Carried by Waves – Softly Held Together
Beginning with a rush of harmony, stuttering drum beats and a whirling mix, Softly Held Together is purposefully constructed to seduce the listener from its opening salvo. The first track jumps around from dreamscape layering to full on kaleidoscope but never becomes diffuse, the affecting melody carrying the day and inviting comparisons with a more...
Hidden Highways w/ Peter Delaney – Half Moon Theatre, 11.08.2012
With the excellent news that their Debut album Fundit campaign has been successful just announced, Emmet reviews their recent Cork gig With a sound already soothing and warm there was something very apt about Hidden Highways coming off the road into the cosy environs of the Half Moon Theatre during a torrential downpour of rain....
You Kiss By The Book – Family Tree
The album opens with the wonderful ’Railroad’, a song that paints a vivid picture of a small town community which revolves around the hub that is the local train station. The jangly opening guitar riff is punctuated perfectly by bass and drums and the production is excellent throughout. With a slight country vibe, the song has...
No Spill Blood – Street Meat (Sargent House)
In May of this year, fans of the Irish music scene were treated to the wonderfully crafted 60 minute feature ‘A Joyful Slog’, an independent film produced by Dublin Community Television. The film is an insightful look into the Irish (more so Dublin, to be honest) music scene with live performances and interviews with both...
Ginnels – Crowns (Popical Island)
In the 60′s the double album meant four sides of pleasure. Side one and two of record A, coupled with side one and two of record B. Although still prevelant in the 70′s, the jump in technology meant we were down to two sides with the trusty cassette tape throughout the rest of the 70′s...
Puzzle Muteson – Gulpd Cafe, Cork, 26.07.12
Puzzle Muteson at the Half Moon Theatre, Cork last January Pic: Kieran O’Keeffe Delicate, gentle, warm, awkward. Six gig goers, two bar staff, one sound-man, 14 cyclists in high vis jackets chatting loudly. More of an odd-one-out quiz than a puzzle but all too relevant to tonight’s gig in Gupld Cafe. Puzzle Muteson is here...
Skinny Downers – Into the Void EP
Departing from the grunge growl of Percolator, Cork man Dean O’Sullivan has spent the last while brewing up his own fine blend of post wave bliss. Now recording under the name Skinny Downers, Into The Void is the second offering from the fledgling freshman. In some ways it’s a departure from January’s Isn’t It EP....
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band – The RDS, Dublin, 18.07.12
Despite being a frequent enough visitor to these shores, whenever the Boss and his gang roll into town, the hysteria reaches fever pitch and the ensuing shows are always counted as a major event. An artist with a ridiculously wide fan base, from the muso to the mainstream, his appeal stretches across a huge demographic...
The Fall – The Pavilion, Cork, 21.07.12
Photography: Simone della Fornace “Doesn’t your whole body throb with longing every time you hear their name? Of course it does.” - John Peel The Fall’s first time back in Cork since their stunning show in the Spiegeltent a few years back, sees the same lineup intact. There’s a middling crowd in place by 9...
Elspeth – Coax (No Dancing)
5-Piece alt-rock band Elspeth have just released their new album Coax. ‘Think Back’ opens the album with some Thom Yorke-style vocals and a Radiohead vibe in general. The group have captured a great live band sound – with grainy and mildly distorted guitars playing open chords to provide that jangly indie edge so beloved of...
SertOne – Shapes in the Sky EP (Melted Music)
Based out of Northern Ireland, the Melted Music label has become a much respected platform for emerging bedroom producers. The brainchild of Jee4ce and Urbanize, the label currently caters for SertOne, Father Jack (aka Jee4ce) and Sketch Nine from the Activists. The latest offering from the label is from Portadown playa SertOne with his Shapes...
Myles Manley & The Little People w/ The Vincent(s) – Crane Lane, Cork, 17.07.12
Tuesday midnight in the Crane Lane. No sign of a recession anyway. The smoking area’s thronged as always, Ian Richards has the laydeez moving in the back bar to sweet soul sounds and the theatre is busy, tequila slammers doing a particularly roaring trade for some reason. Some are here specially to see Myles Manley,...
