Free Mixtape: The New Wave Vol.1 - The best in new Irish music

The general consensus regarding Irish music is that we've entered something of a golden period and I'm in full agreement. In fact, I find the music to be that consistently brilliant that I want to do all I can to spread the sounds of this new wave to as far as possible. Hopefully my scribbles here do that a bit but I feel a collection of free-to-download mixtapes - each packed with the best Irish artists of late - are an even more effective way to invade your ear canals and convince you of their worth.

This first volume probably falls under the general indie tag but within that is a broad range of styles, such as Spies' brooding undertones, We Cut Corners' powerful melodies and Jape's synth-fuelled splendour. 

Enough talking - more listening. Click the small downward arrow on the right hand side below for your free download of the mix and keep an eye out for another volume next week...

________ Tracklist_________
 

1) Spies - 'Liars Call Me King'
2) Jape - 'Hands Of Fire
3) Squarehead - 'Axes Of Love'
4) Land Lovers - 'Cinema Bell'
5) Hello Moon - 'Vanity'
6) No Monster Club - 'A Morbid Fascination'
7) Kid Karate - 'Feel For You'
8) Come On Live Long - 'Animal'
9) We Cut Corners - 'Go Easy'
10) Leaders Of Men - 'Up Against The Wall'
  

  STL: The New Wave: Volume 1 by StopTheLights

STL: The New Wave: Volume 1 by Stopthelights on Mixcloud

* Disclaimer: This is all being done on a goodwill basis and if you like what you hear please try and support the artists involved by buying some of their music/going to a gig of theirs! If any of the artists featured would rather their music was not involved just get in touch.*

Festival Preview: CastlePalooza 2011

The Irish festival season is in full flow and this weekend sees the return of the Castlepalooza Music and Arts Festival. Now in its sixth year the action again takes place in Charleville Castle in Tullamore, County Offaly and having not made it down since 2009 I'm looking forward to another slice of the action. Special credit must go to the organisers this year for plucking the finest home-grown talent and giving them great slots. There's quality across the whole line-up but here's a selection of acts I'm particularly excited about. 

For tickets etc see the official site // for the full stage times see this link.


Ghost Estates :: Friday :: Main Stage @ 8.30pm 

  Paris by GHOST ESTATES


The Casanova Wave :: Saturday :: Main Stage @ 3.30pm 

  The Casanova Wave by The Casanova Wave



Moths :: Saturday :: Big Top Stage @ 5.15pm 

Jaysus, it's hard to believe this is Moths' first gig. The brainchild of 18 year old Jack Colleran, Moths has enjoyed a phenomenal year in which every track he uploaded was devoured and salivated over by what seemed to be the entire internet.  He also managed to sneak in an official Interpol remix too...all while doing his Leaving Cert. Impressed? Well, you should be. The craft and ingenuity shown at such an early age means such acclaim is deserved and this performance, from a guy who was unknown last year, is easily my most anticipated of the weekend.

  <3 by MOTHS 

  blisters by MOTHS


The Minutes :: Saturday :: Main Stage @ 8.30pm 

This year's Temple House festival convinced me of The Minutes worth. There, with a tent barely half full, they performed with a level of blistering intensity worthy of a career-defining headline slot at Wembley Arena. Forever playing out of their skins, this is ferocious rock and roll imbued with a level of enthusiasm that is simply impossible to ignore. 

Clock Opera :: Saturday :: Main Stage @ 11.30pm 

Without any shadow of a doubt 'Belongings' is one of my favourite tracks of the year. A beautiful, stirring piece of music, it has infected my pores and left me dumbstruck in its simplicity and romanticism. In truth, I know little else of these Londoners but a track this sublime warrants further inspection all on its own.

  Clock Opera - Belongings by moshi moshi music 


Jape :: Saturday :: Main Stage @ 12.30am 

At Forbidden Fruit Mr Egan was given an unenviable slot. As he took to the stage early in the day, people were either just arriving, wiping sleep from their eyes from the previous nights antics or still queuing at the bar. All of this culminated in a nice but ultimately restrained atmosphere bur this time around things will be different. Classics like 'Floating' and 'I Was A Man' were made for headlining festivals, and when you factor in exciting new creations such as 'Hands Of Fire' and 'Please Don't Turn That Record On' and well, every other track Richie has debuted in recent months, you know it's going to be a little bit special. 

