Stop The Lights

STL has moved to a new home...

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:45:00 +0000

Bye bye Blogger, Hello Wordpress!

The newly updated site can be found at http://www.stopthelightsmusic.wordpress.com.

Tara Masterson Hally - 'To The Flame'

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:40:00 +0000

"Does he see the girl I'd like to think I am? / Or does he see a fool? I Know I can..."

It may be only the sixth track she's delivered upon us thus far but Tara Masterson Hally has already carved out an impressively distinct sound for herself. As with previous tracks (such as 'Lingering'), 'To The Flame' is an atmospheric little bundle of wispy instrumentation and yet more affecting introspection. It's meaningful and emotive and though, in times ahead, it would be interesting to see a change in pace/direction, these candle-lit gems sure fit nicely for now.

Tara Masterson Hally plays Dublin Camden Crawl this Saturday.

Girl Band - 'In My Head'

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:58:00 +0000

Yep, late to the party again but sure that's what happens when you're halfway around the world. I'm home now so lets just blame the jet-lag. When it comes to Girl Band it seems I'm particularly late as I've been hearing their name for a quite some time now without ever properly investigating. They've been name-checked by certain people in the know as one of the bands to watch in 2012 - so what to make of their debut single 'In My Head'? Well, if it sounds like 4 lads in a garage banging out some tunes then that's exactly what it is but don't they do it well? Aptly described by themselves as 'noisy guitar music' this is a ferocious, unpolished little burst and one which makes up for its lack of refinement with sheer, unashamed gusto. Clocking in at a mere two minutes it leaves you wanting more - a great sign for any single.

'In My Head' is out now via Any Other City and you can catch Girl Band at this year's Indiependence festival.

Cfit - 'Plausible Deniability'

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:17:00 +0000

I had an inkling from the start but many listens later I can confirm that yes, I do love this song. Initially, I was somewhat bewildered by it. This can be attributed to either its length (a hefty 7 minutes) or its tone (unusually patient and poetic) but it's a definite slow burner and one that requires some patience to appreciate. It's a bruised, messed up tale of woe that most can relate to and I admire its honesty. I liken it to the musical equivalent of a recently crushed heart; wherein the victim - attempting to take the moral high ground - offers a contained and measured lyrical affront, before the vitriolic crescendo finally wins over.

Cfit are a band from Dublin whose debut album Triage was released last year.

Hear more from them via Breaking Tunes.

"For denial purposes, I'm not really listening.
For denial purposes, I'm not really listening to anything.
From a lack of discipline I am barely functioning.
For the want of discipline I am barely functioning.
Stay safe, you little psycho. You earned a difficult laugh.
Stay safe, you little psychopath.
Are you really listening? Are you ever listening?
Show me something worth believing and I'll believe in it.
Insincerity's no good place to start.
Come on, darling, please, open up your arteries and show me something that's worth fighting for."

Milano Sun - 'Already Gone'

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:07:00 +0000

These bare-torsoed chaps are Milano Sun from Gothenberg, Sweden. Their promo shot suggests a strange aversion to clothes but judging by this, their debut single, they're in no way averse to joyous, laid back hooks. This is easy to digest pop that's armed with enough finger-tapping power and sparkly little touches to make you pine for summer. Lovely stuff altogether.

Download ‘Already Gone’ for free via Soundcloud.

The Cast of Cheers - 'Family' (Video and JAPE Remix)

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:25:00 +0000

Following the whirlwhind success that was Chariots (it has now been deleted for some reason) Cast of Cheers' return with their first single proper and it doesn't diappoint. 'Family' is an another absolute belter, packed with more of the same taut, punchy riffs and ridiculously catchy vocals (familee-hee-hee!), it's the type of track that gets your limbs flailing and lips moving. Having relocated to London last year and having recently received props from Zane Lowe, they're undoubtedly a band on the up and up. 'Family' is released on 20th February on School Boy Error/Cooperative Music and the eye-twitchingly good video - which is directed by Russell Weekes and made up of 5,000 separate photographs - is available to view below.

Also below is the new Jape remix of the track, which offers a more chilled, elongated take on things.

