Across the line Feed

That new Band Smell

2013-10-08T10:57:36+00:00

It's time to turn it up to 11 again folks with some rocking new tunes from the newest batch of decibel dealers hunted out by That New Band Smell's loudest presenter Carrie Davenport.

Nibiru

This alternative rock act from Dublin formed a few years ago, releasing their demo Earthbreeder in 2011, followed by the single The Reinvention of Man late last year. Newest releease Oxegen Eater is a fantastically grungy EP with 3 tracks all equally strong. Describing themselves as "celestial hardcore for a time of universal cataclysm", we can't think of a better soundtrack to our impending doom, so turn it up loud and rock out like there's no tomorrow.

Bang Bros

Bang Bros are all fired up guitars blazing punk rock, packing huge amounts of energy into songs so short youcould blink and miss them. Solid hardcore featuring musicians from a wide range of other bands including Frustration and Strong Boys, it's proper punk rock - no messing around, straight to the riffage and perfect for stage diving, mosh pit bouncing and general misbehaviour.

The Revellions

Formed in 2006, it's about time these lads got a mention here on TNBS. Spooky organs and even the decidedly under-used theremin appear on their rockabilly-esque garage rock tunes. There's a polished feel that lets you know they take what they do very seriously and a great back catalogue of songs. You should just go and listen to the whole lot! preferably with a quiff and drinking a tiki cocktail.

That New Band Smell - TVVINS

2013-09-30T16:14:08+00:00

Niamh Hegarty gives us the lowdown on news sounds south of the border.

Cfit
Hailing from Dublin, Cfit describe humble beginnings as they started out in “bedrooms and home studios”. Initially a side project of front man Noel Dupaa it’s evolved into five piece with even a violinist on board for their live show. Live, Cfit really are an immense pleasure to watch and in the past have been lucky enough to grace the stage at Electric Picnic. Their launch of their debut album ‘Triage’ also sold out the Crawdaddy, no easy feat considering the venues generous capacity. They’re among the acts playing this year’s Hard Working Class Heroes. This year’s line – up is stellar and they certainly deserve their place, here’s a track called Base Isolation. You can find out more about them via cfit.bandcamp.com.

Maighread

Further south, and we’re Limerick bound for some electro with Maighread, a female artist who’s really beginning to make a name for herself on the international circuit. This track ‘Sooner’ is her most recent single which she brought out via Meon Records, there a just 200 physical copies in circulation so snap one up quick if you can. Another noteworthy piece of information, DJ ‘Feral is Kinky’ remixed this track who’s a very prolific DJ and recently knocked Daft Punk off the number one slot in Australia. There’s quite a 90s feel to Maighread’s sound yet she manages this without coming across as dated. Quite a refreshing artist, this is someone we’re bound to hear a lot more from in the coming months. She’s currently touring the UK and no Irish dates have been announced so far but you can find out more about here via maighread.com.

TVVINS

Track of the week and we’re back in Dublin for TVVINS pronounced ‘twins’ and it’s something of a super group, the combined talents of Lar Kaye (Adebisi Shank, No Spill Blood) and Conor Adams (The Cast of Cheers, Charmers). Separately this duo has released some of the most influential Irish albums in recent years. Let’s face it, who isn’t eager to hear the new Adebisi Shank album and who wouldn’t leap at the first chance of seeing The Cast of Cheers live. If you haven’t heard either, you could do worse things with your time then check them out. Both musicians have a lot on their plates, as mentioned a third album is expected out from Adebisi Shank (no dates have been announced yet) but somehow the pair have found the time to come together and immerse themselves in TVVINS. This track, the incredibly catchy ‘Two Worlds’ is a B-Side for single they’re going to release called ‘You Better’. As a standalone track it’s pretty immense and leaves us with a sense of anticipation of what’s left to come, it’s exciting stuff to say the least. They’ll play their first show this weekend at Hard Working Class Heroes ’13 on Saturday October 5th, not too be missed. In the meantime, check out their Facebook.

That New Band Smell: Floor Staff

2013-09-23T18:27:34+00:00

Brian Coney puts his faith in and vouches for these three up-and-coming acts.

