A Fitting Memento

The death last year of ex-National Prayer Breakfast drummer Paul Clancy last year from sudden cardiac death at the age of 35 was a tragic loss to the music community. Posthumous album Road To The Heart garnered warm reviews and was both a fitting tribute and fine parting gift.
So when news reached HP Towers that Paul’s former songwriting partner Kevin Connolly (aka HERM) was about to release some songs Paul was working on before his passing we couldn’t wait to hear.
Kevin and Les Keye added electric guitars, bass and backing vocals to Paul’s parts and used the arrangements on Road To The Heart as a template. The finished EP Clancy is a remarkable achievement.
The collection includes a cover Beyoncé hit ‘Halo’ as well as Clancy compositions ‘To The Even Flow’ and ‘For Wanting You’. Final track ‘The Town Where I’m From’ is a version of a song by fellow NPB-er Patrick Freyne. The mp3 is available as a free download from Soundcloud and Bandcamp, where you can also listen to the full EP and the physical CD is available from the usual outlets. Wonderful…
Cork’s Echogram have just released new single ‘Conspiracy’ in advance of debut long-player due next year. The album was recorded partly in the US, in Cypress Hill’s Temple Studio and completed on home soil in ex-Cyclefly man Ciaran O’Shea’s Sound House.
Since the release of debut single ‘Walk In The Sun’ in 2009 the band have created quite the fanbase, which includes Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington and The Cure’s Robert Smith no less! Dates in the US and extensive airplay in the UK have led to the lads inking a licensing deal with MTV and E! Networks. Watch out for domestic dates later this year…
On October 26, Sligo natives The Dead Flags bring their power pop brilliance to Whelan’s for the release of new EP You Got it Wrong.
The band, now a duo following the departure of drummer Kevin Lowery, have been busy writing and recording since the release of the acclaimed debut album Gentlemen’s Club in 2010.
Get your mitts on a copy of the new EP to sample the fruits of their labour!...
Taking a reverse tack, Dundalk’s The Ambience Affair, who have gone from a duo to a trio with the addition of Yvonne Ryan on bass, just released their debut album Burials on Bluestack Records. They will celebrate this momentous occasion in style with the help of Katie Kim and Jennifer Evans in The Workman’s Club on October 28.
With two lauded EPs under their belt as well as support slots to Field Music, Bell X1, Villagers, Peter Broderick, Jape, Lisa Hannigan and others, the band’s star is firmly in the ascent. And their song ‘Parting Patterns’ was recently placed in an episode of CSI: NY. Tres impressive!...
Some news from the Little Xs For Eyes camp next… .with their last release, the beguiling EP S.A.D., the troupe set out their harmony-drenched folk stall to which they now add an infectious pop extension with debut self-titled longplayer. Check out lead single ‘In The Light’ available now as free download and pop down to the album launch in The Sugar Club on October 26…
The latest missive from Rory Faithfield informs us that the loveable rogue is currently wowing the residents of Western Australia on a tour that will continue until the end of November. Rory is also working on new songs for his next album and promises some Irish tour dates are on the agenda for early next year. Will keep you posted...