Hey, the word is that the hotpress.com member offer CDs are selling like proverbial hot cakes! A note of warning: THEY DO SELL OUT, so grab them while you can.
All CDs are €10, with post and packaging free for people in Ireland, €2 for people in the EU (UK included) and €3 for the rest of the world [€10 is approx: $11 or £7 GBP]
And watch this space for further offerings as the month goes on. Stake a claim to your key choices from this lot, and then stay tuned. To jump straight to the buying part, click here Or read on below to be coaxed gently....
The album, largely driven by piano and keyboard, slides between brooding, soulful tracks with strong dynamics, to pure pop! Recorded in Jam Studios, Exchequer Studios and Experimental Studios, Fiona really had the best of the best working with her on this album. Musicians include Ian Melady and Paul Noonan (drums), Martin Quinn, Steve Shannon and JOhn Colbert (bass), Ciaran Kavanagh and ANdy Coogan (guitar), and Mamisa (strings). The Fear I Fear is truly a record to savour.
The name may not ring a huge number of bells, yet Fiona Melady has been something of an Irish musical mainstay over recent years, first as a member of Turn...
The sister of Turn’s Ian Melady has a go for herself with debut single ‘Day In December’ (which, by the way, was released in December). It must have...
Fading Fast
Fading Fast is the debut album from Dubliner Garret Baker, a published novelist and playwright, who took to the guitar and performing late in life. The songs range from tales of a drink and drunk ravaged underbelly of a town, to dark romantic ballads, and the album has been described as having ‘beautifully crafted haunting folk songs’ (Road Records). This is an album sure to capture your imagination.
The past two years have been a whirlwind for bluegrass/soul artist Nell Bryden. Playing almost 500 shows in 24 months, including support to KT Tunstall and Counting Crows, she has already released five CDs independently. Her first label release When Does It Take was produced by Grammy-winning producer David Kershenbaum, and is sure to see her reach great heights. Already a hit on Irish radio playlists, Nell will soon be doing an Irish tour to showcase her music – a fascinating blend of traditional and modern soul.
New York songstress continues Irish tour with Dublin gig.
Fight The Score
Still in her early twenties, Cork artist Nicole Maguire is already making waves with her debut album, Fight The Score. Having gained the attention of America-based muisc mogul Sam Feldman – who has had a role in managing Bon Jovi, Avril Lavigne and Norah Jones, Nicole has since played support to Nanci Griffith on her Irish tour, and is planning a visit to Nashville next summer to meet with top international songwriters and producers.
Cork singer-songwriter NICOLE MAGUIRE is rapidly making a name for herself with her full-on pop-rock songs, swoonful voice and dogged determination. On the...
Cork singer Nicole Maguire's new single 'I'm Gonna Be' is out tomorrow (August 1), with an album to follow in October.
The Mammoth Sessions
Described by our critic as ‘beautifully downbeat Americana’ that ‘wraps the listener in a ghostly embrace’, Texas outfit Georgia’s House offer an album of sonic treats featuring bleak and menacing tracks like ‘Bugg Super Love Song’ and ‘Bloom’. The beautiful debut record features haunting vocals by frontwoman Teresa Maldonado, adding perfectly to the album’s haunted feel.
Herm – that’s Roscommon man Kevin Connolly – present a slice of perfectly twisted indie with debut release Monsters. Connolly’s offbeat humour ensures the album stays light despite featuring tracks about nihilism and self-loathing, while his adventurous musical style keeps things interesting. Nina Hynes duet ‘Year Of The Horse’ is a charming highlight.
Adopting the maxim that simplicity is the key, ‘Rosemary’ is a nicely earnest acoustic song, buoyed with an undeniable feel-good factor.
The Lucky Caller No 9
Having already earned rave reviews and a spot in the Hot Press Readers’ Poll as one of the best Irish debuts of last year, The Lucky Caller No.9 by Ian Whitty & The Exchange is still going strong after seven months on the shelves. The album is a testament to the power of Whitty’s urgent, evocative storytelling. This is an indie folk act to keep an eye on, with stand-out tracks including singles ‘Not On Your Side’ and ‘Houndstooth Shirt’.
As soon as the strains of Ian Whitty’s 7-track album Will O’ The Wisp begin, the listener gets a palpable and rather unwelcome feeling of deja-vu.
Quietly Now! Midnight Organ Fight Live and Acoustic At The Captain’s Rest
Frightened Rabbit’s Quietly Now! Midnight Organ Fight Live and Acoustic At The Captain’s Rest is a relaxed and darkly intelligent indie pop record, capturing the band playing tracks from their sophomore album. This stripped-down live LP was recorded in Glasgow in July 2008, with the band focussing on presenting a more restrained, largely acoustic take on Midnight Organ Fight.
Glaswegian pop-folk fusionists Frightened Rabbit arrive in next month for a series of shows around the country.
"Happy" In Galoshes
Scott Weiland’s new Happy In Galoshes LP may be more jovial than Weiland’s rough-edged efforts as a member of Stone Temple Pilots or Velvet Revolver, but on it you’ll find tracks inspired by tragedy – like the death of his brother, and separation from his wife of eight years. With stand-out tracks like lead single ‘Missing Cleveland’ and ‘Paralysis’, this record is proof that Weiland has enough talent to go it alone.
Padraig Rushe is a hugely talented vocalist, formerly a member of the Dublin Gospel Choir, who left the group to pursue a solo career. Greyworld is his first independent release, and shows off his soulful voice and passion on tracks like ‘Wandering Man’ and ‘Peacefully’. A must for soul fans, or anyone who appreciates the beauty of music by the likes of Luther Van Dross, Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley.
Bray man Padraig Rushe – formerly of the Dublin Gospel Choir – will release his debut single 'Gonna Be A Change' this month, with a launch gig planned...
Bray musician Padraig Rushe is through to the semi-finals of MTV’s 'Get Seen Get Heard' talent search, which is being run in association with the Oxjam...
Grandstanding
The Laundry Shop are two Irish lads and a Swedish girl, and are already well known to anyone with a TV set through the use of their ‘Highs And Lows’ on the Discover Ireland ad campaign. Grandstanding is the band’s debut LP, a quality collection of rock numbers that deserves a wide audience. Especially impressive are the Foo Fighters-esque title-track, along with the elegant ‘Terrified’.
Featuring former Angels Of Mons man Stephen Robinson, the track ‘Highs And Lows’ has travelled with him in a re-recorded form. The racing refrain, which...
Ever watched that Discover Ireland telly advert and wondered what the tune was? The answer is 'Highs And Lows' by The Laundry Shop - and it's being released...