Swimmers – Countryside
Featuring Niall Jackson, bassist of Dublin indie pop quartet Bouts on guitar and vocals, Swimmers are released their impressive three-track debut EP Swimmer’s Year at the start of the year. Playing the same sort of starry-eyed, slacker guitar-pop as Bouts but with a darker and more introverted edge, the band are worth hitting up if you’re a fan of U.S. indie rock heroes Sebadoh and Irish alt-rock band Music For Dead Birds. ‘Countryside’ is a highlight from the aforementioned release.

Kyron Bourke – If I Lost My Legs
Once of Kyron and the Strangels, Kyron Bourke is a Belfast singer-songwriter whose lounge-inflected jazz shtick sees him channel the bluesier sides of Tom Waits, Howlin’ Wolf Mark Lanegan amongst others. With a wonderfully whiskey-soaked croon at his disposal, Bourke’s material to date has promised some great things in the making. The most prophetic and hard-hitting of his two lead singles – the other being the impressive ‘If I Was King – ‘If I Lost My Legs’ reveals a new take on an old style, done masterfully well.

Floor Staff – The Guest
An alternative-pop two-piece hailing from Dublin, Floor Staff is the music-making moniker of Anthony Donnelly and Stephen Murphy. Having released their superb debut five-track EP in July – The Good Luck EP – the pair play an understated, intelligent and deceptively catchy brand of unravelling alt-pop that is surely set to come to full fruition over a full-length album. My favourite – and arguably the best – track from their EP, ‘The Guest’ is a four-minute slice of exceptional songwriting very much in the vein of Field Music.

That New Band Smell - Kingspirit

2013-09-17T15:11:52+00:00

Carrie Davenport brings us more new tracks from the heavier side of music.

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The Steady Decline
Brand spanking new hardcore from Belfast - only six months old but sounding much more mature in both sound and lyrics, The Steady Decline have been graffting hard in their short lifespan and have already recorded a debut EP which you can download for free from here. Their music has an early Gallows feel, a real dark atmosphere with driving rhythms and an almost thrash tinged guitar sound which we think you'll absolutely love.

Nomadic Rituals
3 piece sludgy doom from Belfast, Nomadic Rituals are the kind of music satan would listen to when he's having a relaxing night in by the fire. Each note is deliberate and decisive and they have a heavy bass sound with a real doom/drone feel. Their EP Holy Giants was released in their practise room (read dungeon) and was mastered by James Plotkin from renowned doom outfit Khanate to make sure every doomy note is as black as night and filled with a surprisingly delicious sense of forboding.

Kingspirit
Based in Dublin, Kingspirit are a band driven by the urge to jam. They claim their vast influences come together in their improv fuelled jam sessions and this is how they both write and rehearse their tunes. Having formed in 2010 they have just released the blues tinged and funk infused EP Burn In Me and the songs have a real dirty southern feel which echoes the Tru Blood soundtrack

That New Band Smell - Kate's Party

2013-09-10T11:29:27+00:00

Niamh Hegarty digs out more new gems for Across The Line from her Cork outpost. This week she brings Cork's Moustache Latte and Dublin's Punch Face Champions & Kate's Party to our radar.

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Punch Face Champions
Dublin’s Punch Face Champions are no strangers to the music scene, with guitar whizz Dave Newell at the fore. Newell is known for supporting bands when they need gear in Dublin working in one of the city’s top guitar shops and who knew he was quietly working away on his own stuff all the while? Introducing Punch Face Champion, instrumental post rock that is, in parts, quite reminiscent of The Continuous Battle of Order. They played Electric Picnic this summer, rocking the Oxjam stage shortly before Arctic Monkeys; catch them next when they launch their debut EP 'XXXV' at the Mercantile Dublin on October 18th. Until then, you can find out more about them via their Facebook.

Moustache Latte
Further south and we’re in Cork for Moustache Latte, a seven piece primarily female band that describe themselves as “neo soul” and “funk”. They started as a covers act and this track ‘Velvet Love’ sees them moving into their own territory. It’s impressive (to say the least) that a band can pull off both so well. ‘Velvet Love’ is a gorgeous track and I’m not alone on this one, following its release in July it earned them a slot at the upcoming Hard Working Class Heroes festival in Dublin. Catch them there in October and until then, you can download ‘Velvet Love’ for free via their soundcloud.