New Video: White Collar Boy - Capslock (Feat. Gemma Dunlovely)

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I loved White Collar Boy's Solar Midnight EP and 'Capslock' - arguably the best track on it - now has an accompanying video. It comes courtesy of the creative types at 1441, a new collective comprised of DIT students, and it features some nice time-lapsed footage interspersed with shots of Gemma Dunlovely, whose sweet vocals are present on the track itself.

Download 'Capslock' and the entire EP for free now from Soundcloud.

You can also catch WCB live on Thursday February 2nd at The Grand Social.

New Music: Solar Bears - 'Alpha People'

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:20:00 +0000

Solar Bears' debut release - 2010's She Was Coloured In - was a stylish, artistic piece of work that evoked images of distant realms and cosmic notions, bringing the listener on a colourful, sensual journey. Thus, the return of this Dublin/Wicklow based duo is an exciting proposition and buoyed by the beautiful vocals of Keep Shelly In Athens' Sarah P, their new single 'Alpha People' doesn't disappoint. The track debuted on Pithchfork last week, with Eoghan from TPOE analysing the potential impact the site can have on the success and spread of ones music.

It's initially strange to hear such a dominant focus on vocals in a Solar Bears' track but it soon feels second nature. Solar Bears' have oft spoken about their ties to film (their name is taken from Solaris by Andrei Tarkovsky) and the trend continues here. In fact, as that opening keyboard riff rolls into the opening verse it evokes visions of a rogue female in a futurisitic city a la Blade Runner...or is that just me? Either way, it's a truly fantastic track and one that demands continued listens. Despite this, you also get the feeling that Solar Bears' true talent shines best in a collective piece of work, namely their second album which will hopefully be upon us sometime soon.

Lightbox Fundit Campaign: Get Involved with Ireland's most promising audio-visual artists

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:11:00 +0000

Be it single downloads, funky new remixes or even bumper gigs - when it comes to getting musical freebies, we're a little bit spoiled for choice in this country. Now, here's your chance to give a little something back. Some of Ireland's most promising electronic beat-makers and visual extraordinaires are coming together and taking their respective treats on the road in what they are calling the Lightbox tour.

The tour will have 7 acts: Bantum, Feel Good Lost, Monto, Reid, Sert One, Simon Bird and Tenaka and will call into Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Galway, Belfast and Waterford over a week at the end of February. There will be interactive workshops before each gig, where people can get a feel for how the audio-visual work on offer is composed, as well as guest DJ slots from Nialler9, Jim Carroll, Logicparty and Ian Malaney.

Obviously, there are costs involved here and this is where you come in. Lighbox have set up a FundIt page where you can contribute to the tour and in return receive a personalised reward such as a special album featuring unreleased material or even a gig in your own gaff. Naturally times are tight at present but whether you can afford a little or a lot, this is a great opportunity to be part of a commendable DIY movement and give a little something back.

There's less than 10 days in which Lightbox must reach their target so get involved and spread the word.

Feel Good Lost Showreel from Feel Good Lost on Vimeo.

STL's Top Songs Of 2012:: Part Three - 20 - 1

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

>>> Part One: 60 - 41

>>> Part Two: 40 - 21

And now...le finalé.

20) Patrick Kelleher – ‘Broken Up Now’

Patrick Kelleher followed up his stunning debut with Golden Syrup, an album which took him and his Cold Dead Hands in even stranger and more intriguing directions. Some of these new ventures worked and some didn’t. Surprisingly however, the one which made the most lasting impression on me was the most simple one; a short and sweet little concoction that's fuelled by anxiety and unsurity.

05 Patrick Kelleher and his Cold Dead Hands - Broken Up Now by Patrick Kelleher

19) Austra – ‘Lose It'

Flourishing in the wake of last year's SXSW festival, Austra's vocal pirouettes captivated many, including myself. Just listen to that voice.

Austra - Lose It by Annie Mac Presents

18) Dog And Panther – ‘Giant Hands’

This song came out of nowhere, gripped me by the heartstrings and never really let go. A stirring, emotive little ballad full to the brim with romantic grandeur.

Dog And Panther - Giant Hands by French Kiss

17) Tandem Felix – ‘Canyons’

Another of my favourite home-grown bands to emerge this year and one deserving of much greater exposure. Taken from their Tweedledee collection, ‘Canyons’ is the pinnacle of a band whose hushed, sweeping sound came to dominate many of my late nights in 2011.

