JIM CARROLLon music
What next for the bands of Ireland’s new golden era?
As readers know all too well, last year was a spectacular one for Irish music. More than 200 albums were released in 2010, and the quality of these albums was remarkably high. It was, as we’ve said before, something of a golden age.
The question, though, is what comes next?
An answer of sorts was provided last week at the Great Escape festival and convention in Brighton, where a bunch of Irish bands were playing and showcasing. There were queues around the block for Villagers, huge interest in James Vincent McMorrow (legendary talent scout Seymour Stein checked out the show) and growing interest in bands like Funeral Suits.
Events such as the Great Escape provide the next step for acts who are ready to take advantage of interest from abroad. In the case of McMorrow, for example, his debut album, Early In the Morning, will be doing a lot of musical networking for him for some time to come. That album and those songs has ensured an appearance next week on BBC's Later . . . with Jools HollandTV show and more European and US dates.
The name of the game for Irish music is to keep producing acts who can go on to do business abroad. A working band is unlikely to be able to make do through Irish activities alone. But getting to the level where you can tour and release abroad takes talent, time, perseverance and no little luck.
Last year’s bumper crop was the result of years of hard graft by the musicians on stage and those behind the scenes. The next step is to make sure that those acts who can make the most of shop windows such as the Great Escape and next January’s Eurosonic – where Ireland will be the featured country – get to do so.
Now playing
Bon Iver Bon Iver(4AD) Three years after For Emma, Forever Agoturned the world and Kanye West on to Justin Vernon, he's back with a humdinger of a new record.
DJ Shadow I Gotta Rokk(Interscope) This taster for the brand spanking new Shadow album, which is due in September, is a root-and-branch banger which gives your speakers a good seeing-to.
Stubborn Heart Need Someone(White) Sparse, beautiful and poignant tune from mysterious London-based producer and singer
Lone Coreshine Voodoo(RS) Opening track on the EcholocationsEP from Matt Cutler takes you right to the heart of the rave.
Joni Mitchell Count Spark(Asylum) Recommended ages ago to OTR by Glasser's Cameron Mesirow and finally purchased last weekend, this 1974 album saw Mitchell adding deep jazz tones to her folk-rock.
New music
RIZZLE KICKS
Brighton duo making the sort of fresh, punchy, dashing old-school hip-hop pop reminiscent of Freak Power (coincidentally, they’re currently working with Norman Cook) and Freaky Koochie Ryder Realistic. Check out their remix of Jessie J’s Price Tag or their own Prophet (Better Watch It). rizzlekicks.com
YAAKS
Popping up on radars following recent strong performances at Brighton’s Great Escape and BBC Radio One’s Big Weekend. Yaaks hail from Eastbourne in England, and they make the sort of chunky, hooky, swaggering, tropical tunes that throw you head-first on to the nearest dance floor. myspace.com/weareyaaks
BELLES WILL RING
Australian band who’ve taken giant leaps with their striking new album Crystal Theatre, which is chock-a-block with superb, moody, atmospheric, expansive pop tunes such as Street Light Stomp and Come to the Village. belleswillring.com