Kate’s Party
Hailing from Dublin, Kate’s Party are a ridiculously talented pop punk female fronted four piece. Signed with Toast Office Records, a label that homes some of Dublin’s finest acts including the likes of Liza Flume, Kate’s Party are currently one of the most pro-active acts in Dublin. Recently they’ve been gigging hard with the likes of Cave Ghosts and the #1s, and not ones to leave anyone out, they've also been organising some all ages gigs. If that wasn’t enough, they’re heavily involved in the running of their aforementioned label Toast Office Records. They’re a band with so much going for them and are due to release their debut album soon, while we wait patiently for that you can find out more about them via Toast Office Records.

That New Band Smell - Those Ghosts

2013-08-27T09:34:54+00:00

It's time for another blast of the slightly heavie That New Band Smell with me, Carrie Davenport. So get ready for some awesome new bands to air guitar and mosh about your bedroom to:

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Hollow Truth
For our first offering to the Gods of Rock I present Hollow Truth - a five piece crossover hardcore act from Dublin. Ireland has a great hardcore scene and these guys are one of the newest acts to join the already mighty hoards. Having formed in late 2012, they wasted no time recording their first demon, "The Earth Shook" and are now following that up with their EP "Prometheus Bound" which you can download from here.

Wolf Regime
Inspired in name and nature by the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, what time these guys don't spend howling at the moon is clearly dedicated to listening to Sabbath, Maiden and Dio. Proper air grabbing power choruses are laced with guitars you can't help but air riff along to on their debut EP "The Awakening".

Those Ghosts
Last but cetainly not least we're heading to Strabane for a slice of delicious rock from Those Ghosts. They bring to mind a pretty wide mix of bands - Biffy Clyro, Nirvana, sometimes a little bit Placebo and at other times a bit more Pearl Jam. Their melodies are the thing which really stands out, performing both loud electric and soothing acoustic tracks with striking ease and execution. Their single 'Explain' is worth checking out (both the original and acoustic versions are great in their own right) and their EP is definitely worth a download. I haven't stopped playing it since I found it. Perfect chill out for rocking ears!

That New Band Smell - Slow Skies

2013-08-19T18:53:14+00:00

Niamh Hegarty digs up three acts from south of the border for you listening pleasure:

The Shaker Hymn
From the deep south of Cork, The Shaker Hymn have been a few different incarnations in the past. They met while at secondary school and formed Circus Cat, released three EPs under that monarch and built up quite a following. A few years on and they’re still not tired of each other, while most bands crumble under the pressure of trying to get along these Corkonians have made it work. Now The Shaker Hymn, they’ve spent the past year touring the States and recording their debut album. They list Tame Impala and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club among their favourite artists and it’s refreshing to hear an Irish act take this direction, it almost borders on Brit pop at times. An Irish tour is on the cards and while we wait patiently for that, here’s a track of theirs called ‘We Are Awake’.

Paddy Hanna
Paddy Hanna is one of the most prolific musicians in Dublin, the lead singer in Grand Pocket Orchestra he’s also heavily involved in independent label Popical Island. Grand Pocket Orchestra can be quite frantic onstage, a live show you won’t forget and Paddy as a front man is at the helm of that. With that in mind, it’s quite a wonderful surprise to hear his solo material take a different direction. His band is compiled of No Monster Club’s Bobby Aherne on bass and Enda Canavan on drums, both tracks were recorded by Mark Chester of Ginnels fame. These are gorgeous tracks, and who knew Paddy had such a warm tone to his voice. Both tunes are currently available for free via bandcamp so get them while you can. Paddy is due to play Electric Picnic this year; you can catch him at the Body and Soul Earthship stage on Sunday the 2nd of September.

Slow Skies
Back to Dublin, Slow Skies is one woman and her bass, one of the highlights of this summer’s Indiependence festival without a doubt. Karen Sheridan creates music that has such a haunting quality to it; it stays with you for days after. Slow Skies was something we stumbled across by accident at Indiependence and it went on to become a clean favourite of the weekend. There’s a sense that Irish audiences aren’t quite aware of the potential she has but when they do things will escalate for her. Reminiscent of Katie Kim, you can catch her next at the Academy 2 in Dublin with The Ambience Affair. In the meantime, here’s a stunning track of hers called ‘Walk Me Home’ available via bandcamp.

