Holly Låpsley Fletcher has been working towards her debut with XL Recordings slowly and deliberately since appearing a few years ago. Now that time is here. Long Way Home, the lady’s debut, drops on March 4th. First single ‘Love Is Blind’ adds an extra pop spin to Fletcher’s emotive electronic textures. You can catch Låpsley on… Read more »
Posted on January 19th, 2016
It’s no surprise to hear Låpsley’s new music move into more of a pop sphere. It follows the now well-trodden trajectory of a label-signed artist, who releases the more indie-sounding singles early on to blog-buzz before crossing over into a larger consciousness. Except this time, that label is XL Recordings and the artist, Liverpool’s Holly… Read more »
Posted on August 20th, 2015
Shamir Bailey opens his debut album with a song about his hometown in North Las Vegas (his debut EP was called Northtown) The song is worth highlighting because in an age where geographical nuance has given way to universal lyrics, it’s nice to hear a singer write a song about what they know and Vegas… Read more »
Posted on May 21st, 2015
Shamir Bailey made such an impression with his debut EP, Northtown on Godmode this year, that XL have plucked the young Vegas singer’s new single up for release. ‘On The Regular’ is the new track, less disco than his previous EP and closer to the electro-dance sound that Azealia Banks was supposed to own for… Read more »
Posted on October 29th, 2014
I don’t know what the fuck this song is intended to be. Is it a cheap throwaway thrill? Is it the future of pop? Is it a horribly embarrassing cheesy dance track? Is it a thoughtful piece of sound art? Is it a fucking travesty? That’s been pretty much the first reaction from every song… Read more »
Posted on September 8th, 2014
Introducing your debut album with a statement that suggests discarding hip-hop legacy when comparing today’s new generation of rappers is both brazen and commendable. It’s a statement of intent from New York’s Ratking: Wiki, Hak and elder producer Sporting Life. They might be trying to escape the weight of Biggie, but they cross paths with… Read more »
Posted on April 11th, 2014
Didn’t get a chance to play this until today but it was worth the wait. NYC hip-hop collective Ratking and sulky boy wonder King Krule. Both acts are signed to XL so this was probably an easy thing to sort out. But also, Krule also moonlights as a beat producer Edgar The Beatmaker sometimes too…. Read more »
Posted on March 25th, 2014
London act Jungle impressed late last year with a few tracks of soulful electronic pop but it sounds like the group have bigger plans beyond excellent productions if their signing to XL Recordings and news is anything to go by. ‘Busy Earnin’ is their new jam, a soulful psychedelic brass track that is beckoning for… Read more »
Posted on February 20th, 2014
Jai Paul is probably the most intriguing member of the BBC Sound of 2011 poll, by virtue that no-one really knew anything about the 21 year old North Londoner and he only had one song. But what a song ‘BTSTU’ is. Originally released onto blogs last May, the squelching electro-pop song has been remastered for… Read more »
Posted on April 24th, 2011
Moodyman, Sunil Sharpe, Defekt, Dave Clarke and many more for Circles 2018 at District 8
Jazz group R+R=NOW featuring Robert Glasper set for Dublin show
Pitchfork Paris festival add Chvrches, The Voidz, DJ Koze, Stephen Malkmus and Dream Wife
Townlands Carnival adds Bantum, Orchid Collective, Stevie G, Spekulativ Fiktion, Happyalone and more to new Rising Sons stage
22 gigs and clubs to see in Cork this week
Pillow Queens, Maria Kelly, Sub Motion and ROE to perform at Girls Rock Dublin fundraiser
Massive Attack’s Mezzanine is to be coded in DNA
Punk-funk legends A Certain Ratio announce Dublin date
Kurt Vile announces Dublin show
Christine and the Queens for RDS Dublin show