Canyons by Tandem Felix

16) Outfit – ‘Two Islands’

The debut single from this Liverpudlian lot is a dense, enthralling affair, laden with gothic touches and an absolute belter of a refrain. More please.

DD007 A1: Outfit // Two Islands by Double Denim Records

15) Tara Masterson Hally – ‘Down We Lay'

One of my favourite finds of the year. A fledgling Irish songstress whose minimal acoustic laments were lined with cathartic rumblings and a beautiful, soul-stirring voice. On first hearing I described it as “music for the late night walk home, with only shadows for company” and nearly a full year on I still feel this sums it up best.

Down We Lay by Tara Masterson Hally

14) Hush War Cry – ‘Lily’

With nods to both the brooding work of Echo and the Bunnymen and the playful duo-vocals of Wild Beasts, the first track from this Cork outfit is incredibly accomplished. A tantalising debut effort.

Hush War Cry - Lily by echoparade

13) James Blake – ‘The Wilhelm Scream’

Blake’s debut album and I never fully meshed, and only certain tracks did I truly get what all the fuss was about. None more so than on the spectral and haunting ‘Wilhelm’s Scream’. As it transpired this track was in fact a re-working of James Litherland's 'Where To Turn', which Blake's own Father produced back in the day.

James Litherland - Where To Turn by abeano

12) - The Gorgeous Colours – ‘Chopped Heart’ / 'It's OK To Be Normal'

With two fantastic singles this year it was a difficult choice of which Gorgeous Colours’ track to include...so much so that I decided to join them at the hip. ‘Chopped Heart’ is sprightly and warming, while ‘It’s OK To Be Normal' is mournfully beautiful. Enjoy them both, according to your current mood. Needless to say - I'm looking forward to that new album immensely.

Chopped Heart by The Gorgeous Colours

It's Ok To Be Normal by The Gorgeous Colours

11) M83 – ‘Midnight City’

Euphoric and intoxicating; this is music made for the late night dash into town, the city lights luring substance-lined veins closer into its jaws.
Midnight City by M83

10) Tieranniesaur – ‘Sketch!’

If there was an award for the funnest album of the year (and there should be) then Tieranniesaur’s debut effort would snap it up easily. Bursting at the seams with super vibes of the funk, pop and disco variety, it bounced out of the speakers with a strut and a swagger and on ‘Sketch' head honcho Annie Tierney delivers the sassiest of put-downs. God help that person in question.

Sketch! by fihyde

9) We Cut Corners – ‘Go Easy’

'Go Easy' arrived in a year which saw We Cut Corners finally deliver their debut album, winning over many with their melodic and powerful tones in the process. Not bad for a pair of school teachers.

We Cut Corners 'Go Easy' by The Delphi Label

8) Lana Del Ray - ‘Video Games’

Hard as it may be, if we ignore the hype (and the subsequent backlash) then what we are left with is a beautiful track from a beautiful singer. That's good enough for me.

Lana Del Ray - Video Games by editradio

7) The Drums – ‘Money’

Effortlessly simple indie-pop that sticks to your synapses. Not every track on this list is going to alter your perspective on life; some – like this one - just make it a lot better for a few minutes.

The Drums - Money by orchardmktg

6) Spies - ‘Barricade’

Following up on last year’s top notch debut EP, new single ‘Barricade’ (and its accompanying B-Side ‘Weaker Body’) brought more of the same compelling tightness, gushing riffs and startlingly mature lyrical capacity from the Spies lads. New to the fore on this occasion however, was a far greater appreciation for an anthemic chorus - an attribute that should hold them in good stead for a prosperous 2012 and beyond.

Barricade by spiesdublin

5) Moths – ‘<3’

There’s not much else to say about 18-year-old Jack Colleran, that hasn’t already been said. His homespun electronic beats have been written about and digested the world over and if recent developments are anything to go by, big things lie ahead. 'Blisters' is among my most played tracks of the year but '<3' and it’s chilled, summery vibes are the standout. Exciting times.