Beware Of The God
The third record from reformed legends Paranoid Visions shows the Irish punk group to be as fiercely political as ever, pulling no punches on songs like ‘High Cost Of Living’ and ‘Shell To Sea’. Our critic describes it as “a biting, sneering beast”, with key tracks including ‘Fritzl’s Basement’, ‘Sex Kills’, and ‘Mongoloid’, the latter of which is given an added dimension by new co-vocalist Aoife Destruction.
Noise terrorists Paranoid Visions have had their first hit record after 30 years. Is this mere carelessness or part of a cunning plan to subvert the nation?
Just when you thought anger, frustration, despair and hopelessness were things of the past, along come Paranoid Visions, with their first new material since...
Stalwarts of Irish punk rock Paranoid Visions are to release an album of their own unique interpretations of Christmas classics. And with titles like 'Harp...
From 1983 to 1992, Paranoid Visions were staples of the Dublin music scene, Ireland's true punk heroes.
So Now They Know Me
Portlaoise MC Wally recently impressed HP’s Edwin McFee with this collection of rap gems, which he described as “as confrontational as a gang of football hooligans”. The rapper has been working on his debut release for the last two years, recording the album in Red Lake Studios in Portlaoise. The impressive So Now They Know Me truly captures Wally’s personality, with tongue-in-cheek number ‘Rather Be A Rapper’ a stand-out.
After almost two years spent recording, Kerry based duo Lineage (featuring cousins Alex O’Brien and Miguel Ahumada) are finished and on the verge of releasing their debut CD. The album takes the listener on a voyage of musical discovery, taking in many cultures, languages and genres, including hip hop, reggae, funk, jazz and good oul pop. From Here And From There shows Lineage to be an inspired act, possessing the courage to redefine musical boundaries. This first offering is truly global.
Kaleidoscope, a poppy treat filled with upbeat, sunny melodies, is the debut offering from Irish musical duo Carosel. Bandmates Pete McGrane and Michelle Phelan are also engaged to be married, creating an endearingly sweet chemistry on the record. The commercially friendly release is a contemporary blend of pop, folk, jazz and more, with infectious melodies guaranteeing the band a sizeable amount of airplay.
Colin Devlin is an Irish Songwriter that has carved out a strong musical career over almost two decades, with many of his songs used in film and television productions such as Batman Forever and also HBO’s Six Feet Under.
Democracy of One takes Colin Devlin to new heights. His warm intimate lyrics and tones are deeply inviting and explorative. With “super producer” Pierre Marchand, also featuring drummer Matt Chamberlin. A diverse and dramatic collection of acoustic guitar and piano, combined with powerful lyrics. It’s a musical treat waiting to be enjoyed.
Sixteen Layers are a promising Irish rock band, who’ve just completed their debut hard rock album I Am No One. They won the Dublin leg of Bodog Battle of the Bands, and their album has since been the recipient of much media praise. On top of that, rocking single ‘No Strings’ has just been released, with a spiffy video recorded on Balcony TV. With frontman Niall Donnelly earning comparisons to Chris Cornell and Josh Homme, we can safely assume that Sixteen Layers are going places.
The Revellions are a fresh Dublin band inspired by 1960s rock. Putting a new edge on garage rock, the band create a truly modern sound. Wailing blues singer Al Moore shares lead vocal duties with guitarist James Lister, creating an impressively exciting sound on this, their debut record. Signed to London indie label Dirty Water Records, the band have impressed both at home and abroad, bagging a slot at last year’s Hard Working Class Heroes Festival in Dublin, and now getting a fair amount of media coverage in the UK. Highly rated by HP blogger Naomi McArdle, these are ones to watch for sure.
Described in a recent issue of Hot Press as “stonking Mexican-Irish stadium rock”, Simplifires’ Why People Make Countries is an epic record, which has earned the group a four star review from HP’s Edwin McFee, along with shining recommendations from Rolling Stone and others. The group, made up of 3 Mexicans – Shine, Rodrigo and Alex – and one Irishman (lead singer daveO), have previously opened for bands like Ratatat, and have generated quite the buzz across the pond, playing a four week residency at a New York club n late 2008, where they wowed industry peeps and won many a new fan.
The Irish/Mexican band report from the infected city, with frontman daveO pleased to inform us it's not as bad as the news is making out...
100 Midnights
100 Midnights is the second album from Dubliner Stefan Murphy, following on from his debut release Sins Of Sainte Catherine. A diverse and dramatic collection of multi-genre songs, well arranged and luxuriantly crafted, the record calls to mind the likes of Arcade Fire and Nick Cave, but is also startingly original, blending country songs with sea shanties and more sombre tracks. It also features excellent duets, with vocal help from none other than Mr Shane MacGowan, and former Pogue Cait O’Riordain.
Now a provocative solo artist following a spell with the Subtonics, The Mighty Stef (alias Stefan Murphy) invites Jackie Hayden round for some pasta a la...
He’s a law unto himself is Stef, making the kind of records that nobody else could get away with. ‘Poisonous Love’ is an ode to a doomed love affair...
They don’t call him the Mighty Stef for nothing – brimming with showmanship and out-on-a-limb theatrics, this double A-side is the perfect marriage of...
Aiming to raise money for their travel to South By Southwest in Texas, The Might Stef play a fundraising gig next week in Dublin
Dolls & Jigsaws
Moriarty began her songwriting career in The International Bar scene of 1999 alongside the likes of Damien Dempsey, Declan O’Rourke and Damien Rice. Since then she has taken her music to places as far away as Long Island, Louisville, Nashville, Memphis and Munich. Ranging from folksy guitar to pop, Aoife Moriarty draws on a wide range of influences and this is truly echoed on her album, which offers a strong collection of tracks, from slow-burning ballads to current single ‘Alphabet Soup’, a definite hit in the making.
‘Alphabet Soup’ will be released on February 5 as the debut single from Aoife Moriarty’s forthcoming album Dolls and Jigsaws .
Hill Of Thieves
Derry-born Cara Dillon has been singing in public from a young age, and formed her first band while still in her teens. She signed her first major deal in ‘95, and since then her records have met with astonishing critical and popular acclaim, thanks to her clear, expressive vocals, paired with understated arrangements and seductive production. Our own Jackie Hayden recently gave this new album a four star review, praising Dillon’s rich voice and her skilled, emotional performance.
Here Dillon brings her warm, natural style to standards like ‘Black Is The Colour’, ‘Lark In The Clear Air’ and ‘I Am A Youth...
