Category Archives: Hypnotic

Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music, psychedelic, Shoegaze

Sun Mahshene ‘The Righteous One’

Sun Mahshene have released their new single, ‘The Righteous One.’ Sun Mahshene’s collective years of experience have helped them deliver some incredible live shows, including appearances at Whelan’s Ones to Watch 2018 and 2019, Ireland Music Week 2019, and high-profile support slots including Black Doldrums (UK), Magic Shoppe (US), Stony Sugarskull (DE) and Wand (US). Releases to date include three self-published EP’s, followed by three critically acclaimed singles on Reckless Records IE. Spotify and extensive national and international airplay supported these singles with playlists on the BBC and RTÉ Radio radio.

‘The Righteous One’ is an exhilarating psychedelic rock anthem that fizzes with the luring musicianship of Sun Mahshene. The track effortlessly weaves between hazy shoegaze, crashing indie rock, and dazzling psychedelia to create a high-quality gem that is a joy to listen to. Layering fuzzed guitars over agile rhythms the band provide an expansive and biting wall of sound. The whirring on guitars creates an ominous and mysterious quality within the band’s brand of psychedelic shoegaze whilst also capturing the most captivating sonic elements of 90’s guitar music.

The blazing instrumentation swirls around a sweet, delicate melody while supple vocals from Nathan Henderson anchors the listener within the musical maelstrom. He coos through the bewitching soundscape with a cool, emotive tone while bass rumbles, and pounding drums, wrestle for dominance in the thrilling background. Frenetic distortion covers the atmosphere in a crazed frenzy of crashing guitars, agitated bass and resounding drums as the harsh backdrop becomes aggressive for the building crescendo. At the same time, Henderson’s vocals echo gently, creating a blissfully dreamy, hypnotic contrast for the listener to indulge in.

‘The Righteous One’ is a glorious assault on the senses. Sun Mahshene have a masterful ability to express emotion through the medium of music. This is what makes them so special. They have a remarkable sound that entrances the listener from the very first note. ‘The Righteous One’ takes their music to a new level of achievement as Sun Mahshene continue to explore the depths of their unique, mesmerising musicianship.

Stream ‘The Righteous One’ below


Author : Danu

Atmospheric Music, Hypnotic, Indie, New Music, psychedelic

James Lonergan ‘Braid’

Dublin artist James Lonergan is set to release his new single ‘Braid’ on January 29th. Lonergan joined his first band, aged 10; since then, he has steadily fronted bands – most notably as the vocalist, guitarist, and principal songwriter of the recently disbanded progressive band, Synk.

‘Braid’ is an elegantly evolving work of art. Exuding rich folk textures and lush melodies the mystical atmosphere created by Lonergan is masterful as he takes a nimble guitar hook and builds a compelling soundscape around it. An array of rhythms flutter through the track as Lonergan unravels grand orchestral arrangements to create an expansive and ethereal wall of sound. As the guitars freely dance through the song, the atmosphere meanders from a celestial earthy nature to moody dark brought on by a swift key change. 


A gravitational pull within the song seems to lure the listener into the bewitching and vibrant psychedelic soundscape as Lonergan’s smooth vocals drift with ease upon the folk hued melody while haunting harmonies wisp in the background.


‘Braid’ is an absolute treasure that displays Lonergan’s mesmerising musical ability and production skills. Lonergan proves he is one to watch with this beautiful and compelling track. Love it!

‘Braid’ is set for release on January 29th. For more, you can follow James Lonergan on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/James-Lonergan-102814768245783


Author : Danu

Alt- Pop, Dream Pop, Hypnotic, Indie, indie rock, New Music, Shoegaze, Singer/Songwriter

Lucy Gaffney ‘Send Me Away’

Hailing from Belfast, the now Liverpool based, Irish songwriter Lucy Gaffney has released her new single ‘Send Me Away’,via Frictionless Music. The track was produced by The Coral’s James Skelly and featuring on the track alongside Lucy is Thom Southern (Electric Guitar, Bass) and Jim Sharrock(Drums).Previously, Lucy was part of Marathon signed band Southern, alongside her brother and consistent collaborator Thom. Her short solo career – with just the one single out so far – has already seen acclaim from the iconic Liam Gallagher (who called her music ‘celestial’), a collaboration with DMA’s and tours with Bill Ryder Jones and She Drew The Gun. Big supporters at radio have come in the form of BBC Radio 1, as well as BBC Introducing Merseyside and BBC Introducing Ulster.

