Here’s a rundown of new releases out today, including new albums and EPs on DSPs and physical releases in record shops this week.
Nialler9 keeps a rolling list of Irish album releases for 2025.
New Albums and Releases
New Albums
Madra Salach – It’s A Hell Of An Age EP
The buzz justifiably continues to grow for the Irish alternative-folk six-piece with the release of their debut 12″ EP record.
After adding and selling out Dublin and Belfast shows this week, the EP is out now and features previous singles ‘Blue & Gold’, an original song inspired by singer Paul Banks habit of buying scratch cards, which I said had “clear Lankum influences in the arrangements, but a bit more on the raggle taggle alternative Pogues kick,” and ‘I Was Just A Boy’ is an expansive seven minute plus tune that builds up with mandolin and drums into a swirling drone, and reflects on teenagedom.
The EP features a version of a song that is associated with the Wolfe Tones – ‘Spancil Hill’, ‘Murphy Can Never Go Home’ as popularised by Frank Harte and a song that basically convinced me of their huge potential seeing them live – the towering original song ‘The Man Who Seeks Pleasure’.
Maria Somerville – Luster Remixes EP
The Connemara musician whose Luster album drew from shoegaze, ambience and nu-gaze dreamy pop last year. This six-track remix collection draws reworks from eminent names like Seefeel, YHWh Nailgun, Colle and Irish producer Asa Nisi Masa.
Caitlin Orla Eve – Space, Weight, Colour EP
The West Cork 24-year-old artist Caitlin Orla Eve releases a debut EP all made, mixed and produced by the musician, and it brandishes some really beautiful genre-varied work drawing from ambient, electronic, soul, dream pop and singer-songwriter styles.
The six tracks here feature breakbeats, dreamy gossamer pop, intimate reverbed vocals, slightly reminiscent of last year’s James K record but more grounded and direct.
Released through her independent label, Sonorous, the Objects, Space, Weight, Colour EP is impressively singular in what it’s doing from an Irish artist perspective, Caitlin is not afraid to lead into melody, while clearly pushing these songs into a liminal soft glow space. Don’t sleep on this.
Created entirely by Caitlin in a small off-grid studio hidden in the forests of West Cork, every aspect of the EP (from writing and recording to production, mixing and mastering) was carefully sculpted to form a self-contained world defined by atmosphere, texture, and tone. Guided by her creative mantra “space, weight, colour,” every layer and detail was imbued with its own presence and purpose, a philosophy that ultimately became its title. This approach extended beyond sound, informing the EP’s visual language, with the cover artwork (created in collaboration with fine art photographer Richard Lloyd Lewis) translating the music into image.
SX2 – POWDER! EP
Clive and Scott Sullivan are the Waterford brothers SX2 who have put out a fine line in electronic tracks on labels like Disco Halal over the last couple of years. They return to the label with their latest collection of four tracks – drawing on low tension-slung dance textures, ‘Swamp Thing’-esque ’90s electro stompers, exotic Chemical Brothers-esque title track with vocals from Def Nettle and electro-guitar psych wig outs. They remind me of Boot & Tax.
“The POWDER! EP really kicks open the door to the psychedelic club sound we’ve always loved. Some of these tracks are among our earliest work, tunes we never thought we’d release. We get bored easily by club music that follows all the rules, so this EP is our most hands-on project yet. We pushed into guitars, synths, live recording, anything to give the tracks that real human feel. It’s a sign of where SX2 is heading next: live performance.”
PVA – No More Like This
London trio’s new album is more jagged and rhythmically warped than I recall their music being – featuring steel electro-pulsations, spoken word ambience, spindly indie, trip-hop 808 workouts. It’s got a woozy Smerz meets Dry Cleaning soul to it.
DJ Harrison – ElectroSoul
Richmond Virginia soul and Stone Throw multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer Devonne Harris releases an album of jazzy soulful funk music with guests including Pink Siifu, Yazmin Lacey, Fly Anakin, Angélica Garcia, Miguel-Atwood Ferguson, Kiefer, Nigel Hall and many more. I’m digging the Yaya Bey track ‘Stay Ready’.
Tessa Rose Jackson – The Lighthouse
Dutch-British singer, songwriter and composer who recently collaborated with Cork’s Caoilian Sherlock, releases a third album “a haunting yet life-affirming reflection on ancestry and belonging”, with Jackson giving upbeat Laura Marling comparisons.
Written during a secluded period in rural France, the forthcoming album sees her stepping out from behind her acclaimed decade-long moniker Someone to embrace her own name once more. Rich with ghostly folklore, spectral folk, and cinematic alt-pop textures, the record explores themes of mortality, memory, and gratitude, ultimately shining a light on life’s most fragile and beautiful details.
Christian Löffler – Until We Meet Again
The German ambient electronic contemporary composer and producer’s new album is “an exploration of fleeting encounters, lingering emotions, and the invisible threads that bind us to one another.” Features elegaic headstrong dance-leaning productions with soft pop vocals from Adna and Shallou.
Various – Naive Melodies
A Talking Heads covers album on BBE Music featuring mostly black artists of a more soul, jazz and R&B vibe and including Georgia Anne Muldrow, WITCH, Liv.e, Theophilus London, Rosie Lowe and Kenny Dope featuring Róisín Murphy.
Also released this week
- Alan Vega – Alan Vega / Collision Drive (Remastered)
- Cat Power – Redux EP
- Craven Faults – Sidings
- Gessaffelstein – Enter the Gamma Live album
- Hot Face – Automated Response
- JB Dunckel – Paranormal Music Chamber
- Pale Blue Eyes – pbe archive vol. 1
- SEAROWS – Death In The Business Of Whaling
- Various – JUNGLIST! Old Skool Ragga, D&B, Jungle 1993-95
Recent posts on New Albums:
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, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