God Bless The Big Bang
05 Feb 2009
This is the debut solo offering from ex-Revs frontman Rory Gallagher, 12 new songs recorded in just 12 days in a home studio in the middle of Germany with Rory playing every instrument on the record. It is a complete breakaway from the fizzed up indie-punk of the Revs with a more mature sound that falls somewhere between George Harrison and Damon Alburn. The ‘big bang’ could be the start of something very special for this young Donegal man.
Former Revs leader Rory will launch debut solo album God Bless The Big Bang with an instore signing and acoustic session at HMV on Dublin's Henry Street.
Live At The Melody Tent
The legendary Galway group release this collection of hits, including ‘N17’ and ‘Will It Ever Stop Raining?’, along with 12 other trad-pop gems, recorded at the Melody Tent in Cape Cod. The band play the venue each August, and with an enthusiastic group of friends and fans in attendance, these shows have a unique atmosphere that has now been captured on record, with the highlights showcasing the wonderful live energy created by these truly great musicians.
Tuam legends the Saw Doctors will be seeing out one of their most successful years yet with a gig in the Royal Theatre in Castlebar this New Year's Eve.
A mere 17 years after last doing it with ‘The Hay Wrap’, The Saw Dactors are back at number one on the Irish singles chart with their beefed-up version...
Fifteen years since they first topped the Irish charts, The Saw Doctors remain one of this country’s most successful bands. So why do so many people still...
At least The Saw Doctors never let you down. You always get what you’d expect: good old slap-yourself-on-the-knee pub songs! Toning things down ever so...
Ireland has changed utterly since the Saw Doctors first enthralled us with their hick schtick, doing for rural Ireland what rap acts did for Compton, but now...
Most of us have, at certain times, been guilty of doing The Saw Doctors a great disservice, airbrushing them out of the Irish musical family portrait. In the...
The Saw Doctors: “Small Bit Of Love” (Shamtown Records)
Loosely Based On Fiction
Loosely Based On Fiction is the debut album from Belfast three-piece Escape Act, a fine example of just how good indie rock can be. Worthy of a four star review from HP, the record excites with influences of The Smiths, Pixies and more. Killer hooks and perfect melodies led our critic to say that the band “reaffirm the listener’s faith in simple, sub-three-minute guitar pop”. Stand-out tracks are the impressively-catchy ‘God Says’ single and ‘Kings Have Fallen’. HP’s final verdict? “Indie-rock in excelsis.”
Although the ’90s are over, Escape Act manage to harness the sound and energy of the decade’s alternative scene on their new EP. The Belfast three-piece...
They've no truck with capital letters but escape act crank out a mean indie racket
Gypsy Trip
Now, this is the kind of thing that bodes well for modern rock’n’roll – a band with classic rock influences dripping each and every pore, yet a fresh and vital approach giving them a very contemporary vibe. Jaded Sun’s debut album Gypsy Trip is a blues hard rock with influences that stretch from Free to the Stones. “an album that works as a total experience, a rarity in these downloadable days.” 4/5 (Hotpress)
Ireland could without doubt do with a healthy domestic rock and metal scene. You wonder, though, whether Jaded Sun are the ones to kick start it. They...
Given that Jaded Sun are a Dublin group with an average age of 24, their resemblance to Led Zeppelin et al is noteworthy, since that...
Nob Nation 2 - The Recession Album
Oliver Callan’s topical satire Nob Nation is broadcast each day on The Gerry Ryan Show on 2FM to an estimated audience of 325,000 listeners per day. This CD features some of this year’s best comedy sketches from the show, including the Nobs’ tributes to Bertie Ahern, George Bush, Giovanni Trapattoni, George Lee and more. The 19-tracks also include jokes at the expense of Shane McGowan, Amy Winehouse and the X Factor judges.
James Holden and Milky Globe (aka Lo boss Jon Tye) team up for a synapse-frying excursion on ‘Sun Spots’ that starts like Seefeel, before mutating into...
Unplugging the amplifiers brings out the gentler, more vulnerable side of any band. Acoustic 05 offers an unprecedented expose of these moments, drawing from...
Sixteen stone-cold dancehall classics from the last decade. Tracks from the likes of Shabba, Super Cat, Junior Reid, Mad Lion and – of course – Chaka...
With any collection of this sort, some tracks don’t work as well as others. However, there are so many highlights here that it seems churlish to focus on...
Like our friends in the North, DJ Hell and Gigolos haven’t gone away, you know. On the latest annual Gigolos compilation, the German label keeps up with...
When he’s not off partying with Sven Vath or DJing for three days in a row, Richie Hawtin runs the Minus label and its latest compilation runs the full...
From the '70s porn image on the cover to Comtron's pervy contributions, there's no doubt that Black Label have hit on a strain of electro that's high in the...
Free party types Spiral Tribe – they were behind the legendary 1992 Castlemorton rave - deliver a compilation as well as a DVD documenting their travels....
There’s enough 1970s-style rock and roll on this wildly eclectic album to boot it firmly out of the folk category. But with the likes of Andy Irvine,...
Tonight’s noisily chatty office-party crowd are certainly excited about something, but it may or may not be Life After Modelling. They should be, though:...
Mad German techno woman Ellen Alien’s Bpitch label is often as much of a miss as a hit, but this compilation has more highlights than lowlights. Kiki,...
Compiled and mixed by Joe Ransom – no, we’ve never heard of him either – this mix features some breaks, some hip-hop a dash of house and electro and,...
The surprise huge success of last year’s EBTTRT album proved that, despite the continuing bootleg craze, there’s still a market for the gentle cover...
If you thought Switzerland was a boring place then think again, as this compilation collects minimal and electro strands of house and techno from underground...
Post Romantic
Pony Club comprise of Mark Cullen and his brothers Darren and Jason, along with Dave Morrissey and Martin Healy, both formerly of A-House. After some years on hiatus (their last record was released in 2004), the group return with this promising indie-pop gem, Post Romantic. Cullen describes the record as “about the daily drain of domestic life, when the love is gone or when you move more from Teenage Kicks to Barry White.”
The Minister For Justice Equality & Law Reform, Michael McDowell, finally proves that he’s good for something by gracing the cover of the new Pony Club...
Mark Cullen’s second album, the follow up to the respectfully received Home Truths, further establishes him and his band as one of the sharpest tools in...
Sometimes this plays out like a Mike Leigh script put to music, such is the scything truth contained in simple, everyday sentences
The Week The Clocks Changed
The Week The Clocks Changed is the debut album from Antrim born singer-songwriter, Ben Glover, and his band The Earls. Recorded in Nashville, where Glover got to meet and work with some of the city’s top session musicians, the latest offering is remarkably mature and emotional for a debut album, making use of pedal steel and wah wah guitar, with each song sounding honest, unique and distinctive.
