Dublin Producer, Songwriter & Multi-Instrumentalist, Cabin has released his new single ‘Whatever You Have’. The fourth single to be released under Cabin, ‘Whatever You Have’, completes the collection of four tracks conceived and produced within a particular time, that ultimately led to the inception of Cabin as a musical project. Cabin (aka Adam McCabe) began crafting his songwriting and production skills as part of post-punk outfit Brass Phantoms. He has had his music featured on the likes of BBC Radio 6 with Steve Lamacq, Spotify’s Hot New Bands and more.
‘Whatever You Have’ delves deep into Cabin’s expressive psychedelic pop sound. The track is a wonderfully emotive listening experience and doused in pristine soundscapes of twinkling keys, intense electronic pulses and driving rhythms. Soul-infused vocals ripple throughout, gently guiding the listener through the track’s rich instrumental bed before the song dissolves into its powerful psychedelic finale. The track is a joy to listen to and is a mesmerising example of Cabin’s writing and production skills.
On the track, Cabin says; “This is a piece that embodies how I look at and approach creating music as an individual. That we now have the ability to create something far larger than ourselves, we should strive towards that.”
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.
Honeybone have released their new album ‘Spheres’. Bringing you a collection of songs written between 2015 and 2019, ‘Spheres’ split the writing equally between drummer Rachel Trainor and guitarist Drew Handcock. Recorded in 2019, the band took a DIY approach, mostly recording at their home studio and Three Phase Studios in Brunswick, Melbourne, with Drew producing and mixing the album. Honeybone is a three-piece Psychedelic/Garage Rock band based in Melbourne, Australia, and hail from the city of Dunedin, in the deep south of New Zealand. The band is formed of drummer and vocalist Rachel Trainor, bass and backing vocalist Peter Jermakoff, and guitarist/vocalist Drew Handcock. Since their debut EP release in 2010, Honeybone have shared a stage with Beastwars, Wofat, The Datsuns, Dragon, and Luger Boa and released their first full length studio album in 2013.
Submerged in psychedelic shoegaze, ‘Spheres’ is a pool of rich musicianship as Honeybone delve deep into their heavy multi dimensional sound. The band blend Rachel’s and Drew’s vocals to create a diverse and wholly engaging collection of tracks. Edgier rock smattered tunes ‘Bruises’ and ‘Stratosphere’ surge with energy and allow the band to explore their more abrasive side as the swirls on guitars, pummeling drums and expansive blasts of distortion create a swagger-drenched rock soundscape. There are ample shredding guitar moments on the album as the band flesh out their expressive guitar prowess in ‘Sands’ and ‘Metathesiophobia’ with thick bluesy riffs and strut ready confidence. These tracks are ballsy and powerful.
There is no shortage of mighty courses within ‘Spheres.’ Honeybone display their ability to create eargasmic melodies and anthemic choruses with ease; the dreamy progressions and instrumentals within the songs capture the band’s musical vigor as wild solo’s and pounding drums create a hefty wall of sound for the slinky bass to weave between. Each song on ‘Spheres’ carries weight and power as the band tease, entice and lure between fantastic mosh pit worthy instrumental drops.
The band explain:“There’s an undercurrent theme throughout the album of unease with the state of the world, alongside concerns for the environment and relationships”
‘Spheres’ is a well-crafted album and a joy to listen to. The second album to come from Honeybone shows real growth and maturity in their sound and songwriting style.
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.
Cork based noise pop outfit Deadbog have released their new self titled EP. The band formed in summer 2018 by friends Danny O’Shea (guitars and vocals) and Luke Daly (drums). After a number of gigs as a two piece, Rory Burke (guitar) and JJ Lee (bass) completed the line up.
Drenched in reverb with shoegaze elements swirling into a deep psychedelic pool of distortion, Deadbog’s EP is a richly blended four track concoction with equal measures of sweet and sour. The band melt soft dreamy melodies on top of acid soaked guitar and rich intricate rhythmic progressions to create intense moments of raw psych-tinged alternative rock through ‘Morning Swimmer’ and ‘Vending Machine’.With heavy instrumental crashes the tracks build becoming ominous and shrilling as light flickers on guitar progress to coarse pines soaring over thick heavy drum pounds and perilous rapid soundscapes. It’s a hard hitting collection of tracks however, amidst this onslaught of controlled chaos the band show glimpses of sweet delicacy and innocence.
There are very little vocals on the EP. When the vocals do appear it is through a wave of harmonies and expressions. In ’Behold the Coagula’ it’s the vocals and wistful melody that cool the tracks scorching intensity. Deadbog lay this melancholic melody and cooing vocals over a bubbling harsh backdrop of pounding drums and meandering guitars creating a wonderful contrast.‘Gurus’ begins with the most beautiful sweet guitar lament backed by a throbbing beat. The first half of this track ripples with clear and pristine clarity creating a time stopping moment within the EP before the band enhance the song building to its epic and hair raising crescendo.
Deadbog have created an EP that is rich in its intricacies with sweet melancholic and dreamy moments flickering between the band’s blast of controlled chaos. The intense and blistering instrumentation is created with such precision, as the band carefully allows the softer tender moments to flourish, almost untouched, in this frenzied atmosphere.It’s an impressive balancing act.
