Featuring Annie-Dog, Virgins, Ana Palindrome, The Cliffords, Thee U.F.O, Lil Skag, Lewwab, Emma Noodles, ZOID, quirke.
A lot of music from Ireland and Northern Ireland comes our way and every week, we listen through it all, sift the list down to a manageable list and share the best new tracks from emerging artists and some more established acts that deserve to be heard by you.
For more extensive Irish and new music coverage, follow our Spotify playlist or hit up the Irish section for individual track features.
Annie-Dog
The Pressures Of The Heart
Named after a Smashing Pumpkins B-side, the new Dublin artist Annie-Dog displays an commanding indie bedroom sound meets garage pop vibe on her debut single, released on Leeds indie label Dance To The Radio.
“‘The Pressures of the Heart’ is an ode to that rock and a hard-place feeling you get when you’re deeply, emphatically in love, but aren’t sure if it’s the right time. But maybe it never is”.
Virgins
Softer
You’d be forgiven for thinking this was a shoegaze original from the late ’80s of the era if you didn’t know this Belfast band Virgins were a recent addition to the scene.
‘Softer’ is a a gentler more retro version of what Just Mustard are doing, one that reaches right back to the source with authentic guitar tones, and it can’t hurt that the central riff is very My Bloody Valentine.
Virgins also announced their debut album nothing hurt and everything was beautiful due out April 11th via Blowtorch Records pressed on 300 starburst vinyl.
‘s l o w l y, l o n g’ is another track of theirs I loved.
Virgins gigs:
April 26th – Dublin – Sin E
April 27th – Belfast – Deers Head
Thee U.F.O
Bursting Egos
Ahead of the release of their new album Beaming A Moments Reflection this Friday, the garage-psych duo have dropped another fine taster.
See also: the psych bop of ‘Surveyor’. The album is on vinyl.
Thee U.F.O Live gigs:
March 1st – Free House show, Bierhaus, Galway
March 2nd – The Workman’s Cellar Album Launch.
March 9th – McHughs Watchtower, Drogheda.
March 10th – The Shacklewell Arms, London with Search Results
Lil Skag
Joe Dolan
Is there anyone rapping in an Irish accent more than Lil Skag?
He’s out here rapping about Joe Dolan, Electric Picnic and the Fontaines D.C. on his new EP Y21.
Sean Roche aka Lil Skag supports Curtisy on March 14th.
Emma Noodles
Spare Key
Kildare-based indie pop artist Emma Noodles‘ third single is a song with the metaphor about being the spare key in a relationship, on the periphery, unnecessary.
The track starts as a piano-ballad before moving into an alt-anthemic pop-rock style, but the bones of the song shines through, particularly Emma’s vocals.
“I feel like Spare Key is a journey that brings you through every stage of heartbreak. From that initial sadness, the desperation for answers, feeling used and isolated but ultimately you feel that acceptance. The song ends at a place of peace, leaving it all behind and overcoming it.”
Ana Palindrome
Sorry A Million
There’s a palpable Stereolab feel to ‘Sorry A Million’ a debut song from Ana Palindrome, who are the Cork-based trio of Niamh Dalton (vocals, fiddle – Trá Pháidín, The Bonk, Anna Mieke, Caoilian Sherlock and Mantu ), Ruairi de Búrca (synths, programming, Crying Loser, Trá Pháidín) and Sara Leslie (bass, vocals – Trá Pháidín & pôt-pot).
The project centres a fictionalised character, Ana Palindrome, a personification of the songwriting.
“Ana’s generally a bit shook and rattled by the world but has enough fire in the belly to turn the drama into soft bops and dreamy ballads”.
Ana Palindrome support ØXN this Thursday in Vicar Street.
The video above is by Laurie Shaw.
ZOiD x Seo
Butterflies
ZOID bringing some high-class electronic jazz wonk to the list, with vocals from Nigerian singer/ producer Seo.
The accompanying release features covers from two unlikely sources – Kings Of Leon and Burt Bacharach.
The Cliffords
If The Shoe Fits
Some MORE fine melodic indie-rock from Cork band The Cliffords here on ‘If The Shoe Fits’.
Both tracks are from the band’s debut EP in April.
The band are guitarist and singer Iona Lynch, bass and trumpet player Gavin Dawkins, lead guitarist Harry Menton, drummer Daniel Ryan and Locon O’Toole on keys.
Lewwab
That’s What She Said
Lewwab was a duo last time they featured here but have since had an amicable musical split, with Anna starting recently-featured project lxverboy, and Lara continuing as LEWWAB.
Lara’s first solo track interpolates none other than t.A.T.u., and clips along at a shimmering pulsating electronic pace.
Quirke
Áit Usual
Quirke is the Carlow electronic music producer Eoin Quirke, and channels the “noble place / fairy place” of the title for a propulsive bright electronic instrumental with a trad influence – a track that’s has a little of a ‘Star Guitar‘ vibe.
For more extensive Irish and new music coverage, hit up the Irish section for individual track features…
For this and more Irish songs, follow the Nialler9 New Irish Spotify playlist.
Latest additions:
- KNEECAP – Sick In The Head
- Peer Pleasure – Rest In Bits
- Annie-Dog – The Pressures of the Heart
- Thee U.F.O – Bursting Egos
- Lil Skag – Joe Dolan
- Emma Noodles – Spare Key
- Ana Palindrome – SORRY A MILLION
- Anamoe Drive – Procrastination
- The Cliffords – If The Shoe Fits
- Lewwab – That’s What She Said
- Quirke – Áit Uasal
- Annika Kilkenny – Sentences
- MathMan – Show Me
- Jakliu – Bye Gone Éire
- Monjola – OFTEN
- svhymns – wired
- Fishwyfe – Ricky
- TORIA – Belief.
- POSER; Blimp – Feel
- Tolü Makay – Mind & Body
- James Vincent McMorrow – Never gone
- Virgins – s o f t e r
- Eithne – Tear The Fascists Down
- Melts – Altered
- HAVVK – Take It From Me
- Fizzy Orange – Chelsea Bakery
- Pearse McGloughlin – Saga
- WILDES – Lay Upon Me
- Burlie Mac – My Beauty
- TraviS; Elzzz – Naij Blood
- Tomike – By The River
- Plantain Papi; Jafaris; Ama Millier; F3miii – My Best
- Molumby – Dopamine
- Blimp – Deepest Of Desire
- Fortune Igiebor – HELLO GIRL
- FIN. – Nomad
- Becky McNeice – Alive
- Dunluvly – The Spire
- Bklava; bullet tooth – Makes Me (Wanna Move)
- Fears; Jemima Coulter; Ailbhe Reddy – 11249
- Olivier; JyellowL – StarKid
- Stella and the Dreaming – The First Time
- Evie – Mighty Boy
- Boyfrens – I’m On My Time