<3 by MMOTHS

4) Clock Opera – 'Belongings'

This delicate, piano-led lullaby surges, morphs and blossoms into a mesmerising rhythmic flurry…and then you realise you haven’t blinked in 3 minutes. Such a beautiful track.

Belongings by clockopera

3) The Horrors – ‘Still Life’

The sound of a million epiphanies played out by way of a warped, yet euphoric beat. A seminal and life affirming piece of music.

The Horrors - Still Life by The Recommender

2) Wild Beasts – ‘Reach A Bit Further'

The pinnacle of an album where Wild Beasts confirmed their status as one of the most interesting, unique and quite simply best bands in the world. The manner in which the twin vocals tease and toy with each other is simply magnificent. For full effect savour the acoustic version from Paris, c’est magnifique.

Wild Beasts / Reach A Bit Further by Constellations Festival

Wild Beasts, garage session from Télérama on Vimeo.

1) Jape – ‘The Oldest Mind’

The most pertinent example yet as to why Richie Egan is among our most talented and treasured artists. Lyrically it is astute and cerebral, musically it is inventive and challenging. I ached over how to do an album like Ocean Of Frequency justice; re-writing and re-formatting the review numerous times before leaving it in a regretfully growing 'to-do' pile. In short OoF is incredible. It is a bold piece of work that stretches the Jape modus operandi in captivating new ways and rewards the earnest listener with an array of intriguing and absorbing sounds and textures. This track, and this record, mark a magnificent pinnacle in Jape's evolution, and you get the feeling that yet more exciting experimentation and barrier breaking work lies ahead. When you consider the group's humble, acoustic-centred beginnings such an evolution is all the more commendable. In saying that, they can still do the simple thing well – check out the superb 'Lying On A Deathbed’ as reference.

Jape - The Oldest Mind by theyounglion

STL Top Songs of 2011:: Part Two - 40 - 21

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Following on from Part One - here's the second batch of my favourite tracks of the year - enjoy!

40) Jerome's Law - 'Albedo'

07 Albedo by jeromeslaw

39) Last Days of 1984 - 'River's Edge'

Last Days of 1984 - River's Edge by echoparade

38) Love Inks – ‘Blackeye’

Love Inks - Blackeye by WorkItMedia

37) Bright Eyes – ‘One For You, One For Me’

36) The Dying Seconds – ‘Mora Minn’

Mora Minn by thedyingseconds

35) Come On Live Long – ‘Elephants and Time'

Elephants and Time by Come On Live Long

34) Squarehead – ‘Axes Of Love’

07. Axes Of Love - Squarehead by Republic of Music

33) Goodtime – ‘Behind This Sun’

Behind This Sun by GOODTIME

32) Radiohead - 'Codex'

31) Summer Camp - 'I Want You'

I Want You by Summer Camp

30) Gotye – ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’

Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra) by Gotye

29) PJ Harvey – ‘The Words That Maketh Murder’

PJ Harvey - The Words That Maketh Murder by Vagrant Records

28) Bombay Bicycle Club – ‘Shuffle’

Bombay Bicycle Club "Shuffle" (radio edit) by GrillMarketing

27) Wu Lyf - 'Cave Song'

26) Hello Moon – ‘The Calculus Affair’

The Calculus Affair by Hello Moon

25) Land Lovers – ‘The Cinema Bell’

02 The Cinema Bell by LandLovers

24) White Collar Boy – ‘Noah’

Noah by White Collar Boy

23) Tune-Yards – ‘Bizness’

BIZNESS Tune Yards by CristinaBlack

22) Cashier No. 9 – ‘Goldstar’

Cashier No.9 - Goldstar by Pachinko Records

21) Active Child – ‘Hanging On’

Active Child: 'Hanging On' by Ragged Words

Free Download: White Collar Boy - 'Solar Midnight'

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 23:30:00 +0000

My how time flies. I first introduced White Collar Boy back in January of this year but quite a lot has changed since then. What began as a one-man show has now evolved into a duo, with fledgling beatmakers Gavin White and Mark Cummins teaming up having met at the Primavera festival in Barcelona. It may be a result of the pair's natural synergy - or even just an inevitable refinement of the original sound - but these latest tracks glisten with confidence; feeling fuller, more assured and more complete. The loose, flowing rhythms and funky finale of 'Noah' make it an obvious standout but the real pinnacle is 'Capslock' - as Gemma Dunlovely's super sweet vocals do battle with some assertive beats. It's really promising stuff overall and there's enough clever ideas on show here to mark the pair out as a very exciting proposition.