A lot of great artists were involved in making this disappointing record
21 Bends
18 Nov 2008
21 Bends is the second album from Dublin singer Scott Maher, following 2005’s promising Cartoon Moon. This latest release highlights Maher’s gorgeous voice with delicate melodies and skilful guitar-playing. The songs too, are beautifully honest, and of such a high calibre that it’s no wonder Maher is currently taking the States by storm. Check out 21 Bends before he hits the stratosphere.
Maher fills the John Lennon role in the hugely popular tribute band The Classic Beatles so no great surprises that his debut solo album displays plenty of...
I'm Not Entirely Sure How I Ended Up Like This
With Michael Knight, Richie Murphy has created the only indie record you will hear this year that considers the 18th and 19th Centuries as valid as the ‘80s and ‘90s as sources for musical inspiration. Featuring some of Ireland’s most acclaimed musicians, such as Nina Hynes and Cora Venus Lunny, the record comprises sophisticated darkly comic songs, packaged in a dog-eared secondhand book. With glowing praise from the likes of The Sunday Times, I’m Not Entirely Clear How I Ended Up Like This is a definite must-have.
Dublin-based indie-pop group Michael Knight are releasing the single ‘Foals’, at the Lower Deck in Portobello, Dublin on Friday July 8.
Hopioki
Hopioki is the debut album from Carlow based band 79Cortinaz, who made it to the recent live final of the Vodafone Bright New Sounds competition. A fun 11-track record, Hopioki hints at influences of Brian Wilson, Thrills, and Arcade Fire, featuring superbly crafted guitar songs with lush melodies. Produced by ex-Damned drummer Rat Scabies, the band also had help from Florida and Wicklow, respectively, as the album was mixed at home by Mark McCabe and mastered in the US by Bob Katz.
79 Cortinaz were the most polished and accomplished musicians on the night. Gala Hutton has an incredible vocal range and there is a haunting, ethereal...
White Butterfly
White Butterfly is the brilliant new album from British rock trio InMe. It is the follow-up to 2003’s successful debut Overgrown Eden, and sees them raising their standards in a big way. It was recorded in Los Angeles with producer Josh Abraham (Korn, Limp Bizkit), and he has certainly beefed up the young band’s sound. InMe’s hard rocking influences are still in place, but they are also taking their cue from less obvious sources, such as the brooding, soundscapes of Talk Talk. An excellent sophmore effort.
They play guitars like they’re applying sandpaper and growl vocals that drip with passive aggressive hysteria.
Playground For Life
Irish heavy-metallers Glyder are a throwback to the pre-grunge, pre-poodle era of traditional down-and-dirty heavy rock. They return with Playground for Life, mixed by Chris Tsangarides (Thin Lizzy, Black Sabbath, Ozzy), which packs a towering rock ’n’ roll punch and boasts some cracking guitar work. Having won notoriety abroad – Playground For Life was named album of the month in Rock Hard Magazine in France – and a few fans and at home, the quality of songwriting on Playground for Life makes it stand out from the masses of stadium rockers.
"Glyder use their twin guitars to the max, and in vocalist Tony Cullen have a gritty frontman who avoids the macho excesses of so many other exponents of the...
Wicklow hard rockers Glyder have announced of hefty tour in support of UK hard rockers Thunder.
Sentimental
The eminent Tanita Tikaram releases her collection of beguiling new songs, Sentimental, on V2 Records this summer. At just 18 Tikaram released her self-penned debut Ancient Heart, selling four million copies globally and securing her position as one of the foremost singer-songwriters of her generation. With Sentimental she reminds us why we fell for her proficient, emotive songwriting and that rich husky voice, that at times is a whisper and at other times an evocative jazz croon.
Penny Black is the third release from Chequerboard, aka Dubliner John Lambert. It follows on from his debut album Gothica (Reverb) and 2005 EP Dictaphone Showreels (Lazybird). Chequerboard's profile has grown rapidly over the last year due to extensive touring as well as his work with Donal Dineen. Last year, John received a music fellowship from the Model Arts & Niland Gallery in Sligo where he spent a year working on the album. The cover and artwork are comprised of shots of actual pieces produced by John.
He quit busy Dublin for blissful rural Sligo and recorded what many consider to be one of the outstanding electro records of the year. CHEQUERBOARD's John...
Fourteen tracks marry a musical box of icy chimes and wintry melodies with an inviting acoustic warmth, allowing the brain to run riot and imagine the...
Shades Of Night
16 May 2008
This follow up to the critically acclaimed self-titled 2006 debut – which led to comparisons with Carol King and Carly Simon, as well as a Meteor Ireland Music Awards nomination for Best Irish Female – Claire Sproule’s Shades of Night is a collection of soulful, jazzy tracks. Sproule’s latest work comes in the wake of tours with such musical legends as Al Green and Paolo Nutini.
Lifted from her acclaimed debut album, ‘Wondering’ is Beth Orton style smooth, jazzy music, perfect for those dinner parties thrown by late-20s urbanites...
For all we might want to harp on about cutting edge this and radical that, the records which have made the big bucks over the past few years have been by...
Exit Here
09 Aug 2007
Fresh from appearing on NME’s Hotlist for 2007, Limerick’s Vesta Varro released their debut album Exit Here to critical acclaim last June. Teaming up with multiple-Grammy Award winning producer Richard Rainey (U2) and recording in the legendary Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin, it’s little wonder that Vesta Varro are set to be Ireland’s next big thing.
Vesta Varro are dab hands at both foundation-quaking rockers and creepy-quiet ballads, and frontman Damien Drea’s vocals are showcased to powerful effect...
Like Humanzi, Limerick’s Vesta Varro show much promise. Their much anticipated double A-side has been delayed as interest in the UK has grown. With a sound...
Start A Spark
09 Aug 2007
With fans that include Ron Sexsmith and Tom Robinson, The Citadels were one of the most popular Irish acts of the early ‘00s. And now luminous front man Cormac O’Caoimh releases his first solo album Start A Spark. More than your typical singer/songwriter, O’Caoimh mixes pop sensibility with finely tuned song writing, wrapping it all up in his soft melodic confidence and sharp lyrical commentary.
Cork singer-songwriter Cormac O Caoimh – our British chums are going to have great fun pronouncing his surname – has been selected to play at this...
Unexpected Falls
Combining synths, guitars, percussion, piano harp and home made instruments, Dry Country are one of the most innovative and intelligent acts in Ireland. Their debut album Unexpected Falls is a brilliant blend of dark moods, pop melodies and smart lyrics, with influences that stretch from Nine Inch Nails to Boards Of Canada. One of the best Irish debuts of 2007.
