[ Adrian Crowley - The WishOpens in new window ]
Having moved from pensive singer-songwriter to elegiac composer/songwriter a few albums ago, the Galway artist Crowley has transitioned once again, with the help of The Gloaming's Thomas Bartlett who produced his forthcoming record Dark Eyed Messenger. Barlett counselled Crowley to make the album without his trusted guitar. He obliged and the results sound utterly beguiling. The result is out in October on Chemikal Underground.
[ Idle Hands - In The DarkOpens in new window ]
Caolan Dentith is a 22 year-old Derry musician inspired by Jack White, Chet Faker, Watsky and MØ who claims to be just "winging it" (aren't we all Caolon) but despite this protestation, In The Dark has a sawtoothed electronic buzziness to it that wings it very well.
[ Gyan Rosling - InfluxOpens in new window ]
Spoonerisms in music are fun devices (Gnarles Barkley, Com Truise, Wevie Stonder, Joy Or-bison) and are memorable too but in Gyan Rosling's case, the title nods to an influence of one of the handsome actor's best films Drive in the way that his music has a retro wave 80s elec-tronic vibe akin to the soundtrack of that acclaimed film.
[ Leigh Michael - Rocket ScienceOpens in new window ]
The Dublin rapper Leigh Michael has been rapping for 15 years and has 20 releases out in ether. Here’s number 21, a funk percussion track produced by Just Blake with a dense lyrical flow at its core. “I scam parameters! Apprentice of sentence stamina / My grammar panorama can’t be captured with a camera,” he raps. But it can be captured in this track.
[ VIDEO OF THE WEEK: Spudgun - CrayonsOpens in new window ]
Video: Eoin Mulligan
A frantic discombobulating rock song requires a video that has the same effect, which is what Spudgun deliver here with a tilted music video drawing on live footage, cosy band portraits at home and a dose of silliness.
[ Franco FireOpens in new window ]
Marc O'Reilly is a musician who has, its fair to say, found a greater success and recognition in Europe than at home with record label deal on the continent and a healthy fanbase. A few years ago, he also teamed up with others as the band R, who are now Franco Fire, a three-piece split between O'Reilly's native Waterford and London. Their debut EP Forget features smart, sultry and subtle electronic pop music.
[ Tree Edits - Afro Edits 3Opens in new window ]
Ireland is a long way from African rhythms, funk tones and bass blasts but that hasn’t stopped the Dublin edits label Orange Tree churn out some high-flying rump-shaking heat-creating afro cuts for dance floor. Witness the suspenseful shake of Kildare duo Mix and Fairbanks on the A-side of their third release, currently number one on the Juno vinyl charts.
