Moncrieff is a musical force of nature who possesses depth and artistic understanding that is both mesmerising and enviable. ‘The Class of 2020’ is only a keyhole glimpse of the boundless talent this artist has to offer. Keep an eye on this guy.
Stream ‘The Class Of 2020’ Below
Author : Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