Dry County are closing shop for the year after they complete a spout of summer gigs.
REVIEW: 20 Apr 2007
Dry County's unique brand of electro-rock mixes conventional instruments, drum loops, synths, buckets, boxes and a nutritious diet of influences, from the...
Lazybird, Dublin's original experimental live music night, is four years old this weekend
Of Pattern And Purpose
Before this, the second full-album release from Ireland’s premier acousto-electronic outfit, Somadrone had already toured with highly regarded peers like Redneck Manifesto. Of Pattern And Purpose continues their trend of atmospheric miniature symphonies and fuzzy electronic interludes, meanwhile adding vocal accompaniment into the already bubbling mix. Taking heed from the Kraftwerk drone, this album winds through a beautiful array of creativity.
Dublin-based Somadrone may share their name with a US rock band, but there the similarity ends. While the Massachusetts rock quartet trade in fiery metal,...
Mere words can’t do justice to the electronic soundscapes conjured by Neil O’ Connor’s Somadrome. But that won't stop us trying.
Men's Needs Women's Needs, Whatever
Having enlisted the services of Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos on production duties, this record took shape in Vancouver, Canada. This is the exhilarating sound of a band at their indie-glam, punk pop best. With a track featuring Sonic Youth man Lee Ranaldo on the track ‘Be Safe’ this is an album not to be missed.
Employing naked female man-slashers in their videos, hanging out with Lee Renaldo, Alex Kapranos and Rosanna Arquette – there's never a dull moment with...
Hitherto of very little interest to anyone outside of the NME inner circle, the Cribs have decamped to New York to work with Alex Kapranos and, on this...
In music, as in journalism, one should always be wary of the exclamation mark. Too often it serves as a warning that the artist is trying a little too hard....
Formed by three young brothers from West Yorkshire with a penchant for scuzzy guitars and sneaky melodies..
A Renewed Interest In Happiness
Today’s world is a torrent of negative thinking. We are constantly told that we don’t have everything we need and we are not who we should be. A Renewed Interest In Happiness is an antidote to all of that negativity. It spreads the message that everything will be alright, encased in perfect and unforgettable melodies. Stick on this album, forget your troubles and let the slightly deluded magic of Frank and The Walters take over.
Now when we say that this single was long-awaited, we certainly mean it: with the exception of 2005’s odds’n sods Souvenirs collection, it’s been six...
Throughout the '90s and beyond, The Frank And Walters were effectively a lone beacon for Cork rock. But over the last year all that changed, with the...
It’s a mark of the quality of material at their disposal that The Frank and Walters were able to discard tracks like ‘You Asked Me’ as B-sides. Lifted...
The Franks’ wild years are covered here in Souvenirs , a double album of the group’s B-sides and left-overs.
An Irish Person In Paris
This live album from one of Ireland’s best young talents shows the singer-songwriter in her most pure and simple form. Recorded during a solo set in Paris, the album features acoustic versions of songs from her debut offering, along with several new songs and a cover of Tori Amos’s ‘Pretty Good Year’.
Recorded before an intimate crowd in the appropriately named Café de la Dance in Paris in 2006, this stripped-down all-acoustic affair showcases what is...
Fresh from completing her Leaving Certificate, Leanne Harte’s blend of gutsy hard rock is beginning to cause a stir in Ireland and beyond.
The Contents Of A Shipwreck
This is the first release from quirky Dublin-based mandolin heroes The Pale since 2002. Since then they’ve been extensively touring areas such as the Balkans in order to hone their eclectic, up-beat craft. The current single ‘Elizabeth In Rags’ is sure to get your feet tapping, if not your whole body jiving, and your mind asking “How on earth did they come up with this?”
Now nearly 20 years in the business, alt-rockers The Pale are back with a new album Proper Order , recorded and produced by long term member Darren Flynn.
1969 Records seems to be becoming a home for unappreciated Irish musical gems, and The Pale sound as though they’re revelling in working alongside Couse...
Well, skip a light fandango if it isn’t The Pale, back with a new EP after the long absence that followed their massive contribution to the Irish rock...
The Pale return with new album Lonely Space Age and nationwide tour
They Came From The Sun
After imposing a strict 14-hour-per-track limit with their previous album, Yourcodenameis:milo decided to take their time on their latest release. With less pressure and more time to create, the band recorded relaxed tracks that reflect the change in atmosphere. From surf rock to techno and smooth beats, the band proves they can be versatile regardless of the working conditions. See what this latest project has to offer.
While the band have the requisite break neck speed and manic energy the songs are a bit lacking and they ultimately come across (to these ears) like a less...
It's Not How Far You Fall, It's The Way You Land
Soulsavers are not afraid to cross genre boundaries and their latest album is no exception. Recorded between Los Angeles and the band’s home base in the North of England, the album is a bold combination of hip-hop, rock, gospel, soul, and everything else picked up along the way. With front man Mark Lanagan’s smoky rasp completing each track, this solid recording is a necessary addition to any collection.
If church services sounded more like Soulsavers, there wouldn’t be enough pews to hold all the parishioners. A dark and antiquated organ backs a lovely...
Black Music
Known for their eclectic brand of instrumental hip-hop, Deep Burial’s third release, Black Music, is a mishmash of samples and songs thrown into the pot and left to ferment. The result is a brilliant collection of blips, breaks, and beats. Combining the obscure samples and horror movie influences of their early days with innovative rhythms, Black Music boldly blazes new trails on the hip-hop scene.
For Black Music Deep Burial have taken samples, and influence, from zombie movies and horror films. The result is an album full of black humour that...
Blood In Vein
With two tracks of his debut solo album set to be included in the Speed Dating soundtrack, things are looking bright for Eoin Coughlan. Blood In Vein contrasts sensitive vocals and lush backing harmonies with electric distortion and powerful guitar chords. The album features ‘Blue’ and ‘Then I’ll Go To Sleep’ from the film, Speed Dating, along with the single ‘Cutting Down Laws’ with Damien Dempsey. Coughlan shines with support from Gemma Hayes, Ann Scott, and Annette Buckley. Pick up this album so you can say, “I knew him back in the day.”
The quality of those songs didn't quite match up to the promise
Adjagas
What is it about Scandinavia that produces bands capable of making such enchanting records? Norwegian duo Adjagas combine classical and Maya-Indian influences with majestic tones of indigenous yoik singing to create their ethereal self-titled debut. Named after the Sami word for the grey area between consciousness and sleep, Adjagas captivate listeners with this moving release.
