Best of 2024 | Albums | Songs | Irish albums | Irish songs | Best Of Podcasts | Guest lists |
Rory Sweeney is a Dublin producer, DJ and sound artist who is one-third of the Irish/US Experimental rave collective Bitten Twice, and who has collaborated with Curtisy, Pippa Molony, EMBY, Ahmed, With Love; Julia Louise Knifefist, XXXX In Stereo, E The Artist, Svhyms and many more.
This year, he dropped the Carlos Danger Presents Irish Hash Mafia mixtape which was one of my Irish albums of the year.
See Rory’s list from 2023.
See all of the guestlist choices.
Ana Palindrome – Sorry A Million
The best song to drop this year in my opinion. Lyrics, Vocals, Production, Instrumentation, structure – all perfect. Their set at All Together Now was the best set I saw in 2024, very excited to hear more material from them, currently my fav band in Ireland.
Broadcast – Greater Than Joy
The 35 track broadcast record of unreleased demos was pretty easily album of the year for me. It absolutely floored me, some of the best songwriting I’ve ever heard in my life. I struggled to pick one but this one is an early highlight. RIP the greatest Trish Keenan.
The fact that a 35 track long unmixed demo record was album of the year for me really speaks to how extraordinary the songwriting was on this.
Julia Louise Knifefist – Black Magic
Julia Louise Knifefist builds on his golden discography with another piece of mind-bending punky futurism. He’s someone who habitually reinvents the wheel while also destroying it.
This one I have to pick because of the damage I’ve seen it do this year. Bitten Twice forever.
El Cousteau feat. Earl Sweatshirt – Words2LiveBy
Arguably the most iconic hip hop chune of the last few years for me. El Cousteau continues to impress after his incredible feature on the MIKE album earlier this year.
Earl blesses us with maybe the best verse of his career. The smoothest rap verse you’ll hear this year and its not even in time or on beat.
Skee Mask – Mezk
Another incredible Skee Mask song on Obligated records this year, following up the incredible ‘One By One’ at the end of last year. Warpy Dubstep freakery I can’t get enough of. I have to say Skee Mask never fails to astound me. He has one of the best discographies of any artist alive right now. A pioneer no doubt.
The whole compilation is incredible, ’44 bongo’ is my fav DJ tool I’ve ever heard, has been a constant in most of the DJ sets I’ve played this year.
Sir Hiss, Manga Saint Hilare – Don’t Mix Me
Epic cinematic drill from one of the best grime producers to do it and the most chronically underappreciated MC in Grime. Another W from the incredible Obligated Records. I have to say everything happening in DJ Oblig’s orbit has served as a massive inspiration to me over the last while, both as a Producer and DJ. Have been falling out of love with clubbing the last couple years but I have to say DJs like Oblig and Becky Stone in Dublin have soundtracked some incredible moments on the dance-floor for me recently. Massive love to them.
Negro Impacto – Fangirl
Have been a longtime fan of Negro Impacto but this is their best song so far in my eyes. Chi Chi is the most underrated singer in Ireland, no one gives her the flowers she deserves as a songwriter and singer in my opinion. Incredible cheesy 80’s production from the ever impressive and versatile Strngluv. Bonus points for the freaky guitar solo at the end. Timeless stuff.
Defo getting sampled by me at some stage sorry gang.
Verraco – 0∞
Inventive, playful and modern sounding club music. A refreshing sense of humour and lack of nostalgia. Propulsive energy built around a relatively simple beat. Have seen this song wreak havoc at festivals over the summer. The whole record is unreal, the trance chune at the end in particular is very beautiful.
jawnino – Westfield feat. Kibo & James Massiah
The sound of 2024. Jawnino’s 40 is the best rap record to come out this year. His verse on ‘Westfield’ is effortless and iconic, reminds me of early Soundcloud heroes like NolanBeRollin. There’s a good argument to be made that Kibo is the best MC in grime. James Massiah’s unpretentious spoken word reminiscing does wonders for the track. Lush yet banging beat, Dean Blunt meets Chief Keef. An amazing example of this new wave of trap and drill with dense off kilter samples and sound collages. Very me buzz.
“The game is bossmans fridge,
The coldest ones stay at the back”
The Body, Dis Fig – To Walk A Higher Path
One of the best albums this year for me. A collaboration I never saw coming. Simultaneously violent and ethereal, this is my favourite thing either artist (both big influences for me) have done. This is what I hoped The Bug and Dis Fig collab record would sound like, which ended up being a bit toothless and aimless when it came out. Power pop meet Power Electronics meet Doom Metal meets Dub. What’s not to like.
‘To Walk a Higher Path’ is the record’s highlight.
Róís – WHAT DO YOU SAY
Astrid Sonne – Give You My All
Ceechynaa – Peggy
DJ Anderson Do Paraíso – BLOGUEIRA QUE VIROU PUTA
Naive Ted, Post Punk Podge – Once a week
This one is my personal fav of his, a glitchy piece of fried loopy post punk, featuring one of my fav Irish artists Post Punk Podge. Bonus points for the freak jam at the end.
Best of 2024 | Albums | Songs | Irish albums | Irish songs | Best Of Podcasts | Guest lists |
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.
