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
HAIM – I quit
The fourth album from the Haim sisters, is a breakup album produced by Rostam and featuring Justin Vernon, interpolation of George Michael’s ‘Freedom 90’ on opener ‘Gone’ and a collection of mostly pop-rock bangers and songs about relationships with nods to ’90s indie, pop, country and a sample of U2’s ‘Numb’ forms the basis of ‘Now It’s Time’, which also turns into a Rostam Vampire Weekend song and then ‘Stone Roses’ ‘Fool’s Gold’ at the end.
“Every single song has a theme of quitting something that isn’t working for us anymore.”
Young Fathers – 28 Years Later (Original Soundtrack)
The Scottish alternative trio have made the entire soundtrack to the new Danny Boyle film written by Alex Garland, a sequel to 28 Days Later / 28 Days.
The film stars Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
Loyle Carner – hopefully!
hopefully ! is said to be: “a life-affirming exploration of fatherhood, childhood and alternative music, the album is buoyed by a positivity and lightness of touch achieved in large part by stepping out of your comfort zone.
In a series of firsts – singing, producing, accidentally forming the band of his dreams – Loyle Carner cultivates healthier boundaries, whilst also allowing his audience in (the album’s artwork features his muse of a son, who can also be heard throughout the record).”
Carner has a 3Arena show later in the year.
U.S. Girls – Scratch It
Toronto-based producer, film composer, and author Meg Remy’s 10th album.
In just ten days, Remy and the Nashville-based band Dillon Watson (D. Watusi, Savoy Motel, Jack Name) on guitar, Jack Lawrence (The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs, Loretta Lynn) on bass, Domo Donoho on drums, both Jo Schornikow and Tina Norwood on keys, as well as harmonica legend Charlie McCoy recorded Scratch It live off the floor with minimal overdubs, mixed to tape.
Scratch It weaves together country, gospel, garage rock, soul, disco, folk balladry, and more.
U.S. Girls play Grand Social Dublin on October 27th.
Physique – Bright Lights, L’il City
Miúin is a label of Glasgow/Kilkenny origin putting out music of a project called Physique, made up of a Chicago artist Sam Scranton and Neil Quigley (also of Glasgow/Kilkenny).
Opening track ‘Wander-Baum’ is a spectral searching mix of lap steel pedal guitar, electronics and field recordings in a conversational and improvisational style.
The album is on independent streaming platform Nina now, ahead of official release on July 4th.
Yaya Bey – do it afraid
Queens singer-songwriter reclaims her story with resolutely fun, full-hearted, songs that pull from R&B, hip-hop, jazz, soul, and dance music, including the soca stylings of her family’s Bajan roots. Released on indie label drink sum wtr, which released the Annahstasia album last week.
Deathtoricky – spring cleaning
deathtoricky is an Irish artist at the vanguard of a new younger movement of alt cloud-rappers coming up, squeezing through the Tik-Tok virality queue.
This seven-track collection follows recent smash ‘Motive’, and features some ear-catching sonic movements and melodies.
Florence Road – Fall Back EP
Five-track EP from the Wicklow band who blew up on Tik Tok and are now signed to Warner Music UK., and judging by their live show last night in Dublin have a fine future ahead of them, with a glut of melodic earworm pop-rock singalongs and a magnetic singer.
They support Olivia Rodrigo in London and Dublin.
Florence Road are Lily Aron (Vocals), Emma Brandon (Guitar), Ailbhe Barry (Bass) and Hannah Kelly (Drums), and they formed after spending most of their teens in Aron’s garden shed, with influences drawn from The Cranberries, Fleetwood Mac, Wolf Alice and Phoebe Bridgers.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – CURSE EP
Taking inspiration from Italian horror films of the 1970s and 1980s, the six songs on the release are as cathartic a listen as the band has ever recorded. Featuring both abrasive, Black Sabbath inspired riffs on “BOYS WITH THE CHARACTERISTICS OF WOLVES” as well as the laid back, intricate guitar playing UMO is maybe most famous for on “DEATH COMES FROM THE SKY”, the CURSE EP is the perfect soundtrack to your next confrontation with the void.
Everything Is Recorded – Solstice Equinox
Richard Russell’s collaborative project releases a new album only months after the last one – Richard Russell Is Temporary. This one comprises forty pieces recorded in four days between 2023 and 2024 at The Copper House, Russell’s West London studio.
Each session took place on a solstice or equinox — the Summer and Winter Solstices, and the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes. Across these four days, a revolving cast of musicians, peers, and longtime collaborators gathered for fully improvised sessions. Words about the seasons were written on the studio walls; otherwise Russell gave the players no instructions. After the sessions, he edited and mixed the recordings into the four distinct selections of ten tracks each that collectively form Solstice Equinox. The lineup blends longtime collaborators with fresh voices, including Alabaster DePlume, Jah Wobble, Ibeyi, Samantha Morton, Laura Groves, Jack Peñate, Roses Gabor, Mary In The Junkyard, Georgia,, Sampha, Florence Welch, Yazz Ahmed, CASISDEAD and more. Each session was uploaded to Bandcamp and SoundCloud as soon as it was completed.
SOPHIE – PRODUCT
An expanded 10th anniversary edition of SOPHIE’s debut album PRODUCT The compilation of early singles is augmented with thre tracks including the Japan CD-only ‘Get Higher’, B-side ‘Unisil’, and 2013 soundcloud drop ‘Ooh’.
Post Punk Podge & The Technohippies – TECHNOHIPPIES!ACTIVATE! EP
Post Punk Podge & The Technohippies release a four-track EP that starts with an uncharacteristic trad air tune that’s a real nice surprise, before we get more fervent and energetic tracks that might be among the best PPP has released – the barrelling spirit-sniffing punk spike of ‘Johnny Turpentine’, the acid-tinged breaks of ‘Reheated Brave’ and the reflective guitar tones of ‘One For Kim’.
Also released today
- Bambi – Infinity Club 2
- Facta – Gulp
- Hotline TNT – Raspberry Moon
- Isaiah Hull – Pocomania
- Matmos – Metallic Life Review
- Mount Kimbie – The Sunset Violent (Live in Heidelberg)
- The Sick Man of Europe – The Sick Man of Europe
- Tropical Fuck Storm – Fairyland Codex
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.
