ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Count Vaseline - Cascade
Stef Murphy has wasted no time since disbanding his long-running The Mighty Stef project. Under a new name he has already released two albums in quick succession with a third on the way. Cascade is his best work since TMS, and it's an album that explores psychedelic rock and soulful rock'n'roll with a brevity in its production and execution that is refreshing and rare.
SONGS OF THE WEEK
Paths - Neoprene
Jules Shawe used to play in the Die Hard-referencing Belfast band Nakatomi Towers - 2017 sees her striking out on her own as Paths. Debut single Neoprene is a charming indie-pop song with looped guitars and lo-fi beats. She plays Belfast's Output on February 16th.
New Jackson - Electric Blue
David Kitt may have previewed his new solo album in early January before it gets a proper release later this year, but that's not the only album he's working on. His electronic project New Jackson is due an album in 2017 but before that happens, Kitt has contributed a reimagining of Bowie's Sound And Vision as a nine-plus minute electronic jam for Fort Romeau's Cin Cin label.
Blackfish Collective - Drizzle
Formed by members of The Notas and their mates, the London/Dublin collective played their first live show last weekend in Dublin's Bello Bar. Drizzle is an introduction to the members of the collective but it's the pinging bass-heavy beat that wins out over some of the questionable lyric choices.
Síomha - Fly
Clare singer, songwriter and guitarist Síomha has spent time in Memphis, New Orleans, Nashville, Atlanta and Austin and there's an indelible imprint of American jazz, blues and soul on her own music, as heard on new single Fly.
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Lisa Hannigan - Undertow
Directed by Alden Volney
Another highlight from recent album At Swim receives the video treatment - and it's as graceful and textured as Hannigan's songs (with added glitter).
NEW ARTIST OF THE WEEK
Birds of Olympus
A surprise pick from the organisers of South By South West to play the Texan music industry festival in March, because they didn't have a song out yet, Birds Of Olympus are a four-piece band fronted by John 'Spud' Murphy (formerly of Hybrasil). Their debut single Vine Of The Soul is a chugging slice of psychedelic-leaning indie-pop. They play the Grand Social, Dublin, on February 16th with Cat Dowling.