They say nothing is as remote as the recent past and with Terrorstorm – director, conspiracy theorist and agitator at large – Alex Jones, aims to shed light on the recent terrorist attacks like 9/11 and 7/7. Jones believes these attacks have been orchestrated by the respective governments of the countries involved in order to control and enslave the minds of the masses. Compelling and unsettling.
With the kind of back story any marketing man would wet his pants over, American Eric Eckhart, the progeny of a socialist railroad worker and proletariat artist, who abandoned the dollar and went into self-imposed exile to search for his soul in Ireland, has released a mini-album that reflect Eric’s blue collar roots, and the upheaval of the last few years of his life.
It’s a sure sign of the healthy state of the indigenous scene and its standing internationally when American artists re-locate to Ireland in order to...
How Eric Eckhart quit his swish job, sold his house and cars, split with his girlfriend and burned his picket fence in order to pursue his creative vision.
We Died, They Remixed
We Died, They Remixed is, as the title suggests, a remix album of the octet’s In Case We Die. Unlike other remixes, this album is a creative triumph, giving the colourful songs of this bonkers band fresh, new identities. Architecture In Helsinki are the type of freaky renegades that pop music was supposed to be made by all along.
Australia’s a long way to come if you’re a band dealing in music that’s not going to sell millions, so most of their left-field gems tend to stay...
Rodrigo y Gabriela
This is the number one album from the majestic Mexicans, and their most fully realized artistic statement to date. Produced by John Leckie (Radiohead, Muse, My Morning Jacket), this is a devilish high-speed ride through a funfair of musical genres; as latin rhythms, rock attitude and guitar virtuosity collide.
From his holiday hideaway in southern France, the hairier half of Mexican-Irish guitar duo Rodrigo Y Gabriela talks about the rigours of life on the road,...
Having been prevented from playing the SXSW showcase festival in Texas, Rodrigo y Gabriela were finally issued with the necessary paperwork to enter the...
On paper it sounds like a novelty record disaster and just the kind of thing to put the skids under our favourite Latin acoustic metal duo. In truth, this...
Their unique combination of sensual Latin melodies and brilliant, metal-inspired guitar playing have made Rodrigo y Gabriela a phenomenon in their adopted...
Not only is it produced by the legendary John Leckie (of Muse and Radiohead fame). The lead track from the Mexican pair’s second studio album continues to...
Mexican guitar-playing duo Rodrigo y Gabriela have offered another chance to those who weren't able to snap up tickets for their sold out date at The Olympia.
Rodrigo y Gabriela take to the road next month in support of their eponymous new album, which was produced by Radiohead, Stone Roses and Muse man John Leckie.
Eminently marketable pair, Rodrigo and Gabriela, follow up their debut album Foc (it’s Catalonian for fire, not the other thing) with a very enjoyable live...
With a brand-spanking debut album under their belt, Rodrigo y Gabriela will play a series of shows around the country
Leanne Harte
“It’s a fine debut from this hugely talented North Dubliner” – Colm O’Hare (Hot Press). The album was produced by the legendary Chris Tsangarides (Thin Lizzy, Black Sabbath, Ozzy, Depeche Mode). As well as writing and singing the whole album, this young musician plays no less then nine instruments. Louis, Sharon and Simon wouldn’t know what to do with this much talent. Except maybe buy her album...
Recorded before an intimate crowd in the appropriately named Café de la Dance in Paris in 2006, this stripped-down all-acoustic affair showcases what is...
Fresh from completing her Leaving Certificate, Leanne Harte’s blend of gutsy hard rock is beginning to cause a stir in Ireland and beyond.
Trouble Pilgrim
One of the most exciting developments in Irish music recently has been the comeback of Irish punk pioneers The Radiatiors From Space. The band’s third album release, Trouble Pilgrim, has fourteen brand new tracks for fans to sink their teeth into. Many believed the band was long dead, but they’re making a collossal comeback with Trouble Pilgrim. Old fans will be brought back, new ones will be drawn in. Truly spectacular.
The Radiators From Space delivered a classic debut album more than 20 years ago and then left us hanging. While Trouble Pilgrim , their return effort,...
The Radiators were the first true Irish punk band, and with most current rock acts unwilling to confront the broad political realities of today, they may...
The Truth According To Shaz Oye
The Truth According To Shaz Oye is a collection of tracks rooted in issues varying from injustice to obsession, to grief and loss. Shaz Oye has bravely stood out against the usual conformity of the music industry and defined her own genre of tough urban hymns with a history, sung with a remarkably versatile, rich and soulful voice; creating one of the most intense albums of the year. Shaz OYE will soon become a household name.
2006 has been a busy year for Dublin-born Shaz Oye, capped by the release of her mostly self-penned and self-financed debut album Truth According To Shaz...
Shaz Oye has been described as having the most extraordinary voice ever to come out of Ireland. On the eve of the release of her much-awaited debut album,...
It was a tribute to both the dynamism of her live presence, and the openness of an audience really here to see bill-topper Juliet Turner, that by the end of...
Time For The Turning, the debut album from Kalichi is a cycle of songs weaving stories of love, heartbreak, mysticism, the Twin Towers falling and the search for the Beloved. Kalichi is joined by Gerry O’Connor on fiddle, one of Ireland’s finest traditional musicans and Kieran Quigley – who toured extensively across Europe with the punk band Rumble – on percussion.
2FM’s Dan Hegarty has called them “the coolest outfit to come out of Dublin in many a year” and on the evidence of their debut Goodbye From The Electric Penguins it’s easy to see why. A stylish blend of live electronica, ambient, Krautrock and good old-fashioned songcraft the album has been compared to Sigur Ros, Kraftwerk, Pink Floyd and The Postal Service.
Viewed in widescreen, Goodbye To The Electric Penguins is a triumph of sound over songcraft. The ensemble’s debut album is, as you might expect, an...
Brave New World
Majella Murphy is an intelligent songwriter and charismatic singer. On her debut album Brave New World, she sings about real life: regrets, joys, hopes, disappointments and aspirations in her versatile, pure, powerful and beguiling voice, often with a hint of humour. The album includes the powerful ‘Mary Jones’ where Majella sings of Mary’s insecurities and pleads with her not to give up, but she is not alone – Majella believes there is a bit of Mary Jones in all of us.
Vaguely punky in appearance, playing that surf festival thing, releasing her album exclusively on a mobile phone – if you hadn’t heard Majella Murphy,...
On her latest single, Majella Murphy’s vocals deliver the ballad of Mary Jones. Her voice is reminiscent of Dolores O’Riordan or Sinead O’Connor, but...