  Hands Of Fire / Lying on a Deathbed by Jape



Kid Karate :: Sunday :: The Big Top @ 12pm 

A ferocious live force - the Dublin duo have consistently managed to transfer the energy and swagger of their debut Heart EP onto the stage. Such a feat is particularly commendable when you consider the insatiable energy required to create the pulsating splendour of tracks like 'Black and Beige' and 'Feel For You'. A later slot would suit a bit better but this will kick Sunday's hangover into touch that's for sure.

  Feel For You by Kid Karate



Dogs :: Sunday :: Big Top Stage @ 3pm 

Underbeats by dogs - the band


The Young Folk :: Sunday :: Main Stage @ 4.45pm 

They made it into my KnockanStockan Ones To Watch last week and having caught that enthralling live show my adoration for this folk-infused Dubliners has only heightened. Rousing, accomplished and earnest - think Mumford and Sons with a touch of class.

  The Young Folk - Way Down South by RisingStars 


Sacred Animals :: Sunday :: Main Stage @ 6.30pm 

Last year's debut EP was a sublime creation that I waxed lyrical about at the time. Flickering between light and dark, Sacred Animals deals with delicate yet expansive landscapes, jumping from pin-pricks to lush tones repeatedly to create a moving, compelling experience. 

  Sacred Animals by RootMusic 


Squarehead :: Sunday :: Main Stage @ 8.30pm 

  Squarehead - Fake Blood by lizpelly


These Charming Men :: Sunday :: Main Stage @ 10.30pm 

Lets face facts: I'm an avid Morrissey fan, so a tribute act like this was always going to be on my list. I caught TCM at The Village earlier in the year and I was blown away by their authenticity and their faithful restoration of both the Smiths' hits and the lesser-known tracks from Moz's solo catalogue. See you up front with the gladioli...

Onra :: Sunday :: Courtyard Stage @ 1.30am

  Onra - L.O.V.E by Onra


Toby Kaar :: Sunday :: Courtyard Stage @ 2.30.am

  Crank by TobyKaar

Review: Forbidden Fruit Festival :: Homegrown Talent Shines

So, the inaugural Forbidden Fruit Festival has come and gone and beyond the discussion over drink (or lack thereof) and waiting times for the toilets (not so lack thereof), there was the small matter of some bands playing. From the outset, much was made of the organiser's coup in attracting some international big hitters such as Flaming Lips, Aphex Twin et al. And yet, as the heads eased, and the moans about queues heightened, I can't help but feel this was a festival in which the local talent soared highest.

Bitches With Wolves' glam-disco-pop kicked things off with a bang, while Jape's new songs enlivened a particularly reserved Saturday afternoon crowd - with 'Please Don't Turn That Record On(?)' and its Smiths-esque riff, sounding particularly essential. It was the The Lighthouse Stage that really shone, however. Comprised solely of Irish bands (bar the invited Richter Collective pals Tera Melos), the smallest of the three huts proved anything but the weakest. As Aphex Twin were glitching the audience to sleep and Wayne Coyne was shouting "C'mon, C'mon Mutha-Fuckers!" for the twentieth yawn-inducing time, the best the country has to offer were playing out of their skin. Particularly commendable was a Not Squares outfit whose bristling tunes came alive with an unmissable mountain of energy and ingenuity, which deservedly attracted a healthy crowd. 
 
The Cast of Cheers meanwhile, stole half of Aphex's crowd and then blew them away with a jarringly emphatic performance, with each of the new tracks scaling Chariot's mightily impressive peaks. This was the point where the Dublin outfit became one of Ireland's most important bands - as if they weren't already. Spies meanwhile, on their first festival appearance and biggest gig to date, exuded a confidence worthy of festival veterans. Assured and passionate, they rose to the occasion with a performance that should secure them a healthy and well deserved spurt in their fan base and profile. Elsewhere you had Land Lovers' melodic pop hooks, or Bipolar Empire's thudding driven anthems, to cater for your needs and that's not even counting Enemies, Kid Karate, Ham Sandwich, Solar Bears and much more, all of whom received glowing report cards.

