The 50 best Irish songs of 2019

https://soundcloud.com/darkdelight/davy-kehoe-the-pilot-part-1https://soundcloud.com/user-484852874/headroom

2019 Best of | Best international albums | Best Songs | Best Irish albums | Best Irish songs | Guest selections

One song from each artist (bar features) make up our top 50 Irish songs of 2019 this year with a 100-strong playlist on the last page.

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50.

Davy Kehoe

The Pilot Part One

Nine minutes of expansive Suicide-esque kraut noise, ‘The Pilot’ is thrill-ride for its entire duration with nods to industrial, and minimal electro with a suspended rolling rhythm that creates its own angles, a void for the music and Kehoe’s howls to exist. Underneath, a buzzed bassline and reverbed harmonica adds some mangled rock’n’roll country twang to proceedings. Apparently inspired by a trip to New Orleans, ‘The Pilot Part One’ is among the most expansive and brilliant pieces of music released from this country this year.

49.

ELLLL

Febreeze

‘Febreeze’ is a sparkling slab of intricate bliss. ELLL’s attention to detail results in an ever-changing, dynamic seven minutes of ethereal, wordless storytelling that stands out as one of the Berlin-based Cork producer’s strongest tracks to date.

48.

Elaine Howley

Song for Mary Black

Cork musician known for her work with Altered Hours, Crevice and Morning Veils goes solo on a beautiful enveloping song built on an emotional ambient loop from the recent Wacker That compilation.

47.

Tebi Rex

Lotus Eaters

The best track from the Maynooth duo’s debut album The Young Will Eat The Old. A moody, down-tempo lo-fi hip-hop cut complete with the sound of rain and an earworm hook.

46.

7th Obi

Alone

An atmospheric production from under-rated beatmaker LHK powers 7th Obi’s most infectious and polished cut to date. A promising pair to watch out for in 2020.

45.

April

Would You Let Me In?

Lush and soulful, April’s ‘Would You Let Me In?’ takes the hallmarks of bedroom pop towards a realised, polished direction. Fans of Frank Ocean will love this sparsely arranged downtempo modern pop song.

44.

Shookrah

Why Can’t You Stay?

A chilled neo-soul R&B standout from the Cork band’s self-titled debut record dripping in comfort and desire.

43.

Soulé

Love Tonight (feat. C Cane)

‘Love Tonight’ was unavoidable this summer thanks to its primetime Love Island placement and it is well deserved. Deliciously polished and infectious, this is the sound of a future major pop star.

42.

Skinner

Headroom

22 year-old musician and producer’s ‘Headroom’ is a semi-autobiographical account about excuses and avoidance set to tuned-down grungy guitar lines and thrashing drums.

DOI: Site owner Niall has started managing Skinner since this tune came out.

41.

Powpig

Mayday

Scrappy and lo-fi, ‘Mayday’ is a taster of everything that makes Powpig so exciting. It’s fun, witty and channels 90s riotgrrl into a loose and laidback package made for listening to whilst jumping around your bedroom.