30 of the best Irish songs of 2017 (so far)
All of these songs either featured in the Irish music section, my regular updated Spotify playlist or my Irish Times Irish music column.
30.
Abovedat – ‘Better’
Low-end thriving electronic house-pop single with pitched silky vocal from Cork’s Stevie G and Ian Ring (formerly of Young Wonder).
29.
Fionn Regan – The Meeting of the Waters
For his first album in five years, Fionn Regan changed tack to an album that features meditative spacious folk music among rockier numbers. The title track stands tall.
28.
Sea Pinks – ‘Into Nowhere’
What started as a jangly indie pop side-project for Neil Brogan when he was with Girls Names has developed into a three-piece with Steven Henry and Davey Agnew and taken a more sophisticated route as heard on the lead single from new sixth album Watercourse.
27.
Autre Monde – ‘New Recruit’
Autre Monde, are a band formed from a lot of Dublin-based Popical Island-related bands featuring Paddy Hanna on vocals, Mark Chester on guitar (Ginnels), Padraig Cooney on bass (Skelocrats, Tieranniesaur) and Eoghan O’Brien on drums (No Monster Club), their new band is inspired by “an early Brian Eno, John Cale plus post-punk kind of seam,” with references to ESG, Television, Suicide, The Slits and Pere Ubu. ‘New Recruit’ is bright, charming and individual.
26.
Rusangano Family – ‘I Know You Know’
Rusangano Family followed up their Choice Music Prize winning second album Let The Dead Bury The Dead with ‘I Know You Know’, a song about acknowledging the importance of your own mental health with others.
25.
Ryan Vail & Jealous Of Birds – ‘Love Is A Crow’
Derry electronic composer Ryan Vail released a fine debut album inspired by a home piano last year. Naomi Hamilton AKA Jealous Of The Birds released an underappreciated album of alt, indie pop and folk. On ‘Love Is A Crow’, a square-waved rhythm forms the foundation for a collaboration that takes in beat poetry and Hamilton’s sweet melody lines.
24.
Bicep – ‘Aura’
Bicep announced the release of an album of all-original material in September with this Orbital-esque track that somehow manages to combine their love of classic house, techno, electro and Italo disco into a modern template.
23.
Krystal Klear – ‘Keith Haring’
Taking its name from the iconic New York graffiti artist and the ’80s New York club scene, ‘Keith Haring’ is a silky synth-funk percussive dancefloor throwback to that era on a Cold Tonic release that also pays homage to the club ‘Danceteria’ with a classic house jam. ‘Keith Haring’ is a tribute to inclusivity.
“No matter an individual’s social status, sexual orientation, colour or creed, there was always explicit enjoyment and inclusivity within the musical surrounding”.
22.
Laoise – ‘Halfway’
The rising Galway electro pop artist Laoise has cultivated her own soul R&B pop sound and ‘Halfway’ is proof.
21.
Ailbhe Reddy – ‘Disconnect’
The finest cut from singer-songwriter Reddy she was released so far. She’s on tour in the Autumn and all over the festivals.