‘Send Me Away’ is a dreamy slice of psychedelic shoegaze as Lucy Gaffney’s delicate vocals drift over an expanding swirling soundscape. The effervescent instrumental backdrop fizzes and swells to create an intoxicating wall of sound. With sweet guitar refrains piercing the thick euphoric bass ripples and driving beat, the track instantly lifts you into an ethereal state of bliss. The melody is saturated in irresistible hooks and syrupy textures. As the song progresses distorted guitars superbly build creating pockets of piercing scintillation through the dazing synths while Gaffney innocently coos over the tense edgy soundscape. Lucy Gaffney is a compelling artist and talented songwriter, showing strong personal musical growth from her days in Southern and MMode. I’m looking forward to hearing more from Lucy Gaffney in the future.

About the track Gaffney explains: “For me the track really encapsulates the dreamy element in the idea of love, getting lost in intoxicating moments and the electric excitement of the unknown. With the recording I wanted to capture the garage band rawness from when I wrote it in the rehearsal studio. There’s an honest naivety to it that fizzes with electric quirks and kinks from start to finish, igniting an in the moment carefree edge.”

Stream ‘Send Me Away’ below 


Author : Danu

Alt Rock, Atmospheric Music, Electronic, Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music, psychedelic, Psychedelic/Folk, Singer/Songwriter

James Lonergan ‘Brendan Valeʼ

James Lonergan is set to release his debut single ‘Brendan Valeʼ tomorrow September 25th. James began playing guitar and writing music aged 9 when, amidst a recently admitted period of “unexplained, unwarrented childhood depression”, his father brought him home a battered old classical guitar. This awoke James into the current stream of conciousness he now exists in. Inspired by his father, who worked as a gigging musician in pubs around the county, James immediately began writing music – joining his first band aged 10. Throughout the years James has fronted a range of bands, as a vocalist, guitarist & keyboardist, most notably being the vocalist, guitarist & principal songwriter of the recently disbanded progressive band, Synk. Now self-producing his debut solo album, James is seen to be furthering the development of his own breed of contemporary alternative/ folk/electronic music.

‘Brendan Valeʼ is an immersive track which exudes ambient electronic soundscapes and the spellbinding songwriting of James Lonergan. Lonergan’s ability to weave wonderfully rich textures and tones through haunting sombre melodies and intricate progressive guitar flurries is mesmerising. The track seems to carry the listener into an otherworldly utopia of melancholy as Lonergan effortlessly draws the listener further into the songs rippling depths. With wispy electronics hovering over the soothing guitar and cushioning beat, Lonergan creates an eerie contrast to the song’s tranquilizing outer shell. A trotting rhythm embellishes the backdrop in a country hue while Lonergan’s vocals soothe and coo with tender and soft tones, however there is a tense and slightly asphyxiating undercurrent to the track which is displayed through the electronic pulses and brooding alternative rock elements. ‘Brendan Valeʼ is a richly crafted number with varied emotions presented through psychedelic flourishments, thought provoking lyrics and bubbling rhythms. Lonergan’s ability to create such emotive and expressive music is what makes him such a treasured talent. 

‘Brendan Valeʼ is set for release tomorrow 25th September for more you can follow James Lonergan on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/James-Lonergan


Author : Danu

Alt Rock, Alt- Pop, electro - rock, Electronic, EP Review, Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music

Something Leather ‘Midnight Reverie’ EP

Photo Credit : Jessie Morgan

Brighton three-piece Something Leather is set to release their debut EP ‘Midnight Reverie’, on 17th April.The trio have already gained a reputation for explosive live shows thanks to a host of support slots with up-and-coming bands including Black Midi, Saint Agnes, Sophie and the Giants, Calva Louise and Phobophobes.A triumphant 2019 saw successful UK and European tours establish an increasing following for the band.The year culminated with latest single ‘Lullaby’ garnering further support from BBC 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq.

‘Midnight Reverie’ is a sleek streamlined EP swirled in sultry dark psychedelic tones. Something Leather inject gritty indie rock, opaque pop and ominous atmospheres into ‘Midnight Reverie ‘to create a sublime EP of tremendous magnitude. The production and craftsmanship of this EP is fantastic. The band take their elegant psych rock and mince it into a mirage of dazed pop elements. Each track drags you further into their mesmerising and bewitching sound.

With a sinister flurry of guitars ’Trip To The Sun’ kick starts the EP. Sultry and mind melting the track whirls through dizzying acid dipped electronics while a steady pounding beat and eerie organ – esque elements create that spine chilling backbone. Phillie Etta Jane’s vocals are the sweet hauntingly lulling constant within each track. She creates a soft delicate moment within each song while exuding a sultry panache effortlessly. The dreamy melodies compliment her vocals superbly as they hush and entice you into the harrowing entrapment created by the instrumentation – it’s a bait your ears will willingly take.

