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Fears - Fabric

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Fears - Fabric Constance Keane, aka Fears, follows up her well received single ‘h_always’ with the dynamic electro-pop tapestry of ‘ Fabric .’ An accomplished multi-instrumentalist and producer hailing from Dublin, she has been making waves with her fresh, ethereal approach to vocals and composition, a reputation she upholds in her latest. Slight changes in her music have been followed by a move to London. Vocals that were previously haunting now have a playful breathlessness to them, draped as they are over a bed of glittering keys and synth. Despite the bright echos however, there is a persistent gloom prevalent throughout, which emphasises the minimalist electro-pop appeal of this track. Indeed, the vocals are the glue that holds this track together. The distorted backing track allows for Fears to retain an alternative edge while Keane’s subdued electro-canticle propels the pop pedigree of the track forward. Another stand out track from the multi-talented artist who continues
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Seventh Heaven: Taylor Johnson

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Seventh Heaven: Taylor Johnson Back in 1977, NASA sent a probe into deep space laden with earthly goods. One such object was a golden record, containing some of the best music created by human beings: J.S. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chuck Berry. All in the hope that, should life exist beyond our spacial borders, anyone that came into contact with the probe would be prepared for homo-sapien culture.  But what if we got to choose which albums went into space?   Seventh Heaven is a feature in which musicians and influencers pick their seven favourite albums and send them out into the heavens in the hope of spreading peace and good vibes throughout the galaxy.  Writing for this edition of Seventh Heaven is Taylor Johnson of brand new friend #1. The Smiths – ‘Rank’ The Smiths fell into my life just when I needed them most. From the first time I heard this band, it felt like they were talking directly to me. As if they existed only to soundtrack my life. Morrissey sang of unr
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Billie Ellish - WHEN WE SLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO

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Billie Ellish - WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO Loathe as I am to admit it, California emits some pretty cool shit. Kendrick Lamar and Vince Staples are two of the bigger rap stars in the world. FEVER 333 are bringing hard-style to the mainstream. Even FIDLAR are making being uncool look desirable. Enter the 17-year old Billie Ellish, the family-assisted/self-made star who has moulded the internet to her own whims. Where others have struggled to adapt to the YouTube algorithms, Ellish was born in the social media era, moulded by it, and has yet to fall prey to its psycho-social tendencies. Her debut album, ‘WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO,’ is a microcosm for the subtle intricacies and cynicism that comes with a developmental period that is subject to global scrutiny and access. And damn if it isn’t impressive. The teen described her debutant effort to billboard.com as a “coming of age” moment. A mysterious, absurd album that has its roots in her own person
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Son Of The Hound - Cheers, Sound, Good Luck

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Son Of The Hound - Cheers, Sound, Good Luck Followers of the Mad Notions podcast may be aware that on the 3rd of April 2019, there will be a gig in Limelight 2 for the official launch of Michael McCullaghs aka Son Of The Hound 's aka Mick’s debut album (it's ok if you missed it, they barely mention it on the show). For fans of the hound, the fact that this is the inaugural release may come as a surprise. After all, his ‘Also-Rans’ internet shorts were a musical/comedy cult hit, his brand of guitar pop is infinitely accessible and he has the backing of international superstar Nathan O’Regan. Nevertheless, ‘ Cheers, Sound, Good Luck ’ is the troubadours first foray into album releases under this moniker, combining both a flamboyant bounce and thoughtful subtlety into its ten track setlist. Playing to his strengths as a natural storyteller, Cheers… takes great joy in making the mundane engaging, with many of its song topics taking the recognisable and giving them conse
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Deaf Havana, The LaFontaines & Hot Milk - Saturday 30th March

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Deaf Havana, The LaFontaines & Hot Milk - Saturday 30th March I am taking a break from investigating the legal repercussions of having my mail forwarded to Limelight 2 to write this review. Feels like I’m in there often enough that I should be paying rent. Some serious talent has passed through their stage doors, and on the 30th of March, three more names were added to the list. After stomaching the steep pint prices, I squeezed through to the front of the crowd, discontent with the idea of missing a single act. First on stage were rising Manchester group Hot Milk , making one of their first appearances on Irish soil. A competitive scene to emerge from, they have followed in the footsteps of their predecessors, peddling a pounding, addictive sound that has caught ears all over the UK. Tonight proved to continue this trend. The ‘ Awful Ever After ’ hitmakers played a distinctly emo flavoured pop-punk set, complete with screaming vocals, vivacious guitar and goosebump-indu
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Deerstalker - The Eternal Facade of Complacency

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Deerstalker - The Eternal Facade of Complacency The chief strength of rock bands, since records were established, has always been their inclination towards the unrestrained. High flying guitar antics have long been the strategy of choice. So when hard rock three-piece Deerstalker opted to reign in their fury in favour of tighter riffs and a more directed force on their new release, they flipped the norm on its head. Problem is, it sounds so right. Their latest, The Eternal Facade of Complacency , is their first since February 2018’s Back To Sleep, and the progress is marked. While the same dizzying riffs remain, they are more compact and solid. The crashing percussion assault is still there, but it's tauter and inspires a thicker sense of dramatic gloom from the rockers. And while the creaking vocals bring to mind the post-grunge bands of the mid-2000s, their hardcore pedigree is maintained by its skulking malevolence. Conjuring images of a sea of headbangers, the s
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Patrick Gardiner - Pieces Of Me

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Patrick Gardiner - Pieces Of Me Folk music is one of the nations oldest traditions, and the fact that it retains much of its prestige is a testament to the artists who are producing it. The inclination towards DIY has long been a calling card for the acoustic armed creative, but County Down native  Patrick Gardiner  has seen fit to take this ethos a step further. His latest album,  Pieces Of Me , was written, produced, and performed by Gardiner, and is influenced by both his home in Ireland (sampling  Malojian  in ‘ We Will Be Found ’ for instance) and his current residence in England (with imagery that oozes green fields and Victorian architecture). A self-proclaimed writer of “sad songs,” Pieces Of Me fully immerses itself in how darkly emotive folk music can be. In doing so, Gardiner begins to tap into his full potential as a composer. Already an accomplished producer in his own right, his songwriting and lyrical chops are graciously flexed throughout the album. From the mas
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