That New Band Smell - Aquatramp

2013-08-05T19:59:09+00:00

aquatramp.jpg

Well it's that time of the week again and we have some tasty treats for your ears tonight. Keeping it old school despite being that NEW band smell we have 2 bands tonight definitely inspired by the musical glory of days gone by! For starters you have a delightfully spicy slice of thrash served on a bed of epic riffs, then to cleanse the palette a little bit of modern instrumental rock and to finish it off a sickeningly sweet slab of vintage inspired stoner rock. Ooh we're full to bursting...

Animator

Raging thrash metalfrom Waterford for fans of local lads Gama Bomb, and not so local legends Anthrax, these are tunes to unleash your head banging fury to - whiplash to be expected. Their debut album Blacklisted is due to be released soon on EBM records and in a genius move to promote it they've teamed up with Ring of Honor Wrestling so you can see fellas get pulverised to a backdrop of Animator riffs! what more could ya ask for

Medz

Medz started as an acoustic duo but after breaking their first singers voice while recording their first ep they took some time out to go instrumental and it's really worked. Tommy and Stu from Dublin and Cavan have teamed up with Edu from Sao Paulo and new singer Donal to work on their upcoming album and in the meantime they're very generously giving away their ep for free here

Aquatramp

Formed in 2012 Aquatramp are influenced by a load of bands we love here at ATL - QOTSA, Nirvana, Black Sabbath. Now we know many bands claim influences and then sound nothing like them but thankfully with Aquatramp that is far from the case. Gorgeous hendrix inspired guitars and sultry, husky vocals reminiscent of a time when everybody didn't scream but actually sang it's a refreshing change for something so old school

That New Band Smell with Niamh Hegarty - Saint Yorda

2013-07-29T18:59:22+00:00

Conor Linnie

Linnie is a PhD student from Dublin, currently studying English literature at Trinity College. He’s somehow found the time to fit in a budding music career around that. He released his debut album Astray back in March via Toast Office Records, following a very successful 2012 he was invited to play a string of festivals including Electric Picnic and Knockanstockan. Live, he’s a performer that exudes confidence and this summer’s been proving to be equally promising for him. Having been invited back to Knockanstockan festival he was chosen by Goldenplec magazine as one of their Top 10 Acts to see over the weekend. This is a festival that has seen the likes of Enemies, Girl Band, La Faro and More Than Conquerors perform over the weekend so that’s quite a compliment. A promising individual to say the least, he’s not only a strong vocalist and lyricist but a gifted guitarist too. Here’s a track of his called ‘Crash Bandicoot Blues’ from Astray, one of our favourites from his debut album. You can find out more about him via http://www.conorlinnie.com/

Night Trap

Is the brainchild of Jill Daly (ex Terrordactly) and Ciarán Smith of Crayonsmith fame, in case you haven’t heard of either? Terrordactly were a pretty excellent pop punk band with Lar and Mick from Adebisi Shank and Owensie who’s now out on his own as quite a prolific solo artist. Crayonsmith are still going strong and about to release their third album via Out on a Limb Records, a Limerick based record label and possibly one of the longest running independent labels in Ireland. These are two musicians with a lot of history who have been heavily been involved in the Dublin scene and beyond for quite some time, so it’s exciting to see them join forces. Night Trap has a dark-wave, 80s synth pop feel going on, not too dissimilar from The Pet Shop Boys actually. You can find out more about them via their facebook page, you can also find their debut ‘Rogue Spirit’ there which they’ve kindly made available to us for free: https://www.facebook.com/nighttrapdublin

