Faraway Martin has released his second single ‘Falling In Your Sleep’. Faraway Martin hails from the West of Ireland, via Doha, Qatar, where he remains until this summer. He spent the past three years performing throughout the Middle East, USA and Ireland. Venues he has graced the stage of include the QNCC Arena in Doha, supporting international artists.
‘Falling In Your Sleep’ is a delightful melodic tune as Faraway Martin lays out a warm romantic spread with a sweet melody to devour. Richly crafted this track carefully blossoms from a twinkling cheery number to a heartfelt treasure. His warm vocals lilt and pour tender emotion over the honeyed melody while a cosy guitar jingles behind cherry whistles and a peppy beat. It’s a heart on your sleeve, longing track that is catchy and wholesome. Charming and mushy this song builds to its cinematic crescendo that embraces your ears with good vibes, vibrant instrumentation and a cosy horn feature. ‘Falling In Your Sleep’ is infectious, light, fluffy and sweet as angel cake.
Nottingham alternative rock band Distant Blue are set to release their new single ‘Tongue Tied’. The track is taken from their EP which is going to be out later this year. ‘Tongue Tied’ is a boisterous wallop to the jugular of exhilarating alternative rock. Luring darkly hued verses smoulder through an intense backdrop of angular guitars and buoyant, punchy drums as Distant Blue whack out a slick, swagger soaked number. With muscular riffs, riot-inducing breakdowns, and a ferocious chorus these guys clock you around the head with their brawny slick sound. Raspy vocals growl through the catchy sing along ready chorus while a crashing wall of sound and sublime bass line pummels its vigorous sound into your brain. It’s thrilling material that will evoke carnage in a live setting and sounds pretty impressive blasting through your ears. Keep an eye out for these guys.
‘Tongue Tied’ is set for release on the 25th February make sure to have a listen when its released – its a cracker.
Hausu’s pop troubadour Arthur Valentine makes his first on-record appearance with his debut single ‘Selfish’. Arthur Valentine is the eclectic pop project of Cork based singer/songwriter and producer Luke Aston.His forthcoming debut EP was recorded as a full-band effort, spanning over many sessions, with Hausu musicians chipping in.Originally debuted as a live performance on Mike McGrath Byran’s RedOnRed show on Red FM, ‘Selfish’ is a dreamy sweet track smouldering upon light finger picked guitar and a melty easy on the ears melody. His lush vocals coo and slip effortlessly into his sweet falsetto. Romantic and steeped in a honeyed melody this dreamy ditty flows rippleless-ly into your ears until you are wooed by this simple well crafted track. It’s clever, honest and charming.
Dublin based psychedelic rock band Jooce have released their new double A side release ‘Lazarus/Disarray’. ‘Lazarus’ and ‘Disarray’ take Jooce’s blissful psychedelic rock down two different trippy avenues.
‘Lazarus’ cruises along with vibrant swirling soundscapes while hazy guitars weave a warm toned golden thread through this ethereal track.It’s prismatic layers create an enthralling lustrous listening experience as the track wanders off into a glorious and hypnotic instrumental piece. The raspy vocals coo and dynamically call out the anthemic chorus and punchy verse as a buoyant rhythm bounces through the swirling lush soundscapes.
‘Disarray’ mellows the tone as it ventures down a delicate ballad side to Jooce. Soft guitar strums between emotional and fairy-like light soundscapes. It’s a sweet reverb laced dreamy number that builds as it progresses. The guitars jangle with a zesty biting sting through the chilling atmosphere and sway-like melody. They weave the psychedelic tones through this track sublimely while sprinkling a dash of pop over the melody.
Moving and deeply enthralling Jooce showcase their fine musicianship and exquisite melodies through both these mesmerising tracks.They are instantly addictive.
Dublin based band OverLockers have released their new single ‘Time to Time’.Comprised of Jeremy Burke on guitar and vocals, David O’Grady on Guitar and Vocals, Eoin Madden on bass and Eoghan Barrett on drums the band display their first release of 2019 in true rock n’ roll manner.