Download the tracks for free now from Soundcloud and find White Collar Boy on Facebook.

A first single is pencilled in for early next year but for the moment you can catch them every second Thursday in Pygmalion, where they host live shows and DJ sets.

Their next proper live show proper is a headline slot with Bouts, Futures Apart and Ginnels in Crawdaddy this Sunday (December 18th).

Solar Midnight by White Collar Boy

Free Download: Squarehead's Christmas Present

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 07:07:00 +0000

They say Christmas is a time for giving and Squarehead certainly aren't ones to break with tradition. As a thank you to all those who "came to the gigs, bought our album or just 'liked' our Facebewk" the lads have covered Darlene Love's festive classic 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)' and made it available to all (good or bad) as a free download. Complete with backing vocals from the newly enlisted 'Squarettes' - Saileóg O'Halloran and Lucy Smyth - it trumps any Lynx boxset or last minute Kris Kindle gift that's for sure...

On a similar note The Gorgeous Colours also posted a cover this week - trying their hand at John Lennon's 'Real Love' on the anniversary of the great man's death. A fitting tribute.

Squarehead - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Richter Collective

Real Love by The Gorgeous Colours

STL's Top Songs of 2011:: Part One - 60-41

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

So here we go again. Another year over means another 365 days (give or take) of musical output has to be recollected, distilled and ranked. I have something of a love/hate affair with these sort of lists because as much as I enjoy looking back on the treats the year has produced (and 2011 has delivered plenty) I find the decision process itself to be a difficult one. Songs have little personalities of their own and our view of them is constantly shifting according to time, occasion and place. A one-time classic quickly becomes jaded with repetitive plays, while a relatively recent discovery is still basking in the after glow of its emergence. On the whole however, I'm pretty confident that this batch of tracks are an accurate account of the year's best music according to my ears and these pages.

Unsurprisingly it is again dominated by the home-grown contingent - with 2011 besting a 2010 that was oft-defined as the best ever for Irish content. It's genuinely exciting to think that this time last year an artist like Moths was just messing about in his bedroom, making the tentative steps on songs that have now been blogged about the world over. As I trace the soundtrack to my 2011 what really excites me is the mound of great Irish music that I know I'll be writing about over the course of the next year. Anyhow, here's the first instalment with the final list to be completed in the coming days...

60) The Ambience Affair - 'Weeds'

The Ambience Affair - Weeds by statemagazine

59) No Monster Club – ‘Who Wants A Man'

Who Wants A Man by No Monster Club

58) The Eulogys - ‘Bouquets'

Bouquets by TheEulogys

57) Nouveonoise - 'Believe'

Nouveaunoise - Believe by nouveaunoise

56) Tracksuit Warrior – ‘Suit Up and GO’

03 Suit up and GO by Tracksuit Warrior

55) This Club – ‘I Won’t Worry’

I Won't Worry by This Club

54) Leaders Of Men – ‘Up Against The Wall’

Up Against The Wall by leadersofmen

53) Ghost Estates – ‘Paris'

Paris by GHOST ESTATES

52) British Sea Power –‘Mongk II’

British Sea Power - Mongk II by Brett Chapman

51) REID – ‘Genesis'

Genesis by REID

50) SOnance HOtel – ‘Living Is For Dreaming’

Living Is For Dreaming by sonancehotel

49) Patrick Wolf – ‘Time Of My Life’

Patrick Wolf - Time Of My Life by infinityyeah

48) The Vaccines – ‘Post Break Up Sex’

Post Break-Up Sex by The Vaccines

47) The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – ‘Heart In Your Heartbreak’

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Heart In Your Heartbreak by Slumberland Records

46) Bibio – ‘K Is For Kelson’

Bibio - K is for Kelson (taken from 'Mind Bokeh') by Warp Records

45) Millionyoung – ‘On and On'

MillionYoung - On On by DBF Music

44) We Are Losers – ‘Sunset Song’

