Windings/Land Lovers

This issue, Limerick’s Windings and Dublin’s Land Lovers release a special split-album via the good people of OOAL Records and Popical Island. The union of two of Ireland’s most innovative bands and labels has yielded some impressive results. Featuring 11 tracks, the one-off, self-titled opus showcases both outfits at their best.

Windings open with ‘Bladerubber’, a brooding slice of fuzzed-up indie rock that has a guitar sound similar to Pinkerton-era Weezer. They really step things up with the gorgeous, lonely-hearted ‘Spiral Stairs’. Sci-fi-tinged single ‘Neverwood’ and scuzzy stomper ‘Bang Bang Normal Man’ round off their first new material since 2012’s I Am Not The Crow.

Land Lovers do most of the heavy lifting, providing seven songs altogether. The tunes on offer show the quintet haven’t lost their knack for alt. pop gems. Highlights include ‘Matilda’, with an unforgettable chorus that will have you ‘woah-oh- oh-ing’ in your sleep, and ‘Close Embrace’, a shimmering, ‘50s-indebted anthem full of snare snaps and sweet calypso guitars.

Out Feb 28.