Every Friday I write a column about internet-related things for Irish Independent’s Day & Night. Every week, I pick out four great music picks from the best of the music blogosphere. Follow Day & Night on Twitter or Facebook. It’s out today in print.
Also this week, see the best of SXSW downloads.
Mirel Wagner
Ethiopian born Finland raised singer songwriter Wagner sounds like she was influenced by mean and moody singers like Nick Cave. This is stark fingerpicking night-time music for dark hearts.
Day Joy
The latest purveyors of North American pastoral folk are this Orlanda duo who make a lovely racket that recalls the best moments of Grizzly Bear, Sufjan, Fleet Foxes et al with resplendent melodies, peaking instrumentation and rolling cadences. In short, gorgeous.
I Am Oak
This Dutch band impressed at Eurosonic in January. Their slow-burning evocative music goes for ’80s sounding keyboards and rich reverbed barely-lit harmonies.
Bright Moments
Kelly Pratt has played with Beirut, Arcade Fire and St. Vincent in the past and you can certainly hear Zach Condon’s influence on his debut album Natives, which is filled with horn-laden alternative pop gems.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
