2012. In the words of Johnny Logan, ‘What’s Another Year?’ Well, for music lovers, it means 12 months filled with shiny new releases, gigs-a-plenty, a fresh batch of favourite toons to annoy your neighbours with, an untrodden festival field to dance on and perhaps the next musical love of your life.
With new long-players on the way from Waterford’s Deaf Joe, Two Door Cinema Club, Solar Bears, post-rockers Enemies, Gama Bomb, The Wonder Villains, Hunter-Gatherer, Bats, We Are Losers and General Fiasco to name but a few, it seems the planets are aligning for a sonic annus mirabilis on the domestic front.
One impending release that’s sure to cause a stir is Cover And Flood, the second album from ethereal songsmith Katie Kim. The 20-song confection is due this month on Flaming June records.
Since her debut Twelve, Katie has collaborated with a rich melange of artists including David Kitt, Halves, Milosh and Mike Scott (she is guest vocalist on The Waterboys’ An Appointment With Mr. Yeats album).
Katie also recently finished scoring and performing an original soundtrack in conjunction with the French Film Festival for Germain Dulac’s 1927 controversial celluloid masterpiece The Seashell And The Clergyman which will be released as a multimedia package this year.
Catch her live this month on The Certain Three tour along with Hot Press faves The Lost Brothers and Isle Of Wight tunesmith Puzzle Muteson. The tour, which features ten dates around the country, kicks off in the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Thursday January 12. Check hotpress.com for details….
Also coming our way soon is the debut collection from Dublin’s Quicksand Band. The folk-rock combo recorded the opus, Approaching Rain, last year with the eminently talented Gavin Glass at the production helm. They will launch it in style in Whelan’s on February 4…
Another aural gem comes courtesy of the lovely folk at Popical Island who are behind the imminent sonic cocktail from The Walpurgis Family. Dawn follows on from 2010’s debut album Midsummer Party which saw the troupe throw down the chamber-pop gauntlet.
Since then, the Family (Jeroen Saegeman (guitars, vocals), Wil McDermott (bass, keys, vocals) and Ruan van Vliet (drums) have delighted followers the length and breadth of the country who have flocked in their throngs to their scintillating live shows.
The album was recorded and produced by Fiachra McCarthy (Pantone247) who also lends his guitar prowess to the band on occasion. The official launch in Crawdaddy on January 28 comes with support from Cork’s Boa Morte and labelmate Jonny Fun…….
And now for some blast from the past news… have you ever wondered what happened to Mike Got Spiked? Well, since the plaudits garnered for debut album Caveat Emptor in 2005, the band have been based in the US where they spend their time touring with the likes of My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Anthrax and Biffy Clyro. Tres impressive!
Last year, the band released a download-only, live acoustic album of new material, re-worked rarities and live favourites. You may also remember their version of ‘Dry Riser’ which featured on the Kerbdog tribute album Pledge: A Tribute to Kerbdog.
The group will release their eagerly-awaited second album, No Is Not An Answer, recorded with Grammy nominated LA-based Irish producer Jason Donaghy (Sum 41, Band Of Horses, Tenacious D, Ryan Adams, The Murderdolls) in early 2012.
Catch them live in The Spirit Store on January 13 with support from Dundalk’s I’d Fight Gandhi and fellow local legends Words That Burn. Will keep you posted on album details!...