The trio write catchy and mystical tunes with a heavy backdrop that is irresistible.’Farewell Fareworse’ has a Sleater-Kinney residue over the distorted electrical mayhem while the prowess on guitars pine and wail with intent over the crashing wall of sound. There is controlled chaos within this EP as the band weave vintage qualities with wild guitars and relentless synths to create their own unique, harrowing yet velvety sleek sound.The noir pop peppered ‘Midnight Dive’ shows a melancholic side to Something Leather. The dreamy whimsical brooding display flows with flashings of black and white west coast images of sulky bliss. This narcotic soothing track drifts with twanging pines on guitar as the track dissolves into multi fragments of laid back moody indie pop. Like all Something Leather songs the track builds to a fizzing crescendo that evaporates your mind. It’s a tragic, beautiful and darkly-shaded pinnacle moment of the EP.

The band return to their seductive and menacing grit for final track ‘Down Another One’. Another stand out number, the drama and intensity of this song is immense. Like daggers, the drums relentlessly pierce and pound while growling backing vocals haunt the backdrop. The jabbing guitars, distorted roars and spine chilling wall of sound create a creepy gut wrenching atmosphere while Phillie Etta Jane’s breathy yet sweet vocals build the tracks momentum. It’s heavy, dark and brilliant. 

‘Midnight Reverie’ is a dark concoction of tracks to bask and submerge yourself in. With such murky and sultry cinematic melancholia steeped in elements of psychedelia, indie rock and electronic pop Something Leather have created one first rate body of work. There are distinct moments of brilliance within ‘Midnight Reverie’ that set the bar high making Something Leather one of the most exciting bands around right now. 

‘Midnight Reverie’ EP will be released on April 17th until then check out the video for the bands recent single ‘Farewell Fareworse’ below


Author : Danu

electro - rock, Electronic, Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Electro, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music, psychedelic

Synk ‘Make it Swim’

Dublin five-piece Electronic Rock band Synk have released a live video of their song ‘Make it Swim’ When we asked the band about the video James Lonergan told us : “We shot the video in our rehearsal room in North Strand which is literally a railway arch beneath the Dublin – Sligo line. The train passes overhead every 10/15 minutes. While mixing the audio for the video we noticed that it can be heard faintly during the first crescendo. Our dear friend Jason Brennan shot the video a week before moving to Texas and did the edit in a trailer out somebody’s back garden in Austin. The audio was mixed by our own Daniel Smith & Evan Kennedy.”

‘Make it Swim’ is a dark, lulling and sometimes turbulent musical labyrinth as Synk entwine the mind in themes of fear and loss through deep passionate musicianship. A sombre melody is emotionally caressed and tenderly expressed through touching soulful vocals with a rock -esque rasp that floods the track in powerful outbursts. The band create a chilling shadowy atmosphere with pulsing thuds on drums while glistening melodies on guitar meander with a majestic delicate innocence and poignant pines. ‘Make it Swim’ takes you on an emotional journey as the band weave psychedelic tones masterfully with rock, electronic and indie elements to create something utterly compelling. The track takes on many forms, from a heavy crashing wall of sound drowning in pain and bitterness to lulling sweet calms of dreamy numbness to create a vivid listening experience which is rich in depth and refined intricacies. There is something truly compelling about this band’s tunes and ‘Make It Swim’ submerges you in the intense and broad spectrum that is Synk’s wonderful sound.

Watch the video for ‘Make it Swim’ below


Author : Danu

Album Review, Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music, Psych-Pop, psychedelic

Father! ‘Queen of Spain’ Album

Dublin based Jangle Pop outfit Father! have released their sophomore album ‘Queen of Spain’ which is mixed and mastered by Mark Chester of Autre Monde, Ginnels, No Monster Club.

‘Queen of Spain’ is a woozy psychedelic trip as Father! entice and lead you down a jangly lo-fi path into their dream pop labyrinth. ‘to Stockholm’, ‘Carcassonne’ and ‘Liebe’ frazzle with distortion and tightly woven soundscapes while the sweet jingle on guitar breaks through the deft backdrop with a hazy bright melody as the lo fi vocals murmur throughout. The tracks lead you deep into Father!’s heavy psychedelic sound before the light  ‘Left You This Morning’, ‘Feeling So’ and ‘Desire Lines’ provides some relief. With chiming guitars, indie dream pop melodies and retro soundscapes the tracks create a daydream world to chill and mellow out in. The band showcase their fine ability to blend and ferment their sound to create something truly mesmerising and hypnotic. ‘Queen Of Spain’ and ‘Devotion #2’ bring the album to a close. With enthralling intricacies weaved through the instrumentation Father! create tunes exuding character and vitality while maintaining a breezy laid back tone. Each track is meticulously layered and crafted to create a streamline effect while showing flashing glimmerings of dazzling scintillation through their psychedelic tones and wobbly mirroring instrumentation. 

