Hit the North: Strike while the iron's hot

Stevie Scullion, of Malojian, has been a vocal champion of the NornIronGirl1981 Twitter account, a daily posting of diary entries from the year of the Hunger Strikes that views the calamitous events of the time from the perspective of a pre-teen Madness fan. The diary blends shopping list banality (hairdressing disasters, highlights from that week’s Top Of The Pops) with a heartbreaking, matter-of-fact, detailing of the daily news.

And so comes ‘Communion Girls’, a teaser from Malojian’s next record. The song finds our young hero repel a terrorist gun attack on mass-goers with a spot of nifty kung-fu – saving the congregation, getting the girl.

It’s not hard to see the NornIronGirl influence at work. A youthfully heightened scenario, yip – but one that, in the bones, rings entirely true. It’s no surprise to discover that it’s based on a recurring fantasy Stevie had back in the bad old days.

Spooky, glass-eyed and performed with slow dread, it’s brilliant. And also surprising, because the North's recent past has been a noticeable absence in the work of the vast majority of local musicians. The world will one day wake up to this guy and weep with regret that it’s taken so long. Given how Scullion has spent the last 18 months establishing his solo credentials, it’s doubtful that he’s in the market for a kindred spirit. If, by chance, he does have his eye out for a fellow traveller, then Mark ‘Arborist’ McCambridge ticks all the boxes. Like Scullion, he has turned out for other teams in the past and while at home with a guitar and a stool, ambition and restlessness inevitably twist his songs into remarkable shapes. ‘Incalculable Things’ and ‘Hundreds Of Ways’ turned out to be two of last year’s best singles. Snippets from the soon-to- be-released debut suggest they’re a fair representation of the level Arborist plans to operate at.

Have no doubt – Scullion and McCambridge are already two of the best songwriters on the island. Artists of maturity, vision and potentially massive appeal, 2014 promises to be a big year for both.

Go Wolf are that rare, rare beast: a NI band with a groove. Everything they’ve done so far feels like the coy intro to a long-term relationship. Kitsuné have been keeping their corner of late, but lazy initial comparisons to Two Door Cinema Club won’t survive past Go Wolf ’s first big release. Seriously, book that table: they’re keepers. Ryan Vail is part of the Champion Sounds Records roster. He’s worked hard for the last two years building a fanbase and reputation off the back of some brilliantly moody and well-judged electro.

Southern (the band/surname of brother and sister, Thom and Lucy) ended the year with the release of their self-titled debut EP on Marathon. Of course, you flirt with the blues at your peril. Southern have a fresh-faced enthusiasm, and clear love of a tune which will hopefully lead them down the right path at the crossroads.

And Joshua Burnside is worth watching too. Independent of spirit, smart of approach – he’s already a dab-hand on the self-releasing front. His reputation precedes him. At least it should.