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.
Crome Yellow
Poison
Waterford four piece Crome Yellow’s See Why is our Irish release of the week. The album took us by surprise, having had little exposure to the group’s charming slacker pop vibe beforehand. Once you hear a track like ‘Poison’ you’re there, completely sold on the band. There’s a palpable sense of momentum and drive on this one, carried in the clean guitar chords and stuttered drum fills. It’s a mellowed out lovers jam, do yourself a favour and give it a listen.
2.
AGE
Trust
Irish/Oz indie electronica duo AGE are preempting the arrival of summer with the sunny ‘Trust’. This has all the hallmarks of superb synth-based indie music. The vocals are touched with reverb, clear and cool above a woozy chord sound. Warm programmed drums are bolstered by percussion sounds, lifting the track into a bop. Based in London, keep an eye and ear out for any Irish dates the duo might have planned.
3.
Soak
Deja Vu
Derry native Soak is spoiling fans with new material in the run-up to her new LP Grim Town. ‘Deja Vu’ is the fourth single released from the album due out in April. This is probably the most ‘poppy’ of all the tracks we’ve heard so far. The core of Soak’s singer-songwriter roots is still there, the ghost of which features in the guitar accompaniment. Everything else in the mix has been filled out with top-shelf pop production aesthetics. Another interesting snippet from an album we’re excited to hear.
4.
Meghan Murray
Space
‘Space’ is the debut track from Cork based pop artist Meghan Murray. There’s a lot of classic R&B and funk noticeable in the track’s genetic makeup. The wah-wah rhythm guitar is probably the most overt tip of the hat to the latter. There’s a ton of interesting arrangement choices throughout the track, including some surprising string sounds. These disparate elements are pulled together beneath the artist’s vocal, which is focused and expressive. The track is taken from Murrays debut EP Out Of Mind, due out in May of this year.
5.
WOB!
Syncopate
Serbian/Irish drummer WOB has come through with some UK Garagexquisited material on new track Syncopate. Kudos for the exquisite attention to detail paid to the sound design on this one, each synth layer occupies its own individual space on the track. The video features some pretty striking visuals too.
6.
The Claque
Hush
Industrial noise rock from new Irish group The Claque. ‘Hush’ features performances from previous members of Girl Band as well as production from other members. While there are some sonic similarities there, especially in the treatment of the guitar sounds, ‘Hush’ feels a little more focused, perhaps rigid, in its songwriting and direction. An excellent listen.
7.
Blondmodel
Plum Glum
Bedroom electronica from Blondmodel’s debut EP Plum Glum. The song details the mixed relief and depression of a band relationship ending, sung with tongue firmly in cheek. There’s some strong melodic content on this one, brought to the fore by analogue synth leads and chords overladen with vibrato. It’s distinctly lo-fi, but I think that’s a large part of ‘Plum Glum’s’ charm.