Father! have taken all the vibrant and dark intricacies from their ‘Beach Cloud Daze’ release in 2018 and refined it into a pure concoction of new wave indie before saturating their sound with heavier psychedelia. Each track is doused in luscious pop elements and indie tones making ‘Queen of Spain’ a vivid trip filled with lucid rich musicianship. ‘Queen of Spain’ is an enjoyable, interesting and fascinating sophomore album from Father!

Stream ‘Queen of Spain’ below 


Author : Danu

Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Pop, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music, Psych-Pop, psychedelic

Father! ‘Desire Lines’

Dublin based Jangle Pop outfit Father! have released their new single ‘Desire Lines’. Taking its name from the famous Douglas Reynholm quote; ‘Father!’ and beginning as the solo bedroom project of multi-instrumentalist Sean Brunswick – Father! became an outlet of creativity for Brunswick and an escape from the high intensity of Architecture School. The release of ‘Beach Cloud Daze’ (2018) marked the transition of ‘Father!’ from bedroom project to live band recruiting fellow architecture student Stephen Allen on bass and drummer Declan Behan. The upcoming sophomore album ‘Queen of Spain’ (which is mixed and mastered by Mark Chester of Autre Monde, Ginnels, No Monster Club) is set for release this September.

‘Desire Lines’ is a lo fi dreamy haze of reverb swirling electronics and chiming guitars as Father! present their tight and intricate musicianship through a kaleidoscopic prism of psych hued indie. Well layered and crafted this track weaves glistening guitars into a labyrinth of electronic indie to create a piece of work that is both chilled and mind crushing. The track builds from its luscious pop tinged beginnings to a heavier crescendo as the instruments progress becoming more raw and frenzied adding layers of distortion into the dazzling soundscape. The sweet melody delicately coos throughout as the reverb laden vocals murmur and soothe throughout. This hypnotic treasure is filled with wonderful glistening facets of alternative psychedelic pop that create one superb gem. 

‘Father!’ make their Workman’s Club debut with a launch show for the upcoming sophomore album ‘Queen of Spain’. Tickets priced €5 went on sale Wednesday 14th August. Support on the night from ‘The Elephant Room’ and ‘Civic Party’.

Stream ‘Desire Lines’ below 


Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music, psychedelic, Shoegaze

doops ‘The Lost’

Reading based alternative three piece doops have released their new single ‘The Lost’. This intense luring track weaves and wriggles around a spacious creeping atmosphere and rich intricacies creating a psychedelic labyrinth of melodies and soundscapes. Twinkling guitars entwine the track in an eerie yet sweet melody that meanders throughout the spine chilling backdrop. The sinister vocals whisper while the steady beat creates a constant to hold on to as the song spirals into a shoegaze hued psych trip. Laced in wispy ethereal vibes doops create a bottomless abyss as they lead you into this mesmerising track with light airy tones meaty rhythms and haunting reverb. The track builds becoming more perilous as the instrumentation and vocals intensify for the crashing crescendo. Well crafted and superbly fermented this track carefully coils and simmers for an almost claustrophobic effect as each component part wraps you more tightly in its entrapment and darkly smothered depths. A magnificent and chilling track from doops. 

Stream ‘The Lost’ below 


Alt- Pop, Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Pop, Indie Psychedelic, New Music, Psych-Pop, psychedelic

SAD FUNERAL ‘Gone’

SAD FUNERAL is set to release their debut single ‘Gone’ on June 7th.This psychedelic number flows like liquid gold bliss into the ears with a velvety dreamy texture as chiming guitars wobble through the prismatic floaty soundscape.With lush vocals cooing and caressing the melty smooth melody this kaleidoscopic daydream is a tight trippy bubble of delight. A soft beat taps and bounces behind a mesmerising bass line which delicately rumbles creating a hypnotic atmosphere for the wispy soundscapes to drift beautifully around. Well crafted and sublimely chill ‘Gone’ is a lava lamp of captivating psych pop.  

Stream ‘Gone’ below