Here’s a favourite from Ships live show (Simon Cullen, Sorcha McGrath with Cian Murphy). ‘Places’ is an emotive song, a real stunning curtain raiser/closer. It’s a diptych attached by a building synth tension which erupts into a big cascading synth line along the lines of ‘The Private Psychedelic Reel’. Another reason why Ships are one of my favourite Irish bands of the year.
You can catch them live on NYE at Nightflight’s Grand Social bash alongside New Jackson, I Am The Cosmos, White Collar Boy and Handsome Paddy. Poster and their previous tracks below.

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.
You rock again… Thumbs up