Solar Bears' debut release - 2010's She Was Coloured In - was a stylish, artistic piece of work that evoked images of distant realms and cosmic notions, bringing the listener on a colourful, sensual journey. Thus, the return of this Dublin/Wicklow based duo is an exciting proposition and buoyed by the beautiful vocals of Keep Shelly In Athens' Sarah P, their new single 'Alpha People' doesn't disappoint. The track debuted on Pithchfork last week, with Eoghan from TPOE analysing the potential impact the site can have on the success and spread of ones music.
It's initially strange to hear such a dominant focus on vocals in a Solar Bears' track but it soon feels second nature. Solar Bears' have oft spoken about their ties to film (their name is taken from Solaris by Andrei Tarkovsky) and the trend continues here. In fact, as that opening keyboard riff rolls into the opening verse it evokes visions of a rogue female in a futurisitic city a la Blade Runner...or is that just me? Either way, it's a truly fantastic track and one that demands continued listens. Despite this, you also get the feeling that Solar Bears' true talent shines best in a collective piece of work, namely their second album which will hopefully be upon us sometime soon.
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.
Wow, wow and extra wow - where in God's name did this come from? The line-up for Forbidden Fruit, a new festival from Bulmers and Pod, has been announced and it makes for amazing reading.
Taking place over 2 days in the grounds of Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin, it sees the likes of Wild Beasts, Caribou, Solar Bears, The Flaming Lips and Battles take to the stage over the June bank holiday weekend.
Full line-up below. Tickets on sale tomorrow priced €45 and €90. Get on it!
If the beautiful electro work from Dublin/Wicklow duo Solar Bears has somehow passed you by then you're in luck as the band have now uploaded all of their tracks (including a few remixes) onto their SoundCloud.
With snippets of Boards of Canada and a general lush, cinematic vibe throughout, their debut album She Was Coloured In was easily one of the highlights of the year.
Each track is a magic little creation; perfectly orchestrated and devised - so delve in and enjoy the wondrous sound of modern Irish music.
So here we are. I'm not quite sure why I settled on 60 but it's a nice number regardless, and one which holds the tracks which have most pleased my ears throughout the last 12 months.
I'm sure I've missed some obvious choices but it's a nice representation of what has been a great year in music none the less, particularly on an Irish front.
Have a listen, find something you may like/have missed and make sure to post your own!
Sure, who else? Love 'em or hate 'em there's no doubting that Horse Outside will be on the 'Reeling in the years' montage for 2010 in another decade or so...
59) Surfer Blood – Floating Vibes
Summery indie-vibes which are as fuzzy and warm as the name suggests.
58) El Guincho - Bombay
An outstandingly nonsensical video which almost detracts attention away from a great tune from Spain's Animal Collective influenced El Guincho.
57) Mountain Man - Animal Tracks
As with the best things in life this is simple and beautiful, and if you will excuse the lazy comparison, sounds close to an all female Fleet Foxes - which is never a bad thing.
56)Blur – Fools Day
An unexpected treat from a band presumed defunct; not a Blur classic but it holds more than enough to suggest a proper reunion is a worthy proposition.
55) Ham Sandwich – The Naturist
The greatest achievement yet of a band whose earlier praise baffled me, lovely voice.
Scandanavian pop-let lets loose to wondrous effect.
53) Laura Marling – Needle and the damage done
A charming retelling of a Neil Young classic; her incredible voice suits it perfectly and there's a smashing stop-motion video to boot.
52) Owen Pallett – Midnight Directives
Sufjan-esque, operatic splendour.
51) Rory Grubb – Take Your Own Advice
Lush acoustic ramblings; Ireland has never been short on singer-songwritrs but Grubb's latest album 'Sketches From The Big Sleep', does enough to keep his head well and truly above the water.
No videos unfortunately but have a listen over at Breaking Tunes.
50) Rihanna – Rude Boy
A pop song that the indie kids will dance to, no wonder it has 133 million YouTube hits...
49) Stornoway – Boats and Trains
A beautiful seranade from the thinking man's Mumford and Sons.
48) Tindersticks – Black Smoke
With our very own David Kitt in tow, Tindersticks produced a strong new LP in the form of 'Falling Down A Mountain', with this track in particular appearing as the perfect accompaniment to a 'Cohen' Brothers classic.
47) Everything Everything – My Keys, Your Boyfriend
Will no doubt infuriate many but these off-kilter melodies have enough originality to stick around
46) Belle and Sebastian– I Want the world to stop
Modern indie royalty arrive back with a good new album, of which this is a highlight.
45) The Flaws – Part of you
Jangly return from Monaghan's finest; which is the equal of anything on their excellent debut.
44) John Grant – TC and Honeybear
Wherein the members of Midlake combine with a singer to make an arguably more compelling set of songs than the band's own new LP.
43)Patrick Kelleher - Wonder (Jape Remix)
Emerged late last year but only officially released this year on the stellar You Look Colder remixes album. That good that it deserves as many listens as possible; genuinely spine tingling reworking of the splendid original. The Kittser remix would have made it also were it not for fear of an overload.
A sumptious pebble-dashed array of colours and shapes, which build and latch onto your snyapses in the process.
41) Solar Bears – Primary Colours at the Back of My Mind
The sound of the cosmos and equally as life affirming. Beautiful and in no way immediately recognisable as 'Irish', Dublin/Wicklow's Solar Bears are the perfect example of the depth and variety which Irish music has been offering lately.
The full run down from 40 - 1 will follow in the next couple of days...
