Best of 2023 | Best albums | Best songs | Irish albums | Best Of Podcasts | Guest lists |
Richie Egan aka Jape is one of our favourite artists at Nialler9. The Malmö-based Irish songwriter released his sixth studio album Endless Threads, a return to his melodic songwriting modus operandi.
Here are his top 10 tunes of the year.
Hilary Woods
Where the Bough has Broken
The new record from Hilary is a stunner, it sounds like frost on a crisp Autumn morning. When I listen to this track it instantly transports me to a different shore of consciousness.
David Kitt
All Folly
It is inspiring the way David keeps making music, New Jackson, his own stuff and other projects he’s always moving. I love his new album, Idiot Check and I especially love this tune, ‘All Folly’ because it sounds tentative and sounds like someone not afraid to keep trying new things and new ways to sing. It’s a moving tune.
Stefan Murphy
Skateboard
Speaking of someone finding new ways to sing I played with Stefan a while ago and there was a new found gentleness in some of his songs and singing which I thought suited him greatly. This song, ‘Skateboard’ from his new album Hospital Verses has a cool Johnathan Richman vibe and is a funny ode to never having been on a Skateboard.
Maija Sofia
Four Winters
Feels like there’s such a great confidence in the new album from Maija Sofia, I love the baroque instrumentation and the interesting way the rhythmic elements fit around her words, it has this medieval vibe which is well Merlin. Her words are really interesting too, I love when lyrics make the music fit around them like this, great stuff.
The Scratch
Cheeky Bastard
Ah man I was driving to a gig a while ago and Andy from Vans On The Run played this tune and I just couldn’t stop smiling listening to it – just so much joy, so many great one liners and musicianship / songwriting – I love it. Great production from James Vincent McMorrow and James Eager. Brilliant work all round folks.
Vanishing Arcs
There is Nothing Wrong with You
So far this Dublin electronic music act hasn’t released any tunes officially but they’ve been putting up some serious jams on their instagram page ( give them a follow) and this tune is one of them… they are finding their sound, and seem to sway between more emotional tunes and full on bangers – they’ve got a really serious live show on the go which as a gear nerd I’m fascinated by and I hope I get to see them live very soon.
Search Results
Enter the Blip
I got put onto Search Results a while ago and I think they are a very exciting band altogether, They have this kind of Minutemen thing going on and sound like a band that rehearse a lot – we’re talking at least twice a week here. I bought all their stuff on Bandcamp after I heard them and I suggest you do the same. It’s all great – Enter the Blip 🙂
Rory Sweeney / Pippa Molony – Spring Came
Goodbye Evergreen
I recently discovered Rory’s productions and I like the way he has many different looks to his tunes, this short tune with Pippa Molony really grabbed me I think it’s very beautiful.
Citrus Fresh
Wrastlin’ (feat Curtisy and Rory Sweeney )
This Citrus Fresh album really got me good, so great to hear someone who uses words this well. The Curtisy verse is SO good, there are so many great and funny references – you can hear the next generation grabbing the steering wheel on this one and it’s a beautiful thing.
Sorcha Richardson
Map of Manhattan
I just love Sorcha’s classy and intelligent pop music, she always makes her songwriting feel effortless which as a songwriter I know is hard to do. Map of Manhattan is a beautiful sample of her work with a great melody and beat that just has a ‘mood’. You’ll crane your neck and open your ears and it will call you in and give you a warm place to hang for 3 minutes and 39 seconds.
See all Guestlist of 2023 choices
Best of 2023 | Best albums | Best songs | Irish albums | Best Of Podcasts | Guest lists |