Saint Yorda

Saint Yorda are Paul O’ Reilly, Kevin Terry, Rosyln Steer and Chris Somers they met in Cork and went on to form one of the most exciting new bands around. ‘Disco’ is the name of their forthcoming single, which they’ve allowed us to preview on the show and we’re totally stoked about this. We’ve fallen hard for this track, it’s so ridiculously catchy and one you’ll no doubt find yourself looping on your mp3 player. They recorded this with Ber Quinn, who’s worked with the reputable Villagers and Cathy Davey to name a few. It almost sounds like something you’d imagine hearing M83 coming forward with, so it’s exciting to hear a new independent Irish act bringing the goods in this case. The future’s looking extremely bright for Saint Yorda and you can find out more about them via their site: http://www.saintyorda.com/

That New Band Smell: Forrests

2013-07-22T19:16:46+00:00

Forrests image

So, Glasgowbury is over and what a send-off it was. Expanding to a two-day event for the first time in its glorious thirteen year history, the absolute cream of the Northern Irish music crop ascended Eagles Rock in the expansive and beautiful Sperrins to play their respective hearts out and give the country’s finest homegrown musical festival a truly unforgettable farewell party. Whilst we’re down an institution, there are still many like it around. Here’s my pick of three (or indeed four) fresh bands who have and will hopefully continue to grace stages across the country for years to come. Watch this space.

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The Hot Sprockets – Honey Skippin

Having just played the aforementioned music festival at the weekend, Dublin band The Hot Sprockets’ zealous hybrid of garage, country and blues is as infectious as it is memorable (that is, quite a bit). With a sound calling to mind many of their main influences - everyone from MC5 to Seasick Steve - the band have supported the likes of the Zutons, Divine Comedy and many more besides. Taken from their debut album of the same name, Honey Skippin' is a stand-out track that distils the band’s so-called “country dirt” sound.

The Greased Palm and the Orchid Collective - Potshots

A truly superb introductory track for two bands, ‘Potshots’ is a collaborative effort from the equally excellent The Greased Palm and the Orchid Collective, the former act a rock n' roll five-piece fronted by Junior Johnson, the latter a Dublin-based alt-folk seven-piece fronted David O’Shea. With both bands also having played Glasgowbury at the weekend, the track in question was recorded for the Nerve Centre’s Resonate Project last week and brilliantly conveys both band’s potential.

Forrests – Billions

One of the most interesting Irish electronic duos around, Forrests’ sweeping, decidedly wistful brand of post-rock inflected electronica has seen the duo play, amongst other shows, last year’s Electric Picnic and – only last week – Body & Soul Festival. The music-making moniker of Paul O'Reilly and Owen O'Mahony, the twosome released their debut EP, Wilder, at the start of this month. 'Billions' – arguably the release’s finest track – is a sublime slab of sun-kissed, summery goodness.

That New Band Smell - Nouns

2013-07-15T20:15:09+00:00

Here at ATL towers even the gorgeous weather can't keep us from our hunt to find you great new tunes to break up those monday blues so it's once again time to raise the decibel level higher than the temperatures have been lately with Carrie Davenport's pick of new bands for this week.

Nouns

We're sure you will all be loving the blissfully lo-fi grungy sounds from belfast based rockers Nouns. This outfit sees Singer Simon, drummer Jamie and bassist Gareth joined by Stevie Mac (embracing a less poppy and more noisey sound than his previous act Uber Gliterrati) to produce tunes clearly inspired by the likes of Japandroids and Silversun Pickups. Having just finished recording their debut EP at Graham House Studio you can see a great live session video on the studios facebook page to give you a glimpse behind the music and their debut EP will be out very soon so keep your ears peeled.

Tusks

Tusks are a bit of a Belfast supergroup with Tom from Badboat and Mike from Comply or Die joining Tom's fellow howling widow bandmates Gary and Dave to give us an epic slice of bluesy stoner rock and according to themselves an awful racket! This track is taken from a live demo but is definitely an enticing taster for whats to come and we can't wait to hear more from them as judging from what we've seen of their other bands their live presence will be outstanding.