Gritty, razor sharp and full of gusto ‘Time to Time’ is a ferocious number from OverLockers. With guitar lines dripping swagger which slide and sizzle off a punchy drum and bass combo this riff driven beast is a force to be reckoned with. The drums pummel through the track with relentless stamina while the nimble bass wanders around the flighty guitars. It’s a moody, “angsty” track with Burke’s animated vocals exclaiming over the boisterous backdrop. For me those wailing, blistering guitar injections are the glorious highlight, they douse the track in red hot fiery panache and provide a blustering rock n’ roll persona.‘Time to Time’ is one blazing inferno from OverLockers.
From the gritty streets of south east London to a tent in the Tasmanian woods, Scutty’s secretly recorded Debut EP ‘Replaced Part 1’ has been released.A departure from creator Dan Rawlins folk routes, “Scutty” is an experimental music project which was self recorded in South East London, finished off and mixed by Robin Waters in Melbourne and mastered by Will Bowden, a Grammy award winner for his work on GOTYE.
‘Replaced Part 1’ is a unique energetic EP brimming with vibrant rich danceable tunes. Scutty cooks up an innovate selection of swirling electronics, sticky beats and catchy melodies to create an exhilarating concoction.With instant sing along hooks, pop sprinkles and soulful tones in tracks like ‘I Was Down’ and ‘I’m Gold’ this EP fleshes out the versatility in Scutty’s musicianship. The tracks are light with sluggish beat thuds between fresh ethereal synths and intense atmosphere. ‘Crazy’ brings in some rich rhythms, woody sounds and a funk whiffed R&B hued melody that flutters comfortably upon the fluctuant foundation and trippy techno electronics. While ‘Higher’ closes the EP on an animated disco vibe, leaving you ready for the next rave.
‘Replaced Part 1’ provides sublime electronic dance music. As Scutty toys with elements of disco, house, new wave and rock creating an enthralling EP sure to have you bopping along.
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From The Pretty Visitors
Portsmouth indie rock band The Pretty Visitors have released their new single ‘It’s Not Easy’. Originally forming in 2012, the band played many shows in Southampton, Portsmouth and London, supporting artists such as Circa Waves, Jaws, Billy Lunn (The Subways), The Family Rain and more recently, Sisteray. Making a Victorious Festival debut in 2014, the band made a decision to pursue other avenues for the coming years. Reforming in Autumn of 2018, The Pretty Visitors are back, with bigger sounds and ambitions. They kicked off the year in style with a headline gig at Wedgewood Rooms, after selling out the smaller sister venue within a week of announcement.
‘It’s Not Easy’ is a crisp biting display from The Pretty Visitors. Swallowed up in an energetic wall of sound this blistering punchy number is raucous old school indie rock at its most potent. Raw guitars wail and shriek while crashing off snappy, pounding drums. A rooted elastic bass creates a fluctuant foundation and dance-able quality to the track. Hyperactive and filled with mosh ready madness this burly assault storms in ready to get a live audience in a frenzy. With a scorching guitar solo between a heavy rhythmic backdrop and attitude soaked vocals The Pretty Visitors showcase their swaggering raw sound with subtle flickers of finesse glimmering through the thrilling mayhem. It’s a catchy, exhilarating adrenaline shot of indie rock.
Dublin four piece indie band Drivelight have released the music video for their single ‘Take Two’. The video which was filmed by Insomniac Productions is a quirky accompaniment to the funk flavoured number as the four piece take on rolls as mechanics to fix up a BMW. Though we never really see the lads doing any work they do plenty of daydreaming, dancing and “driving”. It’s a fresh visual that shows the bands comical side as they play air drums, guitar with a brush and take a sweet little dog for a ride along. Taking turns in the driver’s seat Drivelight take us on a rocking road trip from winter woods to space and everything in between as they bop to their infectious blistering track showing their unique dancing styles along the way. It’s a fun visual to accompany the bands shredding slick new single.