We Are Losers - Sunset Song by i-con

43) The Minutes - 'Black Keys'

Black Keys by The Minutes

42) Oh Land - 'Sun Of A Gun'
Oh Land - Sun of a Gun by infinityyeah

41) Dogs – ‘Underbeats'

Underbeats by DOGS

Free Download: The Gorgeous Colours - 'Chopped Heart'

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Their last single - 'It's OK To Be Normal' - was something very special indeed and Dublin outfit The Gorgeous Colours have only gone and bettered it. 'Chopped Heart' is as delightful as it is uplifting - the kind of song that you'll like immediately but will then spend a dozen listens trying to figure out exactly why. In short, this is perfectly constructed, joyous pop music and if the scene was an overdue reunion with your closest mates this would be the ideal soundtrack.

Download it now for free from Bandcamp.

Chopped Heart by The Gorgeous Colours

New Video: Hello Moon - 'Sievehead' (Directed by Myles O'Reilly)

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:00:00 +0000

Taken from their hugely enjoyable debut album Only Count The Sunny Hours, here's the official video for Hello Moon's 'Sievehead'. Directed by the inimitable Myles O'Reilly, the video is a continuation of the album's sleeve with O'Reilly citing Spike Jones' Where The Wild Things Are as his main inspiration for the piece.

Treat yourself to Only Count The Sunny Hours now from Any Other City Records.

New Video: Tara Masterson Hally - 'Lingering'

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 12:00:00 +0000

When I introduced Tara Masterson Hally back in April, I was captivated by the contrast between her standout voice and the spacious, minimal arrangement. Since then anything she has put out has only heightened such admiration. The latest example is a basement shot video by the creative types over at Havagawk which captures the barren beauty of the original track perfectly. The video was directed and edited by Finn Keenan.

Find Tara Masterson Hally on Facebook and listen/download her music on Soundcloud.

Free Download: Twin Sister - Kimmi In A Rice Field (REID Remix)

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:19:00 +0000

He was introduced on these pages a few months back and now talented Irish producer REID has decided to remix Twin Sister's 'Kimmi In A Rice Field'. It doesn't veer too far from the original template but it succeeds in sculpting some interesting sounds out of what is already a haunting little tune.

The remix is available to download for free from Soundcloud and it precedes the official release of Genesis on Blah Blah Blah Records as of November 28th. Full details here.

Twin Sister - Kimmi In A Rice Field (REID Remix) by REID

New Release: Patrick Kelleher and Squarehead Split 7" Collaboration

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 05:17:00 +0000

What do you get when two of our most exciting and promising artists come together for a collaboration? A smashing split 7" and a stupidly funny piss-take video it appears. Both Squarehead and Patrick Kelleher have been constants on these pages since it started so to have them bash out some tracks together is rather exciting. I was expecting something a bit more manic but the resulting tracks - 'Just A Tragedy' and 'Attention To Detail' - go down easy and are both breezy, laidback tunes with neat 80's/doo-wop inspired touches.

I'm a bit late to the game on this one so the launch party has been and gone sadly. However, you can still get your mitts on the limited edition vinyl (via Popical Island) from selected record stores or alternatively, you can stream/purchase it online here. The aforementioned mockumentary is also below.

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://popicalisland.bandcamp.com/album/attention-to-detail-just-a-tragedy"&amp;amp;gt;Attention To Detail / Just A Tragedy by Patrick Kelleher &amp;amp;amp;amp; Squarehead&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

New Video: Goodtime - 'Behind The Sun'

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 05:28:00 +0000

A beautiful official video for Goodtime's 'Behind The Sun'. Filmed by Richard Gilligan and coloured by Andy Clarke, the picturesque shots suit the delicate, flowing melodies beautifully. A perfect combination.

Goodtime is currently supporting Jape on his Ocean Of Frequency tour.

Download the track for free now from Bandcamp.

%
GOODTIME - Behind this Sun from Temporary Secretary Recordings on Vimeo.

