Detroit post-punkers Protomartyr released their fifth record, Ultimate Success Today, a few days ago. For a band forced to rush the recording of their debut record (supported by one case of beer!) Ultimate Success Today shows how far they’ve come. It explores how we live our lives, its fragility, and what a dangerous world we live in. Ultimate Success Today is, well, terrifying. Inspired by … Continue reading Protomartyr: Ultimate Success Today
Muzz is a three-piece indie supergroup made up of Interpol’s Paul Banks, Josh Kaufman of Bonny Light Horseman and Matt Barrick of The Walkmen. In early June they released their debut record, Muzz, an album in the making since 2015. So, was it worth the wait? For the most part, yes. Muzz has an unhurried, fluid and warm way to it. It’s opening tracks, “Bad … Continue reading A musing on Muzz’s Muzz
Singer-songwriter Yana has released her debut EP Distant Shore, a powerful collection of folk songs inspired by friends and the sounds of Ireland. Distant Shore features four carefully formed tracks, three of which, “Distant Shore”, “Will You Be There” and “Trapped In A Cage” have all been released previously and played extensively on radio. Distant Shore also contains “The Book Of Your Life”, a song … Continue reading Yana releases debut EP, Distant Shore
Spellbound Circle is a direct, driven, prog-rock three-piece from Northern Italy. Or, as their Facebook bio describes them, “Two nice guys and a kind lady bashing strings and skins in the name of music.” I prefer my description… The band released their debut LP Escalation back in November and it’s been blowing my ears off for the last few days. What’s immediately evident is the … Continue reading Spellbound Circle excel on Escalation
Two years on from 2018’s Hope Downs, Australia’s Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever returns with their sophomore record, Sideways to New Italy. Named after a village in New South Wales, Sideways to New Italy is a sunny record that sees the band stay close to home. That’s because the main attraction of Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever remains their trio of lead guitarists and the jangle guitar … Continue reading Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever: Sideways to New Italy
Today, May 22nd, is a day I’ve had marked in my mind for some time. It’s not just another Friday, the end of another workweek and the beginning of a chilled weekend. No, it’s new Bleeding Heart Pigeons album day, and it’s a great Friday to be alive. The guys have been busy. They’ve hidden out in their converted studio in Limerick for the past … Continue reading Bleeding Heart Pigeons release enthralling new album, Stir
The scary truth has once again been realised; Spotify knows what I want to listen to before I do. The data works, and I just have to accept it. Late one night earlier this week, while working on another post, The Reverse’s Which Way Out appeared as a ‘New release for you’. I’d never heard of them before but I thought the minimalist album cover … Continue reading The Reverse: Which Way Out
Back in 2018, Sweden’s Viagra Boys dropped their debut record Street Worms. That’s a hell of a record, right up there with the best of recent post-punk releases, and if you haven’t heard it, get on it. Carrying on with the observational lyricism blended with frequent (and fitting) profanities, Common Sense is at times a little too close to Street Worms, but still very enjoyable. … Continue reading Viagra Boys: Common Sense
On Friday, Dublin’s psych-noise rock trailblazers Sun Mahshene released their new EP, Contradictions and Tales of Fiction. It’s one we’ve been waiting for too. These guys have been on our radar since the release of Leave This City last year and they’ve been building hype ever since. Contradictions and Tales of Fiction consists of five tracks, three of which have been released previously: “Tales of … Continue reading Sun Mahshene: Contradictions and Tales of Fiction
For Whipping Boy, two lines from their 1995 classic Heartworm resonate more than any others. Toward the end of “When We Were Young”, Fearghal McKee sings: “What might have been, When we were young.” 25 years on, those lyrics are sure to stir their share of emotions. Heartworm was going to be their big label breakout, their rise from critically acclaimed to universal adored, but … Continue reading Whipping Boy: Heartworm