Cursed Sun

These guys made things easy for us by putting their tracks on the BBC uploader and we listen to everything so this one caught our ears for sure. Influenced by the likes of Pantera, Black Label Society and pretty much every thrash band you care to mention, they released their debut album Premonitions in 2012 and with their new bassist Monty they're continuing to punish our ear drums in the best way possible. You can check them out online here turn it up to 11 and enjoy

That New Band Smell

2013-07-08T16:45:16+00:00

Elastic Sleep

Elastic Sleep are a brand new band from Cork. They describe themselves as ‘dream pop’ which we feel is quite fitting. Reminiscent of early My Bloody Valentine their ambient tones reflect a sound that seems to be quite a prominent feature in Cork. Bands like Saint Yorda and The Altered Hours also making a name for themselves with their catchy and alluring riffs. Elastic Sleep feature members of Une Pipe and The Great Balloon two bands also worth checking out. This is their debut single Anywhere, which they will launch at the Pavilion Cork on the 11^th of July. They’ve generously made their debut single “Anywhere” available for free download via their bandcamp:

http://elasticsleep.bandcamp.com/

Dead School

Back to Cork, and Dead School are more akin to something you’d maybe expect to hear from the 70s post punk scene Manchester. This is a trio who made a bit of a name for themselves across the UK and Ireland before taking a bit of a break last year. They played over 200 shows and are currently working on some new material, which we can hopefully expect to hear soon. These guys seem to be slow burners and often it’s the slow burners that emerge and surprise us all. Dead School have a really intriguing sound and this is one of their latest tracks Incisions which speaks volumes of the potential they have. In the meantime find out more about them via their soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/dead-school/incisions-single

The Speed of Snakes

We’re quite excited about this; The Speed of Snakes is the brainchild of Vinny Mc Creith (The Vinny Club/bassist Adebisi Shank) and Rupert Morris (front man BATS). This is a project you would hear about through the grapevine over the years but it would rarely raise its head. BATS have recently released a new album ‘The Sleep of Reason’ and we’ve heard Adebisi Shank are in the throes of releasing a third album. We can assume it will be called ‘This is the Third Album of a Band Called Adebisi Shank’ and it will no doubt raise the bar for Irish music like their previous releases have. Somehow in the midst of all that Vinny and Rupert found the time to put together Arroway a pretty darn catchy single. As Vinny famously wears a mask in Adebisi Shank and never goes unmasked, even for interviews it poses the question of what the live set up will be like for The Speed of Snakes? Can we expect a Daft Punk type live experience? It’s intriguing to say the least. Check out the ridiculously catchy Arroway and find out more via their facebook https://www.facebook.com/SPEEDOFSNAKES

That New Band Smell: AudioCavalry

2013-07-01T20:14:45+00:00

How do, new music connoisseurs? Brian Coney here, perched and prepared to unveil three up-and-coming Irish acts worth of your esteemable consideration. With literally countless summer music festivals scattered around the country – both north and south – soon set to reveal the sheer breadth of talent from these shores, fingers crossed at least one of the following acts will be gracing many a big stage this time next year.

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Yellow Sam - Time To Make A Choice

Hailing from the mean streets of Armagh, hard rock four-piece Yellow Sam claim that their music will "make your heart pound, feet stomp and brain think” (may as well aim high, right?) Whilst not exactly the most forward-thinking proposition the world, the very first song recorded by the band - released late last year - 'Time To Make A Choice – is a blues-tinged slab of classic rock that hints to a very strong future give a little innovation.

Escobar - Cuts & Bruises

A self-professed sonic rock quartet based in Belfast, Escobar have already released two first-rate singles only a few months into their tenure. Comprising facets of several different sub-genres, whilst managing to maintain a strong sense of melody despite aiming for a certain down-tuned heaviness, the band are certain to concoct impressive things over a full-length EP. In the meantime, check out their superb debut track ‘Cuts & Bruises’.

AudioCavalry - Vortex

Taken form their debut EP, titled Rainbow Boy, 'Vortex' by County Down quartet AudioCavalry is my pick of the lot this week. With a sound evoking different aspects of their collective appreciation of Arctic Monkeys, Bloc Party and U2, the band's so-called "not so normal" brand of indie rock is propelled by forward-moving verses and subtly anthemic choruses. Despite not being as rigorously leftfield as they might think, their is sound is nonetheless a hugely promising taste of things to come.