Kilkenny-born Murphy made history earlier this year when she became the first artist in the world to launch her debut album on a mobile phone. Get past the...
Warlords Of Pez
Warlords Of Pez combines deep space death metal & low-light sex cabaret with a twist of new age electric bongo madness. This album certainly is not for the faint-hearted but is for the musically adventurous! The band has an ever-growing cult live following, constantly selling out shows, and have now decided to grace the nation with a new album of wonderful, crazy and experimental treats! Prepare to be blown away!
Just how do you approach the task of reviewing a Warlords Of Pez record? If any band was designed to make the work of the music journalist redundant then...
How does one go about reviewing the Warlords Of Pez? To say anything serious about the offbeat rockers’ musical merit is as pointless as trying to get a...
Spitting expletives and wearing costumes that would turn heads in a Berlin S&M dungeon, The Warlords Of Pez are here to save Ireland from the po-faced...
The Warlords of Pez bring their unique and hilarious brand of punk/crazy comedy/dressed up madness to Cork, with support from Apeonaut.
Non-Stop To Venus
Acclaimed self-penned debut album from Dubliner Susan Bluechild. Her songs draw comparisons to Sheryl Crow, Debbie Harry, Kate Bush and Stevie Nicks yet Susan’s powerful voice maintains her individuality. A mix of musical styles including the soaring pop rock of ‘Sunrise’ which reached No. 1 in the Irish breakers airplay chart. With four tracks already commissioned for soundtracks, Bluechild’s reputation for writing and performing well-crafted songs cannot be doubted.
The London-based Dun Laoghaire-bred artiste delivers an impressive piece of work: there’s Cheap Trick hooks giving a helping hand to a sturdy enough body...
With a strong, wide-ranging voice and a commanding stage presence she wears her influences – mainly ‘80s MTV fare – proudly.
The Sins of Sainte Catherine
Stefan Murphy is an Irish based songwriter and this, his debut album, was recorded in Montreal and is a fine collection of dirty blues and country sounds with plenty of dark elements. Try to imagine some early Nick Cave recordings with some quirky traditional country and blues influences or even a slightly more rockin’ Tom Waits meets the spirit of Johnny Cash. Featuring 14 tracks on his own Firstborn is Dead record label, Hot Press awarded it 8.5/10.
Now a provocative solo artist following a spell with the Subtonics, The Mighty Stef (alias Stefan Murphy) invites Jackie Hayden round for some pasta a la...
He’s a law unto himself is Stef, making the kind of records that nobody else could get away with. ‘Poisonous Love’ is an ode to a doomed love affair...
They don’t call him the Mighty Stef for nothing – brimming with showmanship and out-on-a-limb theatrics, this double A-side is the perfect marriage of...
Aiming to raise money for their travel to South By Southwest in Texas, The Might Stef play a fundraising gig next week in Dublin
Damaged
Lambchop prove their status as the finest alt.country band there is with their latest release Damaged. Damaged partly chronicles leader Kurt Wagner’s recent battle with cancer and has been described by the critics as their finest album to date. At times, Damaged digs so deep it is painful. But the pain is cathartic and invigorating. Damaged is full of a beauty and splendour that Lambchop have made their own, though arguably never to such tender effect.
Hardly a singles band of note, Lambchop’s ambient alt. country textures are best enjoyed in much longer bursts than the 2.34 radio edit on this cut from...
A brace of new albums from Lambchop suggests the soundbyte generation is ready for something more substantial. Eamon Sweeney talks it out with Kurt Wagner.
While from the outset, it’s obvious that this lacks the consistency of tone and startling sense of poetry that imbued the previous LP, there are enough...
Behold, a video interview with KURT WAGNER, gentle leader of the baseball cap wearin', crescent-wrench-playin', songs-about-dogs-and-squirrels-writin',...
The latest instalment in Nashville floor-layer Kurt Wagner's project of fusing soul and country music is a disappointing affair that never quite lives up to...
It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It
It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It is the new album from Dublin duo The Hollows. It is a collection of ten gentle folk songs, which sees guitars, organs, piano and drums meld seamlessly with soft electronics and warm vocals. So far, the album has earned comparisons to the likes of Sparklehorse, Grandaddy and Bright Eyes, and has already racked up an 8.5/10 review from Hot Press’ John Walshe.
For this listener’s money, it’s arguably the biggest surprise of the year from an Irish perspective and the most serendipitous of finds.
Turning Of The Day
Arcanadh are six Irish singers and musicians from the length and breadth of Ireland. Their repertoire consists of songs from the traditional archives, newly-composed folk-songs from around the world and new compositions by individual members of the group. They have won the Best Celtic Group award at the Lorient International Festival and Best Traditional Newcomers at the Irish Music Awards. All their songs are sung with a rare passion and their love of music is palpable.
This mostly Donegal-based group has been together since 2002, but this is the first I’ve heard of them. I doubt it’ll be the last.
Watch You Don't Take Off
Voted Best New Irish Band in the 2006 Hot Press Reader's Poll. The debut album from the Belfast-based rockers is a rare treasure of sparkling delights; illuminated by the heaven sent voice of frontman Ciaran Gribbin. The album features the singles 'All On The Black', 'On All My Sundays' and 'In Our Hands'. Fresh from a cameo appearance on the new snow patrol album, Gribbin and the band have just completed tour dates with Kubb and Republic of Loose.
Despite being voted Most Promising Irish Band in the Hot Press readers' poll this time last year and tipped for the top by Snow Patrol too, Belfast band Leya...
Leya have been looking for the right song to fit their ambition for a while now, with the result that they’ve always sounded a bit hollow. 'In Our Hands'...
If Leya have one thing in their favour, it’s the self belief to make grandiose, epic music at a time when the emphasis has been on keeping things tight and...
Belfast rockers Leya were unable to perform at the Oxegen festival on Sunday, when singer Ciaran Gribbin was suddenly taken ill with suspected food poisoning.
Leya are blessed with bags of ambition. Sparse for the most part, ‘All On The Black’ is powered almost solely by Ciaran Gribbin’s soaring vocals and...
Belfast’s Leya are possibly just the kind of band who will benefit from all this new technology, enabling them as it does to take their music straight to...
Having supported the likes of Relish and Interpol, Belfast-based rockers Leya have now signed with prestigious Dublin label Rubyworks. Plus the usual...
You might not have heard of Leya, but Elton John, Ronan Keating and Jools Holland have. Peter Murphy meets the band who are putting Bangor on the...
