With 25,000 albums released in Ireland every year, keeping tabs on new music has become an increasingly expensive hobby.
Staying abreast of what has become a fast moving, ever changing domestic scene is especially challenging. A handful of specialist shows aside, one rarely encounters bands such as The Amazing Pilots or Dry County on radio. Often checking out emerging groups means trial and error purchasing.
Thank God, then, for HMV’s Irish Playlist CD. Given away free with selected titles, the HMV Playlist has established itself as a gem of a compilation album. June’s Irish Playlist is exceptional throughout.
From Hal’s chirpy ‘Worry About The Wind’ to Sean O Riada’s ‘Planxty Johnson’ and the eclectic experimentation of Cranberries guitarist Noel Hogan’s side project, Mono Band, there’s something here to appeal to every taste. However, it's tracks from less well known artists that prove to be the real treasures.
Dry County’s ‘Lost Now’ merges rock and experimental electronica in a way that would make Thom Yorke or Damon Albarn proud. It’s full of swirling melodies and interesting ideas. Elsewhere, Duke Special take us back to bluesy '50s jazz halls on ‘Last Night I Nearly Died’. The standout track is The Amazing Pilots' ‘The Price Of Winter’, a moving alt-country ballad.
The most alluring thing about the new Irish Playlist is that its finger is on the pulse of albums released by new and independent artists. Thankfully you’re not going to be swamped by U2 or Paddy Casey tracks. This gives acts on a smaller budget the chance to cosy into people’s CD collections. Best start being nice to your bank manager.