A&R Department: SOAK, Moncrieff, Thumper, Naked Lungs and more

SOAK storms back this month with ‘last july’, the first taster from Bridie Monds-Watson’s third album, If I Never Know You Like This Again, which Rough Trade are releasing on May 20.

Mainly co-written in Donegal with Tommy McLaughlin while “obsessively listening to indie bands like Broken Social Scene and Pavement and Radiohead’s The Bends”, it’s the downright rockiest thing the Derry singer has come up with yet.

Following lots of rave reviews – many of them from us – Tramore singer-songwriter Moncrieff has signed to new German independent, Energie Musik.

Weaned on a healthy diet of Otis Redding, Etta James and Ray Charles, the Artist Also Known As Chris Breheny moved a few years ago to London where he ended up singing backing vocals for Adele.

Lauded by Elton John and Avicii who he was scheduled to work with shortly after the superstar producer’s tragic death, he’s just released his first love song, ‘Warm’, which trails an as-yet-untitled March EP.

With previous track ‘Serial Killer’ being streamed twelve million times on Spotify, commercial lift-off can’t be too far away.

The same can be said of Fontaines D.C. and The Murder Capital’s mates Thumper who finally get to release their debut Delusions Of Grandeur album on March 18 through new London label, Eva Magical Music Sounds.

This month sees Oisín Leahy Furlong & Co. sprinting round France, Holland, Belgium, Germany and Austria where they’ve already gained traction.

Hot Press got a live earful of them last year when the Dublin sextet teamed up with Damien Dempsey for a socially distanced Paddy’s Weekend knees-up at Slane Distillery. Watch it on our YouTube channel.

New single ‘Overbite’, part of a grandiose three-song suite, suggests we’re in for a riff-riddled treat.

Fellow Dublin noiseniks Naked Lungs – think IDLES brawling with Sleaford Mods – launch into 2022 with the release of ‘Database’, a frantic sub-three minute romp produced by Gilla Band’s Daniel Fox.

Described by the quartet as “kind of like fitting a pint into a shot glass – no frills, no bullshit”, it’s accompanied by a similarly uncompromising video directed by and starring bassist Ryan Mortell who’s quite the mult-tasker.

Following recent Enola Gay, Bullet Girl and The Love Buzz supports, they headline the Dublin Workman’s Club on March 26, which could be the first and last time you see them in such intimate surroundings…

Those of the prog metal persuasion will love ‘White Ural’, the atmospheric new single from Restive Nation who justifiably compare themselves to the likes of Gojira, Enslaved and Mastodon.

While unlikely to be played by Marty Whelan on Lyric FM, it explains why the Dubliners have amassed a sizeable cult following and will hopefully propel them onto the European summer festival circuit.

It’s taken from their self-titled debut album, which is out this week on Bandcamp.

Meanwhile, fans of indie guitar jangle are going to love, love, love Junk Drawer and their ‘Tears In Costa’ single, which trails March 11’s The Dust Has Come To Say album.

Part of Belfast’s tightknit band scene, they’re fronted by the charismatic Steve Lennox who rocks a mean vivid pink suit; have a penchant for Willie Nelson’s ‘Crazy’, which features at the end of the equally fab video for it; and have a staunch ally in Just Mustard and NewDad producer Chris Ryan.

The Dublin drill scene cranks up a gear with the release of ‘Logic Flies’, the latest bassbin rattling collaboration between Elzzz and fellow rapper TraviS who also does a spot of modelling on the side.

The latter is part of the 999 Eiré/Gliders crew who are looking to make things seriously happen in 2022.

Liam Gallagher described Lucy Gaffney’s voice as “celestial” and new EP, Easy Come Easy Go, does nothing to dispel the notion.

The Belfast songstress is mining similar territory to Pillow Queens, Soccer Mom and Phoebe Bridgers, but does so with a brooding intensity of her own.

Already gracing Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlists on both sides of the Irish Sea, this is different level stuff from Gaffney who’s worked in the past with Coral man James Skelly.

Tebi Rex’s Matt Ó guests on ‘Best Wishes’, a sophisticated slice of urban pop from Dublin three-piece Find-Joy.

It’s already been blasted out by 98FM’s John Barker and Claire Regan, the Virgin News reporter who also presents LMFM’s excellent Sunday night 7.30pm-9pm Irish language indiefest, Clár Smidiríní. Hit her up with new tunes at [email protected]

Meanwhile, Spin 1038 are among those supporting ‘i unfollowed u’, the sassy new single from Lisa Murray who is also a staff engineer with Sony UK who were obviously impressed with her Berklee College of Music Masters degree.

It’s not surprisingly an impeccably constructed break-up song with Lily Allen levels of sass and a hook that once heard will never be forgotten.

Somewhat lost in the Christmas rush was Freedom, the pulsating new EP from Irish-Ghanaian dance maven AIS.

Blessed with the purest of soul voices – one of the older Team Hot Press members just shouted across “Chaka Khan!” – the University of Maynooth graduate turned Whelan’s into Studio 54 for the video which accompanies standout track, ‘Glitter Gold’.

Read the full A&R Department in the current issue of Hot Press: