Tag: Irish indie

Free Music Monday 28/05/2012: In The Willows

One of the good things about recommending free music is as well as sometimes recommending downloads from artists that we would all be familiar with, it also gives the chance to introduce new acts.

This week, I’ve decided to recommend the ‘Long Time Listener EP’ from Waterford band ‘In The Willows’, who have only been playing together since October 2011. They are an alternative folk band who have won me over with some great strings and vocal arrangements. Their songs are delicate and addictive.

The ‘Long Time Listener’ E.P. features three tracks, ‘Time of Year’, ‘Trying’ and ‘It’s Over’ and it’s a name your price download, which means you can get it for free but if you like it you can also contribute whatever you feel appropriate to the band.

Check out the tracks below!

May 28, 2012
The Shoos: Say Something Review

‘Say Something’ is the new single from The Shoos and is released on their own label ‘The Shoos Records’. It’s a brave move for the band as they were with Universal in Ireland for a spell and also headed to the U.S. last year as big money and investment was about to come their way.

‘Say Something’ lyrically gives a glimpse into what happened at the time describing it as ‘all we heard was yes.’ The track builds nicely to the chorus and lead singer, Tex’s raspy vocals, make it seem that this is a new step forward for the band, such is the belief and the passion. The track was recorded live and was mixed by Joe Zook who has also worked with Modest Mouse, One Republic and Katy Perry.

‘Say Something’ is a grower but once you hear it a couple of times, you’ll be singing along. This is a really good platform for The Shoos to re-establish themselves, their way. Fair play, their hearts are on their sleeves.

May 22, 2012
runawayGo E.P. Review

runawayGo are a Belfast based five piece who have just unleashed a five track E.P. and it’s a great introduction to the quintet.

Starting off with ‘Electric’, runawayGo draw you in with driving beats and guitars, coupled with great twin vocals from Fiona O’Kane and Dave Jackson, the combination is enough for the hair on the back of your neck to stand up. Musicianship on the track is top notch and it’s mixed beautifully, bring out every guitar note, every breath both singers take, without overcrowding the soundscape. Anthemic rock at it’s best.

When you start an E.P. so well, it can be hard to live up to the opener. What runwayGo do, is then show a softer side on ‘Drowning’. It still features great upbeat dramatic guitars but ‘Drowning’s best asset is the vulnerability in the vocal combination of O’Kane and Jackson backed against the grunge-like musicianship.

Releasing these tracks as an E.P. was a clever move, the band have been slowly releasing them to the public since Summer 2011, ‘Delicate Man’ being the first that your humble reviewer heard and I have to be honest, there are not many bands that make me love them like runwayGo. They write great songs as this E.P. shows, they structure their songs beautifully, rising and falling just where they should and having two lead singers is something, very few bands do successfully. But runawayGo do. Their vocal arrangements are something to be admired and musically they have merged elements of grunge, emo and straight up indie rock to create a relevant and contemporary sound.

It’s still only May but runawayGo are one of my bands of the year.

May 20, 2012
Review: Keith Moss – The War Outside Our Door

Dublin based musician Keith Moss is back with a new three track single ‘The War Outside Our Door’. Moss is known for his quirky social commentary and this guitar led indie pop track is no different. Think 80’s American indie a la Psychedelic Furs or Pixies with some airy vocals and you’ll have where this track is. This is a definite grower, the more you listen the better it gets.

‘Burn Away Inside’ is more like what I’m actually listening to all the moment. Sparse electronic beats with guitars,keys and vocals. The vocals lie beautifully upon layers of instrumentation. Very different from the previous track but it’s a great indication of what a varied musician Moss is.

The final track ‘The Memory Store’ almost melds what we have seen from Moss in the previous two tracks. In his mixing laboratory, he has again used electronic magic alongside guitars but what separates this tune is the clearness of Moss’ vocals. This is what early nineties indie in 2012 sounds like. Best track on this single for me and leaves itself open for some awesome remixes.

This isn’t bad at all, the further into material you go, the better Moss gets. More of that please. (more…)

March 27, 2012