Sunday 26 July 2020

Fontaines D.C. - A Hero's Death


Just over fifteen months after the Mercury Prize nominated debut Dogrel, which bagged a number of Album Of The Year awards, Fontaines D.C. return with a triumphant follow up overcoming the adversity of a turbulent, tumultuous and intense period for the band.

Thursday 23 July 2020

Silverbacks - Fad


With a series of successful singles and a growing buzz behind them, Silverbacks launch their debut album into the world. Fad is a record that manages the mean trick of taking a thrilling set of influences and blending them into an exciting sound that will be both familiar yet fresh. 

Monday 20 July 2020

The Blinders - Live From The Bottom Floor


To celebrate the release of their second album Fantasies Of A Stay At Home Psychopath, The Blinders performed an hour long live set with an expanded five-piece line-up on Monday night that was streamed to purchasers of the album. 

TRACK OF THE DAY : Laurie Shepherd - Home


Home is the second single to be taken from Laurie Shepherd's forthcoming debut album Moon Moves The Sea that is due for release in October. It's a critical look at how the human race is treating the planet on which we live, oblivious to the long-term impacts.

Friday 17 July 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY 2 : Ellysse Mason - I Don't Wanna Dance


Ellysse Mason today reveals the video for her latest single I Don't Wanna Dance, the follow-up to May's Something Good. The synth-heavy track is a departure from her previous work and heads, ironically given the title, straight to the dance floor. 

TRACK OF THE DAY : Turnstiles - S.O.S.


Well it really is the same old story as fifth single Same Old Stories sees Turnstiles continue on their upward trajectory with another punk rock number that leaves us with high expectations for their debut album.

Thursday 16 July 2020

Dulcimer Melody - Dark Alchemy


You won't have heard of Dulcimer Melody. We hadn't when we stumbled across a social media post hidden deep in a Facebook group about this remarkable debut album. It's been released with no fanfare, no singles, no marketing campaign yet something about the title and the mystery of the album's cover drew us in and revealed a meticulously constructed set of ten songs, taut with tension, rippled through with dramatic moments and with a voice that soars, drifts and takes the listener off on a journey through its creator's detailed mind maps.

Wednesday 15 July 2020

Sisterix - Interview


They're only three singles into their life as Sisterix but Ornait and Siomha have already made their mark in their native Ireland with hard-hitting songs that pull no punches - whether it be about the oppressive nature of church-dominated society or the way women are viewed within that. With an EP due in September and a video for new single Family released today, we caught up with Ornait to find out more about the band, their inspirations and the groundswell of new female Irish talent and the challenges they're facing to break through.

Fontaines D.C. - Kilmainham Gaol - 14th July 2020


Fontaines D.C. followed in the footsteps of their brothers and close friends The Murder Capital by performing a socially distanced audience-free gig as part of the Other Voices #courage2020 series on Tuesday evening.

Tuesday 14 July 2020

The Blinders - Fantasies Of A Stay At Home Psychopath


Following up an album with a such a striking audio-visual package as their debut Columbia was never going to be an easy feat for The Blinders. The imagery of Johnny Dream and the stories inextricably linked to the novel 1984 were striking, but something it would be unwise to try and replicate. What The Blinders have done with their follow-up Fantasies Of A Stay At Home Psychopath is to widen their horizons in terms of subject matter without straying too far from the subjects of the political systems around the world, societal issues and mental health. 

Friday 10 July 2020

The Slow Readers Club - Bury The Met - 10th July 2020


The Slow Readers Club joined the growing trend of bands putting out ticketed live socially-distanced streams on Friday night with a set broadcast live via Veeps. Featuring a set heavy on their recent top ten fourth album The Joy Of The Return, they delivered a full set of fan favourites in Derby Hall at Bury Met.

Tuesday 7 July 2020

Sons Of Southern Ulster - Sinners And Lost Souls


Originally hailing from Cavan, Ireland and with members now residing in the United States, Australia and Ireland, Sons of Southern Ulster return with their aptly named soul searching second album Sinners and Lost Souls.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Emily Mercer - Gallery


Describing herself as "a mix of folk, pop and soul", Emily Mercer's new single Gallery is a gorgeous piano-driven track that hides a darker side lyrically that contrasts with the warmth and openness of the music.

Monday 6 July 2020

TRACK OF THE DAY : Ruby Joy - Hooked On Your Mind


Hooked On Your Mind is the debut single from Ruby Joy. The track tells the tale of a character who is obsessed with someone who has no interest in them and giving them firm and honest advice about how to deal with the situation.

Friday 3 July 2020

SKIES - Interview


Our friends SKIES have been one of the busiest bands around during lockdown, performing daily livestreams from their home in Kent, strengthening the bond between the band and their dedicated fanbase. They've released a live album, recorded with full kit in a bedroom, and a series of acoustic songs. Today they release their new single It's Alright and we caught up with Alie for a chat about the craziness of the past few months and their plans for the future.

Thursday 2 July 2020

bdrmm - Bedroom


Hailing from Hull and Leeds, bdrmm have delivered their debut LP on the much loved and acclaimed Sonic Cathedral label. Stuart Ralston came across them late one night when his favourite 6 Music DJ Gideon Coe gave their track Happy a spin a few months ago.

Wednesday 1 July 2020

The Murder Capital - Dublin Guinness Storehouse - 30th June 2020


The loosening of restrictions in their native Dublin allowed The Murder Capital to regroup and perform a social-distanced audience-free set from the Storehouse at the Guinness factory on Tuesday night with views over their home city and the streets on which the songs from their debut When I Have Fears were lived out.

TRACK OF THE DAY : Bryony Williams - I Can Be


I Can Be is the lead track from Bryony Williams' forthcoming third EP State I'm In. The single is the Wolverhampton singer-songwriter's first release on Beth Shalom Records and follows in the footsteps of her first two EPs Conscious and Wanderlust that got the attention of BBC Introducing and 6 Music.