‘Hell or High Water’ is the new single from David Hope and The Henchmen. I had been familiar with David’s work as a solo artist but he joined forces with Eoin Jordan and David Murphy in 2009. So far the results are looking good.
‘Hell or High Water’ is a melting pot of traditional American country, traditional Irish and rootsy Americana. The Declan Sinnot (Horslips, Christy Moore) production on the track allows Hope’s vocals to breathe while surrounded by a fantastic arrangement. Subtle electric guitar licks and bass never overpower while a brushed snare rhythm drives the track on.
Wasn’t sure I was going to like this but with each listen there’s something else to take note of, like the chorus backing vocals you don’t even realise are there. Liking it more with each listen, can’t wait to hear more material.
I’ve seen the name The Fallen Drakes on the internet a few times over the past week or two, they are finalists in a TodayFM competition to play at Glastonbury. So is it a popularity contest or are they any good?
The first noticeable thing is the quality of the production, this sounds big budget, clean but not too clean, giving a good idea how the band could sound live. ‘Masquerade’ is a good intro to the band. The track builds from guitar and vocal to a rousing chorus. The band know what they are good at and do it extremely well. This could be on radio anywhere.
From the offset, ‘Don’t Cry’ is a grittier track, again, rousing to anthemic stature. This is pretty much stadium rock for the now, contemporary sounds matched with classic song writing. (more…)
When a PR company send me something to play on the radio, if I can I try to review it also.
Nothing But Trouble by Donegal band, The Plea, is the lead single taken from a new EP of the same name. The Plea are the first rock act to be signed to an imprint of Belgian dance label R&S Records, once home to Aphex Twin.
Produced by Cenzo Townsend, Nothing but Trouble is a three and a half minute radio friendly rock song. Vocals, provided by Denny Doherty are quite early Bono in style, the vocoder – esque effect about half way through the song does noting to dismiss this (reminders of Elevation here). The production and musicianship cannot be faulted on this. I’d just love to hear more of an impact in the refrain of Nothing But Trouble.
It’s not going to harm them either that they are featured in the new 2FM promo (see Below)
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going to see Speech Debelle.
It could go two ways. The gig on Saturday October 3rd was being held in Academy 2 so it could be that even though she had won the Mercury Music Prize she wasn’t very good. Option 2 The world hasn’t copped on to her immense talent yet. I’m delighted to say it was the latter.
Upon entering the cavernous venue that is Academy 2, the small crowd seems just to be out for a regular Saturday night at a local pub.
Heck I got tickets for the gig two weeks after Speech won the Mercury Prize!
Infomatics
The Infomatics take to the stage, (I used to work in the same music venue as their bass player Graham, many moons ago) and I’m impressed.
This five piece recently won RTE’s Raw Sessions and its not hard to see why. Their brand of funky hiphop is captivating and refreshing. The twin Mcs really work well together, even if one of them cutely leaves his backpack on for the entire set.
Graham gave me a CD, I’ll do a review.
By the time Speech Debelle hits the stage the venue has filled up and the anticipation is building.
Debelle comes onstage to a muted response and begins her set with her debut single ‘The Key’. It’s not long before the rapper has the crowd in the palm of her hand, winning them over with an organic jazzy triphop sound and a wicked sense of humour.
Speech Debelle (bad photo)
Debelle tells us tales of the man who drank a pint of Guinness the whole way down leaving the head intact ‘Magic innit?’ She happily asks someone to mind her stage ‘please lady’ before posing for photographs for this person. She also mentions that she won the Mercury Music Prize and that the NME guys don’t like it. She hastens to add ‘her boys don’t wear no skinny jeans’.
Her trio backing band, double bass, acoustic guitar and drums, is all she needs. The organic funkyjazz base sit beautifully with her vocal rhymes.
Afterwards she quite happily posed for photos.. I wanted to chat but crutches are still a bit dehabilating. Wonder if she’ll come on DCUFM?
The gig leaves me with a couple of questions. Has the music industry killed itself? Speech Debelle is currently playing every nook and cranny to ‘make it’. But according to anyone who was at The Academy, she already has!
‘Hell or High Water’ is the new single from David Hope and The Henchmen. I had been familiar with David’s work as a solo artist but he joined forces with Eoin Jordan and David Murphy in 2009. So far the results are looking good.
I’ve seen the name The Fallen Drakes on the internet a few times over the past week or two, they are finalists in a TodayFM competition to play at Glastonbury. So is it a popularity contest or are they any good?