Coping Mechanisms
Si Schroeder is an enigmatic musical paragon that's one of the best and most innovative things this country's produced. Coping Mechanisms sounds like classic Simon & Garfunkel mixed with an old recording of a drunken Slovenian orchestra playing backwards, with a hint of heartfelt Americana. But it works so wonderfully you'll wonder how you ever lived without him telling you his soft stories of mental illness, international terrorism, and of Ireland. Beautiful.
Coping Mechanisms is such an astonishing record. In many ways it’s very Dublin, and more specifically, very Trust Me I’m A Thief. But the...
Catch - Flame!
Released on June 9, Catch- Flame is the fantastic new live LP from the legendary Paul Weller. Fresh from winning an Outstanding Contribution to Music Award at the Brits, Weller is celebrated as one of the world's best songwriters and showmen. This album high-lights the full brilliance of the man behind 'A Town Called Malice' and 'You Do Something to Me' (both appear on Catch- Flame).
Britrock icon Paul Weller speaks about his new album 22 Dreams and why his influence on acts like Arctic Monkeys and The Enemy has proved a source of...
The erstwhile Jam and Style Council frontman was attempting another reinvention in a career that has seen him traverse the genre divides of punk, mod and soul.
For the duration of this two-hour (yes, a full 120 minutes) show, he displays the energy of someone that has just supped from the cup of eternal youth.
To follow up his summer headlining stints at Oxegen last weekend and at the V Festival next month, rock veteran Paul Weller will get back on the road this...
It’s certainly the most energised and stylistically wide-reaching of all his solo albums to date, bringing together pretty much every musical direction...
He’s been The Jam Man, The Cappuccino Kid and The Modfather. Now the proud father of a 17-year-old goth daughter, Paul Weller has taken a break from...
Like all great songwriters you could always rely on Paul Weller to come up with a good cover version – for his 10th studio album he’s gone the whole hog...
Just when we thought that we had seen Paul Weller do everything, he comes back again and surprises us all with this first single from an album of covers...
Paul Weller has a reputation as one of the most truculent men in pop, with a deep-seated dislike of the promotional process. But with the release of his...
PAUL WELLER is often accorded an elder statesman status which ill becomes him - in this listener's opinion, the Modfather never really earned his stripes.
Never a serious fan of the man who was retro before retro, my expectations weren't too high for this closer in a hat-trick of solo dates. It was a pleasant...
PAUL WELLER is often accorded an elder statesman status which ill becomes him - in this listener's opinion, the Modfather never really earned his stripes
HIS FIRST studio album since the (decidedly unsoulful) Heavy Soul, and first release since the immodestly titled greatest hits collection Modern Classics,...
Time Being
This is the eight full length album from Canadian singer/songwriter Sexsmith, following the critically acclaimed Retriever in 2004. This elegant, subtle work is a master class in melody and includes the single 'All In Good Time.' The album sees Sexsmith reunited with the legendary producer Mitchell Froom who produced the first three albums during the 90s. Recorded in Santa Monica last year, 'Time Being' is a collection of natural and effortless songwriting.
His eight album in a decade sees the Toronto-based troubadour re-united with producer Mitchell Froom (Crowded House, Costello etc), who helmed his first...
Ron Sexsmith has always had a unique take on the alt.country genre. Combining a flair for haunting Americana a la Johnny Cash (indeed Retriever is dedicated...
The power of his songwriting often plays second fiddle to his extremely inoffensive voice and the fact that he has a maddening tendency to couch stunning...
The first time I saw Ron Sexsmith live, I was immediately struck by the gentle, almost unobtrusive way in which his songs meandered into my head. I was so...
Travesia
Susana Baca belongs to a new generation of Peruvian singers, delving into the shadows of the past to recover shimmering melodies and seductive rhythms. Her seemingly effortless interpretative skills tell of the stories and the steps of music and dances once consigned to history. This album features covers of Damian Rice’s ‘Volcano’ and a duet with Gilberto Gil. For this album Susana Baca has deliberately chosen songs and musicians which are outside of the Afro-Peruvian tradition – this can be seen as her “crossover” record.
Since releasing her self-titled debut album in 1997, Susana Baca has built a formidable worldwide audience for her intense take on Afro-Peruvian traditional...
Idols Of Exile
Jason Collett – Canadian singer songwriter and part time guitarist in Broken Social Scene – releases his solo record on Broken Social Scene’s increasingly influential Arts & Crafts label. Idols of Exile could well become an alt-country classic in the months to come with its laid back feel conjuring images of Wilco and Josh Rouse at their best.
2005 was a spectacular year for the Stereophonics. Their fifth album, Language. Sex. Violence. Other? which went platinum in Ireland, heralded a fantastic return to form (and included the band's first no. 1 single, 'Dakota'). It was the result of both hard work and a re-examination of who they were as a band. The live album includes the band's biggest hits today including 'Dakota', 'Bartender And The Thief', 'Mr Writer' plus rare tracks such as 'Carrot Cake And Wine' plus brand new track 'Jayne'.
As Stereophonics release their sixth abum, frontman Kelly Jones talks about his friendship with Oasis and reveals that he’s buried the hatchet with Muse.
Having spent 10 years being beaten with a big stick marked ‘press’, Stereophonics found themselves in the rather strange position of being quite liked a...
Say what you like about the Stereophonics – and let’s face it, the Welsh superstars have taken their share of flak over the years – but 10 years since...
Depending on where you stand, this is either essential listening or something to be avoided like the plague, but if nothing else they make latter-day Oasis...
One thing you could never accuse the Stereophonics of is playing to the in-crowd. From their very first album they have adopted something of an outsider...
Right from the off, the combination of power chords, throbbing keyboards, samples and beats make Language, Sex, Violence, Other? sound like a thoroughly...
Stereophonics are lining-up an invite-only Irish show at the end of January to introduce fans to their new Language. Sex. Violence. Other? album, which is...
With their new album, Gotta Go There To Come Back, in the bag, Stereophonics have chosen a very special gig at the Heineken Green Energy extravaganza in...
Where other bands moan about the music industry or spend small fortunes bringing their stage designs to life, Stereophonics like to keep it nice and simple....
Stereophonics are rumoured to be this year's Slane headliners - and we hear Shirley Manson's mob will be appearing as well
Fake Chemical State
Bristling with incendiary punk attitude and shimmering, scalpel-sharp songs, Fake Chemical State is Skin’s second solo album and Where 2003’s Fleshwounds was bruised, blue and sparse, this one is about a glorious sense of survival. Written throughout the past year, this is a very personal, defiant record – combining soul-searching savagery with tongue-in-cheek wordplay, driving beats with fluid melodies.