Funk flavoured sounds, hefty rich rhythms and lush guitar refrains fill the room for Gorilla Troubadour’s ‘Tom Cruise Does All His Own Stunts’ single launch in Whelan’s Dublin. I entered the venue as their second song ‘Hey Hey’ wafted around my ears. Its charming strut quality and swagger drenched bass groove walked me through the bopping crowd. The tasty guitar lines, tight presentation and punchy drums were a delightful welcome. These guys have a fun approach to their live show as banter with the crowd is plentiful. The band played through their set creating a soothing sense of mellowed out hysteria through the crowd. They build their tracks perfectly providing something for every music lover from swoony melodies, intricate guitar lines and lush wails to a sublime hip moving rhythmic section.These guys are tight. They smother their songs in a wispy smoke of darkness – ‘Ophelia’ in particular is one hair raising gem. For such a young band their sound is sophisticated and mature. There are no holes, no lapses, just solid rich tunes ready to mosh, wiggle and sway to. To get a band this tight with a sound this compelling is a special find but then for them to be great live as well- that’s pretty fantastic.
A few well known covers pepper the bands set list – a bass slicked rendition of Royal Blood’s ‘Figure It Out’ goes down particularly well with the crowd while a refreshing cover of Joy Division’s ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart‘ (which sees frontman Dylan Kearns take to the keys) also graces the set list. The band are all impressive performers, Dylan Kearns plays the frontman role well. His smiley persona comes across bubbly yet relaxed as he tackles the crowds song requests for ‘Esmeralda’.Eamon Ganley lead Guitarist has some shredding solo’s and boy does he execute them well, (perhaps playing up to the crowds enthusiasm) he strikes and wiggles with precision and panache while bassist James O’ Connor is immersed in his grooves as he majestically and nimbly swoops and glides through the bass lines. With a slightly deflated “confetti cannon” pop (more like a glorified party popper) the band introduce the most mesmerising artist to sing with them, Cat Doran. Her soulful vocals are hair raising, chilling and utterly enthralling as she ever so coolly blends with Kearns sweet falsetto.There is a mystical,enchanting yet haunting quality to her voice that lures and entices you into every note. Kearns’ vocals are pretty outstanding for ‘We Drove For Miles’ which was my favourite track of the night. This smoky gem features a sultry guitar solo, a spellbinding melody and oodles of passion.
‘Tom Cruise Does All His Own Stunts’ translates magnificently live. Drummer Eric Walsh puts on a gorilla mask and the track whacks into fruition. This track coils and uncoils itself ever so confidently live- it feels like it could be the work of a band with twice the experience.Walsh is quite the proficient drummer. He lays down their meaty foundation and executes it with a fluidity that is first rate, showcasing he can maneuver a pounding assault or a sweltering lighter tap-tap-tap with finesse and gusto. ‘The Apple Truck’ is the final track of the night and Kearns introduces this before he takes a memorable and lasting picture on his disposable camera – “your looking well” he glints at the crowd before they cruise into the sizzling track which once again shows the bands striking musical talent.
Gorilla Troubadour are definitely a band to keep an eye on. They have their heads screwed on. They know what they are doing, what works, what sounds good and then they turn that up a notch and make it theirs. The cool swagger with which they dispatch their meat-cleaver riffs, slick musicianship and catchy choruses is what makes these guys pretty special.
Dublin based art rock duo Manyana have released their debut single ‘1ofmy’. Comprised of Aran Sheehy and David O’Rourke the duo are leading the way for an album they have planned for release this year.
This absorbing number immerses you in a deeply ambient electronic soundscape filled with passionate rich tones and an extremely mesmerising and tangible sound. Every electronic flicker, pulse beat and lush melody slowly seeps into you, making the track a full sensory experience. Immense care has been taken with this track- each fragment is tailored precisely.From the fluctuant slapping beat shuffling through ethereal soundscapes to the strong piano chords, this composition is organic, rich and compelling. The elegant piano is the strength of the track between the breezy atmosphere and chilling soundscape. The piano grows slowly building to a sweet yet sharp melody that twinkles and wanders between a warm vocal harmony and jittery beat. There is great beauty and grandeur in this track. Its simplistic approach draws you into the inner working of this intriguing gem as Manyana dilute certain parts while highlighting and enriching others to create a textured fascinating listen. It’s catchy, melancholic and biting while warm vocals soothe and coo over a drifting sombre soundscape that feels barren yet filled with loneliness and tender instrumentation. ‘1ofmy’ is utterly consuming.
Stream ‘1ofmy’ below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