Props has released his new single ‘wired’ taken for his upcoming EP of the same name. Props is the brainchild of Mark Gilyead, a multi-instrumentalist/producer living in south london, UK.The whole ‘wired’ EP drops on May 15th but until then Gilyead is putting out a song from it each week on Soundcloud. Props has had play on BBC, Amazing Radio and a spot in Tom Robinson’s Fresh Faves
Intricately layered, the chilled complexity of ‘wired’ showcases Props quirky and astute musicianship. The heavy beat burrows deep into the track wriggling a deft groove into its very core while the swirling electronics create an effervescent ethereal atmosphere. The sticky beat provides a gooey slap between the pop punk guitar chords and exhilarating electronic bursts. The track bubbles and ferments for the verses while the smooth lo fi vocals drift with a nonchalant tone over the catchy velvety melody. The song maintains an easygoing pace all the way through as Props builds and embellishes the backdrop in lush textures and prismatic colours of scintillation to create a rich, invigorating, refreshing track. With rich percussive builds and infectious vocal hooks teamed with intoxicating layering and kinetic production ‘wired’ is one vivacious track wrapped in a breezy laid back psych pop blanket.
Barcelona indie pop band Hola Chica have returned with their latest album, ‘Marbella’. The five piece have been on tour since the release of their first album ‘Magnetism’ in 2016. Playing at Taubertal Festival and BIME Festival, as well as all over Spain they have been creating an energetic and psychedelic live show that is communicated through their latest release.
‘Marbella’ is a wonderfully colourful display of Hola Chica’s indie psychedelic pop as the band ease you into their smooth sound with intricate musicianship which leads effortlessly into their massive bag of sonic tricks. The band conjure disco funk and snappy beats to create a clean polished sound. With beautifully manicured synths weaving between floaty melodies and zesty radiant guitars, tracks like ‘Asleep’,Off My Mind’ and ‘Feels Like’ rush with a danceable groove that is infectious while velvety vocals coo through prismatic soundscapes and dreamy melodies.
‘Free Your Soul’ wraps layers of shimmering synths over catchy pop melodies while scorching guitars and humid beats intoxicate and smother the buoyant and vibrant background.The band glitter the album in 70’s disco elements and 80’s pop sheens as they inject a hazy shade of hippie splendour and trip hop hues through ‘Same Old Thing’ and ‘Falling Apart’. Hola Chica have managed to create a psych album that is so drifty and light however, they use dazzling soundscapes and adrenaline rushing instrumentation to keep the album rushing along.
‘Never Gonna See You Again’ slows the pace a little as brooding melodies float over a subtle bubbling soundscape and chiming light atmosphere. The lamenting guitars pine over the dreamy backdrop with a piercing sting while the keys twinkle through a steady beat creating a rich and wistful number brimming with emotive qualities.The detailed production and rich instrumentation throughout the album adds a dash of sunshine in each track. From the soft rock groove and elastic bass line of ‘Make It’, the glistening epic guitar in ‘Your Time’ to the glimmering suave charm of final track ‘Fade Away’, Hola Chica make sure you are bouncing and swirling in their trippy soothing sounds and lush instrumentation all the way through.
‘Marbella’ is a luminous album laced in fresh, sun kissed vibes, good times and utterly mesmerising instrumentation as Hola Chica blend, refine and brew their fruity, floaty psychedelic pop with a dash of indie and a hint of funk to create a euphoric and vibrant listening experience.
Sun Mahshene, Ireland’s premier shoegaze / noise-rock band have released a new digital EP , ‘Contradictions and Tales of Fiction’. Coming off the back of a successful 2019, the EP contains two previously unreleased Sun Mahshene tracks along with their three critically acclaimed singles, Tales of Fiction, Leave This City and This Girl I Know. All tracks were recorded at Darklands Audio, Dublin and co-produced with Daniel Doherty (Fontaines DC, Vulpynes, Slyrydes, Damien Dempsey, Sombodys Child).
With psychedelic adrenaline-filled highs and fuzz fueled intensity smudged into sweet melodies and a thrilling wall of sound ‘Contradictions and Tales of Fiction’ is laced in Sun Mahshene’s first rate and exhilarating musicianship. The EP is the prismatic swirling home of ‘Tales of Fiction’, ‘Leave This City’ and ‘This Girl I Know’ – three sublime singles previously featured on Indie Buddie. The composition within these tracks are rich and thoughtful as dreamy melodies drift above a fizzing underbelly of dynamic, crashing and frenetic instrumentation. It is easy to get lost in the layers of intricate wobbly guitars lines, rooted bass grooves and punchy drums as acid soaked distortion swirls prismatic facets of blinding scintillation between the effortless cool vocal delivery by Nathan Henderson.
The band warp, dazzle and bend genres with tracks like ‘Ride The Wave’. Opulent textures create a psych pop mirage through a heavy alternative sonic sheen while a moody grunge – esque melody floats lucidly over this dazing harsh backdrop as if aloof to the bubbling mania beneath. ‘Demons Gold’ closes the EP on a high. The band craft wonderful component parts to produce a mellowed gem brimming with intricacies. From the lamenting guitars weaving elegantly between thumping drums and shimmering keys the track maintains the band’s majestic intense sound with a level of grace and prowess only Sun Mahshene can do.
‘Contradictions and Tales of Fiction’ is an impressive display of musicianship from Sun Mahshene.Their ability to create implosive epic tunes which exude exquisite production is mesmerising.
Stream ‘Contradictions and Tales of Fiction’ below
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
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
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
