Songs of the week
Meltybrains? - The Vine
Since appearing on the Irish scene a few years back, the Dublin band have always had an experimental bent but that tendency generally unfurled itself in elongated passages of avant-art instrumentation. The Vine meanwhile embraces a peculiar but thrilling tropical pop music that sounds inspired by autotune Jamaican dancehall. The end result could feature on a Disney soundtrack. Surprising and compelling.
Lakerama - Take
Limerick producer Graeme S, inspired by the Chicago-born sounds of footwork and juke, has teamed up with Cork singer Senita Appiakarong, who has collaborated with Le Galaxie and Daithí, for a three-track EP of soulful dance music. Pick of the bunch is the opening track Take.
Bitch Falcon - TMJ
The Dublin three-piece continues to strengthen their credentials as the Irish rock band with the biggest punch. New single TMJ has a grunge air with vocalist Lizzie Fitzpatrick tearing into the vocals with an early '90s Seattle style.
The Expert - Da Wha?
Fans of Irish rap of the last decade will be pleased to know that one half of one of Ireland's finest rap groups Messiah J and The Expert has continued his forays into instrumental hip-hop beats and come up with an album of the stuff called Dynamic Drift. Album standout Da What? samples A Tribe Called Quest and channels the spirit of production pioneer J Dilla.
New artist of the week
White Boys
My first encounter with White Boys was a questionable but undoubtedly brave funk version of Hozier's Take Me To Church, which at first, wasn't clear if it was a joke or a lovingly-crafted cover, partly down to the Cork duo's sunglasses-wearing pisstake-leaning promo video.
They're at it again for their video Stylin. Gathering all their mates together at a party who half-know the words to their song, adding a Brian Cowen mask and a camera and the result is a cheap jokey music video that belies White Boys impressively immersive soulful funk-R&B that is reminiscent of the kind of music Republic Of Loose made in their prime.
Grab a free download of their EP at http://whiteboysmusic.com and catch them at gigs this weekend on Friday at Cobblestone Joe's, in Limerick and Saturday at The Greyhound, Tralee.
Irish album of the week
Evvol - Eternalism
The Berlin-based duo of Jon Dark and Julie Chance (one Irish / one Aussie) originally appeared as Kool Thing, whose output culminated in a debut album inspired by '90s indie, and '80s electronic.
With a name change came a fresh approach, and a honed-in sound that takes more of an inspiration from their home city. The result can be heard on Eternalism, the rejuvanated duo's debut which takes in melodic synth-noir landscapes and heady dance textures.
Remix of the week
I'm Your Vinyl – Erase Me (Daithí remix)
Galway fiddle and electronic wunderkind has updated the retro pop thrill of the Dublin band I'm Your Vinyl's Erase Me into a house-pop club track.