That New Band Smell

2013-05-06T19:34:01+00:00

Aloha. Brian Coney here, on the prowl for undiscovered musical local talent. Thanks to the occasional ray of sunshine and the total success that was Radio 1’s One Big Weekend in Derry/Londonderry last weekend, hitting up a couple of the seemingly innumerable homegrown musical festivals taking place this summer becomes an increasingly exciting prospect by the day. Glasgowbury, Sunflowerfest, Stendhal… the list literally goes on and on. Below are three new acts that I believe are more than worthy of performing at any of those festivals (next year, all the same).

Silent Noise Parade – We Used To Drink

Very much reminiscent of the likes MGMT and M83, 'We Used To Drink' is a track by Co. Tipperary electronic/indie five-piece Silent Noise Parade. Having been together for over a year, their synth and drum-machine driven music combines, in their own words, “dark lyrical themes with lively upbeat tunes”. By and large, that certainly seems to be the case. Undoubtedly one of the better up-and-coming acts from this part of the world, the track we’re going to play is taken from the band's debut album, Electric Lives and the NightmareThat Follows.

Dirty Lace & Tiger Pot – It Takes Time

Dirty Lace & Tiger Pot is the interestingly named moniker of new Belfast-based singer-songwriter Paul Dickson. Taking from his debut EP, set for release some time in the winter, ‘It Takes Time’ is a wonderfully-crafted, expertly unraveled dose of acoustic pop that calls to mind the more subtle, yet altogether mildly majestic unplugged musings of Mercury Rev and Flaming Lips. Whilst unquestionably less psychedelic and wayward than the bands in question, Dickson’s first move, so to speak, is quite the convincing one. More, please!

Silences – There’s A Wolf

Continuing and indeed ending on an acoustic theme, although based in Leeds, Silences is the music-making moniker of an Armagh singer-songwriter Conor White. Whilst there’s not a whole lot of information online about White, There’s A Wolf was only recently uploaded to the BBC Uploader by the songwriter. Having previously released the equally enchanting ‘Ghosts’ and ‘All These Crimes’ a few months ago, There’s A Wolfe begins as a beautifully stripped back track, ending on a much more forceful tone. Overall, I think is quite a touching song in its sheer bare-boned simplicity and sound. Great track – potentially brilliant artist

That New Band Smell - Yellow Car No Return

2013-04-22T19:55:09+00:00

Hello! Brian Coney, at your new-music-seeking service. With the line-ups for summer music festivals – both huge and established like Oxegen and Electric Picnic and smaller, more intimate ones like Glasgowbury and Stendhal – set to be announced very soon, below is my three picks of three Irish acts who I firmly believe are more than capable of going far and some day gracing the stages of our very best homegrown music festivals. Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open!

In An Instant – All Binds Full Undone

Having only two months ago, Bangor-based alternative/electronic three-piece In An Instant are a young, completely new prospect, very much in the process of finding their sound. According to a bio of the band online, with their music “you can expect the anthem-like universal appeal of band such as Snow Patrol, U2 and Coldplay”. Whilst I naturally don't think the likes of U2 and Coldplay have universal appeal as such, you can certainly hear the influence of all three on this recording. Very much in the infancy of inevitable (okay, potential) super-stardom and mass adulation, ‘All Binds Full Undone’ is an extremely promising demo hinting at impressive things to come.

Princess – Tortured Wings

A Dublin-based noise pop band, Princess will release their debut EP, titled Black Cat, in June. Having been likened to the likes of Ty Segall, Deerhunter and My Bloody Valentine, their track ‘Tortured Wings’ toys with the age-old idea of quiet/loud dynamics, erupting from near silence into a enormous, fuzzy wall of glorious noise-pop. Although they’re far from being totally cutting-edge in their sound (based upon the little material they have released already, that is) I cannot wait to hear the EP.

Yellow Car No Return – Two Five Seven

My main aural attraction this week hail from Co. Fermanagh. A three-piece endowed with a particular interest in prog-inflected, occasionally trad-inspired power rock, Yellow Car No Return have been mulling (riffing) about for a while now, having just released their debut EP. Taken from that particular release, ‘Two Five Seven’ is a four and a half minute highlight, propelled by frontman Luke Burns vocals and guitarist Eoin Parkinson at times virtuoso guitar playing. Undoubtedly one of the most exciting bands of their ilk to come out of this country in quite some time.