Of course, it would be illegitimate to deny the quality of some of the others acts on show. Caribou's vigorous creations were a tremendous riot, with the final mass chants of 'Sun!' surely standing as the closest many will get to a satanic ritual experience. Wild Beasts' sophisticated new tunes, though more suited to the calm of dusk, also shone in the evening heat - their decadent, swirling structures and goosebump-inspiring embraces marking them out as an important, intelligent modern band. It was undoubtedly the home-grown heroes that shone brightest, however. Those of the blogging variety have been championing these bands consistently for years, believing this to be something of a golden period. Here's hoping that such a prominent outing for local talent will see an even larger pool of punters fall under their collective spell. In a post-Cast of Cheers haze, a random Australian man, who knew nothing of the band, excitedly proclaimed that they were the best band of the weekend. And you know what - he wasn't wrong.

Jape

Main Stage Hill

Spies

Wild Beasts

Land Lovers

Flaming Lips...Style > Substance

Flaming Lips

Caribou

Bualadh Bus ar fad!

More additions to the Forbidden Fruit Festival

Not content with already boasting one of the best festival line-ups this side of Glastonbury, Forbidden Fruit has added another batch of names for their inaugural June Bank Holiday soiree.

 
On Saturday June 4 the likes of The Flaming Lips, Bombay Bicycle Club and Wild Beasts will now be joined by mental beat-boxer Beardyman, Belgian electro-heads The Subs, and London producer Rory Phillips. 

On Sunday June 5, joining Caribou, Battles and Aphex Twin will be Carte Blance (DJ Mehdi and Riton), French electro pair Logo and Brooklyn's Favourite Sons, while The Trinity Orchestra will open proceedings with a full orchestral performance of Daft Punk’s Discovery (amazing video below).


While it's obviously great to see such mega international names on board, you also have to give the organisers credit for showcasing the very best in Irish talent at the same time. Kid Karate, Ham Sandwich, Bipolar Empire and Spies are all playing the Lighthouse Stage on the Saturday, while The Richter Collective will be curating the same space on the Sunday bringing the likes of The Cast Of Cheers, Enemies and Squarehead with them, while I also can't wait to finally catch Solar Bears' live show.

FF takes place in the grounds of the Royal Irish Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin and tickets priced €49.50/day or €90 for the weekend are on sale now. Full line-up and tickets: http://www.forbiddenfruit.ie

I plan on doing a proper preview post on the pick of the line-up soon but for now have a listen to some of the acts below:



  Beardyman live @ Reading Festival 2010 by Beardyman  

  Wild Beasts - Albatross by DominoRecordCo  


  The Subs - Mitsubitchi by THE SUBS 


  Safe For All Seasons by FavouriteSons

  Spies - Barricade by spiesdublin  

  Solar Bears-Primary Colours At The Back Of My Mind by demiliv 
  Tip Of My Tongue by Bitches With Wolves music  


  Pass Out (Tinie Tempah Cover) by Kid Karate 

  Feel That You Own It by Bipolar Empire

New Video: Kid Karate - Heart

Oddly hypnotic new video from Kid Karate for the thunderous title track from their 'Heart' EP. It features pictures of the pair performing live and their recent Polish tour, as well as abstract shots of war, a bear playing the drums, and everything in between. Top work.

It was directed by frontman Kevin Breen and you can download the excellent 'Heart' EP (STL review here) for free via Bandcamp now.









 

STL's Weekly Listening Post (Week Ending 23/1)

The week in tunes according to STL - go forth and enjoy.

Check out last week's selection here.








________________________________________
  Ham Sandwich - Ants

Lovers of insects look away now. Brilliant new video for a highlight from last years acclaimed 'White Fox' LP. A video exclusive courtesy of State.ie.

James Foley - Tightrope

Tender acoustic ramblings from this Scottish singer-songwriter.







Cut Copy - Need You Now

80's infused return to form from the Melbourne synth-poppers.

Bell X1  - Hey Anna Lena

Where did this come from? Bell X1 ditch the OC soundtrack sound and ramp to the atmospherics to wondrous effect.


  Hey Anna Lena by Bell X1 




The Ambience Affair - Weeds

Cracking new track from the Meath outfit's upcoming debut album .







Kid Karate - Pass Out (Tinie Tempah Cover) 

The duo nail last year's R n' B smash - features on the Quarter Inch Quompilation.

  Pass Out (Tinie Tempah Cover) by Kid Karate




Baker Jnr - Making the Grade 

Sauntering folk tale from Baker Jnr AKA Andy Sheridan, a Dublin based singer songwriter who is in the process of putting his debut album together.  