Behind This Sun by GOODTIME

New Music: Jerome's Law - 'Albedo'

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 05:38:00 +0000

Having been somewhat underwhelmed by their debut EP, I'm happy to report that Jerome's Law have gone back to the drawing board, shaken things up a bit and delivered a very impressive new single. A wistful little ballad full of dreamy O Emperor styled touches, 'Albedo' is taken from the Dubliners' forthcoming debut album.

Download it for free now from Bandcamp.

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://jeromeslaw.bandcamp.com/album/albedo"&amp;amp;gt;Albedo by Jerome's Law&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

Free Mixtape: The New Wave: Volume 2 - The Best New Irish Music

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 07:04:00 +0000

The month of September saw me finish my Master's degree, hand in my thesis and leave Ireland to travel this globe for a bit. The result was a distinct lack of updates on these pages but I'm glad to be kicking things back into gear with the second volume in The New Wave series of free mixtapes.

The reaction to Volume 1 was excellent and the formula is the same again here - ten tracks from my favourite Irish artists of recent times, thrown together for you to digest and (hopefully) fall in love with. While Volume 1 was all cheery pop-hooks, Volume 2 has a slightly darker edge, connected as it is by some sparse acoustic pickings (Rory Grubb), sultry 80s vibes (Patrick Kelleher), eerie desolation (Tandem Felix) and a wide range of other moods and shades that suit the oncoming winter months perfectly.

Again it's all free and for the good of the bands/your ears so please do your very best to support the artists involved by going to their gigs and buying their music!

Volume 3 will follow in the coming weeks...

Tracklist:

1) The Gorgeous Colours - 'It's OK To Be Normal'
2) Patrick Kelleher - 'Contact Sports'
3) Solar Bears - 'Primary Colours At The Back Of My Mind'
4) Halves - 'Growing & Glory'
5) Tandem Felix - 'Canyons'
6) Tara Masterson Hally - 'Down We Lay'
7) Conor Furlong - 'Are You Gonna Sleep Tonight?'
8) The Eulogys - 'Bouquets'
9) Sacred Animals - 'Chosen Seed'
10) Rory Grubb - 'Take Your Own Advice'

STL: The New Wave - Vol. 2 by StopTheLights

STL: The New Wave - Vol. 2 by Stopthelights on Mixcloud

New Video: The Dying Seconds - L.E.S. Artistes (Santigold Cover)

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:49:00 +0000

In the run up to this year's Electric Picnic, the good folk over at Cock and Bull TV have been asking their favourite Irish artists to cover a track by someone else on the bill at this year's festival. The pick of the bunch is The Dying Seconds' take on Santigold's 'L.E.S. Artistes' which incorporates what appears to be a ukulele and a xylophone, yet still manages to sound a touch darker than the funky original.

The Dying Seconds play Electric Picnic tomorrow (Saturday), on the Body and Soul Main Stage at 3pm.

Santigold plays tonight (Friday) in the Electric Arena at 9pm.

Free gig: Pick for the Picnic Final this Thursday in Crawdaddy

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:57:00 +0000

Over the last two weeks 16 home-grown bands have battled it out in the heats and been whittled down to just four finalists, each of whom will perform at the final of Heineken Music's Pick for the Picnic. Taking place the day before the festival itself, September 1st, in Crawdaddy, the winning band gets the excellent opportunity of opening the Crawdaddy stage down in Stradbally.

This year's finalists are Tandem Felix, Eatenbybears, The Depravations and Leaders of Men.

It's completely free in and as if that (and the mounds of amazing Irish music on show) wasn't enough to tempt you out - your first drink is also free courtesy of Heineken. What more could you want?

In Horseshoes & Hand Grenades by Tandem Felix

Tonight by The Depravations

Spite Houses by Eatenbybears

Bite Your Tongue by damaged_audio

New Music: Jape - 'The Oldest Mind'

noreply@blogger.com (Bryano) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:10:00 +0000

As posted last week Jape's eagerly awaited new one Ocean of Frequency is out on September 30th and here's a new track from it to whet your appetite even further. 'The Oldest Mind' is a slow-building gem of two halves; one part fragmented, solemn reflection and the other a euphoric little burst of realisation and acceptance. And all this before the memorable refrain of 'Celebrate What It Is To Be Young' plays us out. Kids - listen to the man.

via No Fear Of Pop

THE OLDEST MIND by Jape