A lot of Irish music comes Nialler9’s way and there’s little time to feature everything we think is worthy of a thumbs up or more ears. Every week, we collate the songs that pass our writers that deserve to be heard by you. For more extensive Irish coverage, follow our Spotify playlist or hit up the Irish section.
1.
Shannakíe
Wading Water
A glorious instrumental here from Shannakíe, one half of Wicklow based group Gumshoe. ‘Wading Water’ is airy and light, incorporating aspects of vaporwave, ambient and Dilla-esque soundscapes to pull the listener into an emotional journey. Love the drum parts on this one. A swung hi-hat groove gives the otherwise lucid track a jolt of energy and direction. Music for daydreamers.
2.
PeachFace
Killing Kind Of Love
The second single from Dublin synth-pop trio PeachFace comes in the form of ‘Killing Kind Of Love’. The track is flush with all the hallmarks of 80s synth music. Plucky arp sounds, crushy chords and a rocking rhythm guitar line are the name of the game here. The track will be released officially through Road Movie Records on the 22nd. The band launch the single tomorrow night in the Workmans, event details here.
3.
Planting
Fortunes
Derry producer Planting featured on this list way back in November with his debut single ‘We Woke To Snow‘. ‘Fortunes’ is the follow up to that single. It takes its basis from the same ambient makeup the producer’s debut did. This time around the music feels more focused, more direct. There’s an intent in the half time drum patterns not common to ambient music. The video, depicting a jogger, is a fitting visual guide to how this track should be interpreted.
4.
Kevin Blake
Air As It Was
Now for an audiovisual experience. Cork’s Electric Underground founder Kevin Blake’s ‘Air As It Was’ is an evolving piece of modern electronica. It’s best consumed with the stunning visuals provided in the video alongside it. The track lands somewhere in the world of contemporary classical, but it’s heavier than that genre would suggest. Watch in 4k.
5.
Benjamyn
Layback
Signed to independent label Blue Tide, Benjamyn’s ‘Layback’ is a breezy summer house track. The track is taken from his TwentyThree EP. It’s downtempo, house inspired music full of clean guitar leads and warm bass rolls. Ideal for the longer days.
6.
Paul Gilgunn
Here We Are Now
Gilgunn’s Here We Are Now is a bit of an oddity. A work composed in eight parts, it’s a blend of rock, improvised and minimalist schools of thought. You probably won’t hear anything else like this today. There is obvious musicianship and detail in the parts themselves, revolving around droning guitars and syncopated drums. The production is a little muddy at parts, especially when the full band are blasting away. Though the end result is still a novel project born from an interesting concept.
7.
Eve Belle ft.Isaiah Dreads
CutThroat
Donegal pop artist Eve Belle comes through with her anthemic new single ‘CutThroat’ featuring Brtish MC Isaiah Dreads. Detailing the nuances of an idiosyncratic relationship, the track has all the hallmarks of a radio-friendly pop track, down to the earworm chorus. The Donegal artist isn’t reinventing the wheel, but she’s nailing the sound she’s reaching for.