  Make the grade by bakerjnr 

Live: Cock and Bull 5 - The Casanova Wave, Kid Karate, Cloud Castle Lake

Seriously snazzy lineup for the 5th Cock and Bull event, which will take place in the larger confines of The Grand Social on February 5th.

Cock and Bull TV is basically a free gig once a month, where they fill a space with some quality acts, film it, interview some of the bands and then deliver it to the interweb -  what more could you want?

It's a great idea, that is done on a shoe-string and also for free by the people behind it so kudos all round.

Having already featured the likes of Owen Pallett and Patrick Kelleher, the 5th event will see The Cassanova Wave, Kid Karate and Cloud Castle Lake take to the stage - full details are available anseo.

Sample the bands below and make sure to head along on the night - it's free!



The third episode of Cock and Bull, featuring Jon Dots, Hello Moon, At last an Atlas is now online and available for your viewing please here.







  A Wolf Howling by cloudcastlelake

Introducing - White Collar Boy

It's a great feeling to stumble upon something new that is both fully formed and genuinely interesting...and it's also an added bonus when they're Irish.
Yesterday evening, Kid Karate (follow them here - sound chaps) piqued my interest with a tweet about their friend who had just posted up recordings - a mysterious young man named Gavin White, who goes under the guise of White Collar Boy. These sort of tip offs don't always auger well but I was quickly won over.

Howl Again is six minutes of sprawling, stratified splendour, which glides along perfectly amid a winding guitar riff and wonderfully unpolished vocals. Despite it's length it never threatens to drift away, instead it changes pace at all the right moments, and amid these carefully stacked elements is the realisation that WCB possesses a certain knack for arrangement far beyond his humble status.



This Is (All Night) [Parts 1 and 2] is a more tranquil but equally compelling affair, as soft tones of discontent gradually give way to a warped vocal and tripped out beat. The insatiably catchy riff in The Return of the Hollow Eyed Saint and the accompanied low-key vocals could have been plucked straight from the creative mind of a certain David Kitt, while the more progressive, synth-driven maze of Another Way completes the quartet in explorative fashion.

A Dublin based multi-instrumentalist, very much in the mould of Kittser and Richie Egan, White Collar Boy is an exciting proposition. These tracks indicate that he bears all the necessary hallmarks to compete with the aforementioned trendsetters and it's been a while since I've been so taken by an artist I know so little about.

In fact, very little else is known of White Collar Boy at all...heck, even the accompanied picture is mysterious! Never the less, you can expect our caped crusader to emerge from the shadows pretty soon, these songs are simply too good for anything else.

Have a listen for yourself below and download some of the tracks on offer for free.

The Abbey Actor by White Collar Boy

STL's Top Songs of 2010: 40 - 21

The Morning Benders get prepared for their placement on the list

Following on from Part One, here's the second installment of STL's favourite tracks from 2010, counting down from 40 - 21.


 




__________________________________________________________________________________
40) Kid Karate – Feel For You

Urgent, synth-rock from a band more renowned for their TV screen debut on Fade St ("and you fuck off") than their music career. It's impact wanes on repeated listens but that first listen is a knock-out blow.
Feel For You by KidKarate

 
39) Morrissey - Happy Lovers United

The re-released Bona Drag album unearthed this gem from the vaults, bringing dry self deprecation, and a jangly, simple tune, all the way from 1988.



38) British Sea Power – Zeus

Rollicking title track from the EP which bodes well for next years new album.

 

37) Broken Bells – The High Road
 
Like The Shins on acid, this is the glorious result of a collaboration between Danger Mouse and James Mervers, the lead singer of ...er...The Shins.

 

36) Avi Buffallo – What’s in it for?

Lo-fi, summery tune from another Sub Pop disciple.

 

35) Perfume Genius - Learning 

Fragile and emotive work from Seattle resident Mike Hadreas. He wrote his haunting debut as a cathartic act to purge his own demons and has deservedly seen it gain international attention as a result.

 

34) Apparatjik - Antlers

Going against the trend that all supergroups need be loud and brash, the members of Coldplay, A-Ha and Mew combine to form a decidedly Scandinavian, tranquil sound.

 

33) Cathy Davy – Little Red

What a voice. Cathy Davey's work doesn't always hit home with me but this is a magical retelling of the childhood classic.



32) Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip – Get Better

If the duo's second album didn't quite reach the majestic heights of the debut overall, it came mightily close on occasion and most notably on the lead single - a call to arms for a broken society from a genius wordsmith, which is engulfed in a sumptuous beat. Their gig at The Workman's Club was a highlight of the year also.


 
31) Darwin Deez - Constellations

The title may allude to vast scope and infinite possibilities but this is in effect a simple, low key and unashamedly funky pop song. Extra points for that tache also.



30) Somadrone – Vapours

Redneck manifesto member Neil O'Conner has been a mainstay in the Irish music scene for quite some time now and the latest release under his Somadrone guise, Depths of Field, has been well received across the board. This is the most accessible slice from an album brimming with texture and intricacies.

Somadrone - Vapours by Somadrone


29) Cults – Go Outside

Arriving with virtually no information, this song swept into our ears with little fanfare, leaving the flowing, joyous melody to do the job instead.



28) Warpaint – Undertow

The all-female indie hipsters attracted equal amounts of love and derision this year but there's no denying the virtue of this hazy, mid-tempo, lead single.



27) Halves – Growing and Glow

Halves debut is an incredibly rich and rewarding experience; akin to finding yourself lost in the most detailed of forests, with a fascinating sight at every turn.

Growing & Glow by halves


26) James Vincent McMorrow – This Dark Old Machine

McMorrow's debut is an alluring affair, and in truth there could be half a dozen songs in this spot. That this song has grown on me so much in recent times is an indication of the album's depth and its enduring appeal from a singer-songwriter whose recent success is well deserved.



25) Tame Impala – Solitude is Bliss

Trippy and symphonic, never has a video reflected the songs content so well.

 

24) Spies – Liars Call Me King 

The finest cut from a triumphant debut EP from this Dublin five-piece, who bear a slight resemblance with The National's heavier output. Brooding and strident riffs combine to underpin a wonderful concoction of baritone vocals and lyrics which are drenched in romanticism and intelligent introspection.

Download their debut EP for free over at Bandcamp

 


23) Pepper Rabbit – Older Brother

The soft strum of a ukulele, sun drenched vocals and a joyous climatic chorus: perfection.

 

22) Deerhunter – Revival

A captivating, sauntering tale from the outstandingly dreamy new LP.

 

21) Morning Benders - Excuses

Beautiful and joyous to the nth degree, this tale of lovers trying to rekindle those precious first moments is as emotive and stirring as it sounds.

EP Review: Kid Karate - Heart

This is my review of the debut EP from promising dublin pair Kid Karate. It was originally featured @ Culch.ie so I've thrown in a few new pics for good measure. Have a listen for yourself over at their Myspace.

Having gained notoriety for their live shows over the past year, Heart arrives as the first proper release from Dublin duo Kid Karate. Indeed, it was live where they first shot to my attention following an outstanding performance at last month’s Hard Working Class Heroes festival (pictures below). The pair swept away the Mercantile’s intimate confines in a blistering set which culminated in participatory drumming and with vocals delivered from a lead singer who lay convulsed at the feet of the audience.  From that performance it was clear that Kid Karate possessed an unrestrained and impatient streak to impress and just as it paid off that night, so too does it on Heart.

This is a thunderous debut EP; urgent from the off and with a pace that never threatens to let up as the duo deliver four riotous anthems full of strident guitar riffs, chest thumping vocals and crashing drum-beats. Lead singer Kevin Breen’s vocals possess a definite primal element and his venomous refrains are suitably undercut with Steven Gannon’s driven percussion and backing vocals. Lazy comparisons to the other famous duo, The White Stripes, will no doubt ensue and while there’s a comparable rock edge to Kid Karate’s work, the clever use of synth’s throughout  succeeds in propelling the band into an almost dancey-phase. This is most notable on highlight ‘Feel for You’ which is a pulsating, toe-tapping number, while the synth-led title track dominates proceedings and leaves you with the stirring couplet of ‘If I had a heart I would love you’ ringing in your ears. Rambunctious, rowdy and a hell of a racket for two people, Kid Karate have announced their arrival in style.

Heart EP is released Thursday November 25^th.

An official launch party will take place the same night in Crawdaddy, with performances from the band themselves plus guests. Full details available here.