Artist: Overhead, The Albatross

I’ve been meaning to write about these guys for yonks. Overhead, The Albatross are a Dublin based post-rock six-piece. If there’s one thing Ireland isn’t short of its post/math rock acts. From international giants like God is as Astronaut and And So I Watch You From Afar to the likes of Halves and Enemies, we’re well stocked when it comes to instrumental rock acts.

What I can’t understand is why Overhead haven’t made a bigger impression. Their debut EP Lads With Sticks is riddled with big cinematic crescendos, the likes of which Explosions In The Sky and This Will Destroy You have championed for years. And having seen them live for the first time when they rocked the Pavilion in Cork earlier this summer, I can vouch for their live presence. The end of ‘Footprints in The Bloodsaoked Snow’ was a genuine hairs standing on the back of your neck moment.

Even if you think you’ve heard it all from the Irish post-rock scene give Overhead, The Albatorss a listen.

Video: Former Monarchs – Bills Bills Bills

Former Monarchs are one of the most exciting things coming out of Cork these days, bringing an aggressive energy to their live punk/math rock performances.

Here they are covering Destiny’s Child’s classic ‘Bills Bills Bills’….

Album: Former Monarchs – The Wisdom of Crowds

They say our generation are too lazy or cowardly to take to the streets in rebellion against the political forces which have left our country in its present dire state. They may not have been waving placards outside Leinster House, but the lads in Former Monarchs were doing the other things synonymous with economic depressions, like the musicians of Seattle and Toronto in times past,they used their frustration to fuel their creativity. The result is EP opener ‘My Friend Has No Job’,an ultra-aggressive yet touchingly poignant portrayal of what the recession means for so many of the ‘lost generation.’

Read the rest of the review here.

Video: Daithí – The Dog

‘The Dog’ is the curtain closer on Daithí’s stunning Embrace EP.  This beautifully shot video was directed by Eoin Kelly Smith, a media student who has worked with Imeall (check out his Smedia winning mocumnetray here)! The video captures Daithí, himself a native of Clare, roaming the Burren and jamming in his apartment, his own creative hub as well as shots of   Smith’s aunts three-legged, obese dog.

The tireless Daithí will be performing at Solstice Cork as part of the Cork  Midsummer Festival between June 16th and 19th, as well as Body and Soul, No Place Like Dome and Castlepalooza with more festivals to be announced. He’s currently working on his first album, due for release next year with the singles due to come out later this year.

Album: Mojo Fury – Visiting Hours of a Travelling Circus

I recently started writing for Goldenplec.com, but I plan to keep tipping away on this auld yoke all the same. Here’s my first album review for the site.

Having formed in 2004 and with three EPs under the belt, it was about time Northern Ireland’s Mojo Fury released their debut album. That said, when we consider the face-lift the band has experienced,going from a three piece to foursome with Michael Mormecha migrating from behind the drum kit to front the band as vocalist and guitarist, the delay becomes understandable….

Read the review in full here.

Artist – Bingo

So here’s another new Irish artist to add to the list. I have to concede I know very little about Dublin’s Frank Sweeney aka Bingo but this track ‘Bee’ is outstanding. Like MOTHS, Bingo has honed an ultra-contemporary electronic sound. ‘Bee’ includes samples from Destiny’s Child’s ‘Say My Name’ and has more than a hint of James Blake’s post-dubstep anthem CMYK.

Video: MOTHS – Summer

Much has been said on this blog and countless others about Jack Colleran (aka MOTHS) and his gorgeously hazy brand of glitch-hop. Summer is just one of the many fantastic tunes he has mad available on soundcloud. This trip-tastic video comes courtesy of Corkonian Brendan Canty and works perfectly with the music, taking you on a Big Lebowski-esque voyage…which is nice. Canty is also the man behind the brilliant video for Daithí’s Sleep Like a Stone.

Gig: Baths and Solar Bears

It basically couldn’t have been a bad gig. I mean, it was Baths and Solar Bears. On a personal level Cerulean was by a distance my favourite album of 2010 while She Was Coloured in took the honour of favourite Irish album of the year (how it evaded Choice Music Prize nomination I’ll never know). Dublin’s funky Workman’s Club was suitably busy for such an appetising line-up and on entry the danceable beats of Solar Bears were audible. An infectious case of head nod swept across those assembled appreciating the clean sound. A personal highlight was single Dolls which ended the Leinster duo’s unerring set.

And then came the main event, Will Wiesenfeld, aka Baths, made his understated entrance but couldn’t escape the onslaught of cheers and applause as the crowd refused to let him slip straight into the formalities. He was quite obviously taken aback by the reception. I had actually shared a few words with him during the Solar Bears set and he was as friendly and nice as his music is engaging. There’s always the fear that a solo electronic artist will not offer enough presence to entertain a big crowd but this certainly wasn’t the case last Friday. With Cerulean only accounting for about half of the set the new tunes kept the fans guessing while some nice touches to the established favourites added freshness to the set. Will himself immersed himself into the show hopping, bopping and singing like it was his last ever show. There was also just the right amount of crowd interaction and humour to tie the set together.

Sublime. If you don’t believe me, here’s proof…

http://vimeo.com/23184355

Song: MOTHS – Jimmy Francis

This guy just doesn’t stop. Jack Colleran has unleashed another electronic beauty to add to his growing collection. Jimmy Francis is arguably the most chilled out tune to date and it is delicious. Such a beautiful minimal sound, one of those tunes that seems to stop time when you listen to it, you just drift away into your own world where tranquillity reigns supreme. This is one young talent who deserves the hype.

Song: New Flann & Daithi – That Place

Flann Mc Morrow and Daithi have wasted little time in following up their first track ‘This Place’ with their second sumptuous tune ‘That Place’. Like the first offering, ‘That Place’ refuses to follow a clear blueprint and dives off in wonderfully unpredictable tangents and boasts more layers than a shepherds’ pie and trifle put together. The only thing that remains constant is the uncontrollable head-nod of the listener.