nessymon.com

Tag: Northern Irish music

  • The Alice Kona Band: Jay Adams Review

    The Alice Kona BandThe Alice Kona Band are a breath of fresh air. Once upon a previous lifetime I used to listen to quite a lot of garage punk but I could never understand why a lot of the instrumentation and vocals had to be distorted beyond recognition.

    With AKB’s Jay Adams all the instrumentation is clear, lyrics are audible and the vocals are well produced. Yet, the frantic nature and garage punk ethos are never compromised. Punky yet melodic, the Belfast band will leave you with the ‘Oh oh Oh’ refrain knocking round your head for the rest of the day. Legend.

  • Rachel Austin: Age of Love E.P. Review

    Rachel Austin Rachel Austin‘s E.P. ‘Age of Love’ truly is a thing of beauty. The three track opens with ‘Babydoll’. Think, smoky laid back jazz club and you’re on the right side of town. Simple brushed drums and understated guitar accompany Austin’s vocals until a delightful brass arrangement is added to the mix.  Maybe it’s Austin’s Virginia, USA, upbringing that instilled some sort of magic potion in her. She has managed to here to conjure a timeless piece of music.

    ‘Close’ sees Austin still retain a slight jazz feel but has almost grunged it up, making it dark and dirty, in a good way. Hammond organ, tremelo-ed guitar and ghostly backing vocals add to the feel, making this sound like something from the underworld.  There’s clever production, check out how the double bass is mixed. The track builds up beautifully, using Austin’s vocals for the rise and fall of the track. I like this a lot. (more…)

  • A Plastic Rose: The Promise Notes Review

    A Plastic Rose - The Promise NotesNorthern Ireland’s A Plastic Rose have come up trumps with their seven track release ‘The Promise Notes’. With a sound rooted in nineties alt-rock, the band have managed to come up with a solid radio friendly sound that’s sure to get them noticed.

    The Di Di Mau release starts off with ‘Oceans’ which opens in dramatic anthemic fashion before a double time tempo adds to the intensity of the track. Little flourishes of strings and extra vocal lines fill the track and it becomes a hell of a lot more than just a standard rock track. One thing noticeable the throughout is the passion with which the band play and sing.

    Slightly moody, edgy and comfortable in their skins, A Plastic Rose like to change the tempo of their tracks, as featured again in ‘The Stuttering’. It works and should work remarkably well live, building up to fist clenching finishes. ‘Tiger Tail’ starts off with a tender guitar and bass and they make the most of dual vocalists.

    This is a solid release which should pave the way for the band to play to better audiences and to get a full length album out. When they do, you’d better be first in line for the tickets. Total Rockdom beckons. (more…)

  • Colly Strings: Take a Good Look Review

    collystringsThere must be something in the water round Bangor. First we had Two Door Cinema Club from the Co Down town, now we have Colly Strings. An alternative indie band with a nice rock edge and shades of Biffy Clyro. The band manage to retain melodic hooks and a catchy refrain. At 2 minutes 45 seconds ‘Take a Good Look’, doesn’t mess around and gets straight down to business.

    The band played the Sound City Festival in Liverpool last week and if the confidence in delivery from record transfers to a live performance, they will be on their way to bigger stages. Good musicianship, good confident production, showing a band who know exactly who they are. Expect the Kerrang generation to adore them.

    Take A Good Look along with the band’s debut E.P. is available to download for free.