Every week, the Nialler9 Spotify Weekly Playlist is updated with new music, and in this corner, we share the playlist and highlight some some select songs from the list below.
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1.
Villagers
Circles In The Firing Line
Conor O’Brien’s fifth album as Villagers – Fever Dreams – is as sumptuous and well-realised collection of songs as anything in his discography. Inspired by the number seven and “lockdown madness” included.
There are many highlights throughout – I could have plucked for ‘Momentarily’, ‘The First Day’, ‘Full Faith In Providence’, ‘So Simpatico’, but ‘Circles In The Firing Line’ is a song that encapsulates the higher base of sophistication and confidence that O’Brien has in his songwriting and arrangements, and greater vision these days. An example of which is at five minutes, when that crisp bluesy guitar solo comes in before giving way to a garage riff on the line “they’re fucking up my favourite dream.”
“Because they’re fucking up my favourite dream and it’s enough to make me wanna scream
But instead I keep my head down for you
As we whisper in the gravy train which only ever goes one way
A united state of demagogic logic awaits”
2.
John Francis Flynn
Bring Me Home pt.ii – I Would Not Live Always
After 17 months of no gigs, the Live Performances Support Scheme gigs taking place suddenly presented me with two opportunities to see John Francis Flynn live in two days – at Meadows in IMMA and Another Love Story’s Love Is A Stranger in Meath.
With the Stoneybatter trad artist’s debut album I Would Not Live Always out a matter of weeks on Rough Trade imprint River Lea (the label saw him support Lankum on tour), it was a wonderful way to get acquainted to his take on traditional music, with a unique double flute employed.
‘Bring Me Home pt.ii – I Would Not Live Always’ is the middle section of a tripych of tunes towards the end of the album, with Flynn’s deep sonorous baritone and a galloping guitar met with Ross Channey’s Tascam tape loops which take this track into early Animal Collective territory. It’s really magnificent, as is the album overall.
In 2012, I wrote an article that was taken offensive by trad purists at the time about the reinvigoration of trad. Some in the trad community took issue with the idea that it needed to be “reinvigorated”, which was focusing too much on the headline and ignoring the movements of people who were doing fresh things with the genre.
If anything, trad has expanded in the 9 years since to include artists like Flynn, Lankum, The Mary Wallopers and artists like them who are certainly bringing in new perspectives and ways to do things, and long may it continue.
3.
Shire T
Burnin’ Jungle
Chris Davids, is one half Maribou State and his debut album as Tomorrow’s People is filled with music of a similar melodic persuasion to his other band, but squarely dancefloor-orientated.
Like ‘Burnin’ Jungle’ a French Touch-esque house track with psychedelic sounds throughout. A tune for Summer Of Love this weekend I’d say.
4.
Bruise
Joy
The London dance duo of Bruise bring euphoric house strains to the feet with this moving seven-minute track. I bought it on Bandcamp.
5.
Turnstile
Mystery
Baltimore hardcore band Turnstile are about to release their newest album Glow On and they have been doing exciting things with their music and videos, and the buzz has been growing about them.
‘Turnstile Love Collection’ is a short film featuring four of the band’s songs with distinct immersive visuals setting them apart. Brendan Yates sounds like the strains of Perry Farrell and the band have some of that glossy metallic guitar. Blood Orange features on two tracks on the 15-track album, out on Friday.
Stereogum’s piece on the album is worthy background information.
6.
Baltra
Dreaming Of A Disco
I mean, it does exactly what the title suggests. A Disco strings and lo-fi house meeting of minds. Bandcamp.
7.
Amber Mark
Foreign Things
NYC singer and producer Amber Mark’s third single from her forthcoming debut album is a summery bubbly R&B song about “the thrill of newness.”
8.
Self Esteem
How Can I Help
Self Esteem’s forthcoming album is highly anticipated as I wrote in a deeper piece this week.
9.
Orla Gartland
Things That I’ve Learned
A new highlight from Orla Gartland’s long-awaited debut album Woman On The Internet, released last week, a taut advice column from the artist to kick off the LP.
Check out my other favourite new tracks in the playlist below:
Nialler9 Weekly Playlist:
