Here’s a rundown of new albums and releases, 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
For Those I Love – Carving The Stone
The second album from David Balfe follows up an intensely personal debut album about the passing of a best friend and the grief that engulfs in the aftermath, with a record that turns its attention to wider issues and the effects they have on working-class Irish man – technofeudalism, capitalism, the rise of the far-right, the ravaging of Dublin city’s soul and pushing through it all in search of a place to belong.
The productions are sharp, spectral and shaking with club-ready synths, piano, basslines and crashing drums, with a greater dynamic range in the songs and Balfe’s spoken rallying words.
Balfe is a rare songwriter, whose meaning and intent is keenly felt – you can feel the anguish, frustration and hope amongst the desire for something to hold onto throughout Carving The Stone. In doing so, Balfe wisely sidesteps the heavy expectation and themes of his debut, and establishes himself as a keen observer and commentator on modern Dublin dwelling.
Ethel Cain – Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You
Experimental singer-songwriter follows up the recent album Perverts from earlier this year with a prequel album to 2022’s Preacher’s Daughter that puts traditional songwriting in an experimental frame with slowcore and shoegaze sounds, with songs that speak to the Southern Gothic upbringing and tr
Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You is the prequel album of a trilogy of records about three generations of American women, with the songwriter’s characher placed inside a teenage love triangle between the titular character, and death.
Osees – Abomination Revealed At Last
“Too easily humans forget their humanity. Forgiveness is a dead science. Empathy is viewed as a weakness by cretins. Easier to hate rather than love. Fear and greed have dug their bloody hands into everything. At least now we know who you are. We see you. We defy you. People are under duress. Recognize this abomination. Oppose the oppressor. FUCK the fascists and their enablers. Fuck the war mongers Good luck out there.”
Gordi – Like Plasticine
Australian indie-pop singer, songwriter and producer Sophie Payten’s third album chronicles a transformative few years in her personal life which included coming out and working as a doctor on the frontline during the pandemic.
“Being surrounded by death made me think about how beautiful life is…. I thought about all the ways we are like plasticine in life – how forces we can’t control, contort us into shapes, stretch us thin, and test our resilience. But sometimes, heart-wrenching change can be a thing of beauty.”
Gordi plays Sounds From A Safe Harbour with SOAK on September 14th in Cork.
MECHATOK – Wide Awake
Munich-born producer, songwriter Emir Timur Tokdemir aka Mechatok is a maker of contemporary experimental electronic pop and rap music who has worked with Drain Gang (Bladee, Ecco2k, Whitearmor, Thaiboy Digital), Lorenzo Senni, and Charli XCX over the years.
Guests include Bladee, Ecco2k, Isabella Lovestory and Tohji on the album released on Young Recordings which brandishes bright and simmering electronic pop styles. For fans of 2hollis and hyperpop.
mischa and the bear – Even Unto The Next World
The Dublin duo of Mischa (Danny Rooney) and vocalist Bear (Fírinne McIntyre) who premiered their Crystal Castles-esque electro synth hyperpop debut single here, release a confident and exuberant five-track debut EP.
It also features single ‘Get Away‘ and they say “each song digs into a different facet of emotional collapse from toxic friendship dynamics to the shadow of parasocial relationships”.
Also released this week
- Amaarae – BLACK STAR
- Bryson Tiller – THE VICES
- DJ Premier & Roc Marciano: The Coldest Profession
- Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer
- No Joy – Bugland
- The Black Keys – No Rain, No Flowers
- Westside Cowboy – This Better Be Something Great EP
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.
