Applause Music Reviews: Belfast and Northern Ireland

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dave - PSYCHODRAMA Your debut is your chance to make your mark early. After all, first impressions are essential in the age of streaming. Look at Arctic Monkeys, The 1975 and the countless other British artists that kickstarted their career off of an arrival that blew doors off hinges. And yet, to consider PSYCHODRAMA to be a debut seems to undersell its artist. Already somewhat of a household name after two massively successful EP’s, and with PSYCHODRAMA confidently battling the return of Foals and Dido for the number one spot on the charts, Dave (aka Santan Dave) looks poised to emerge into the spotlight.  A concept album revolving around a year of therapy, PSYCHODRAMA examines the intricate social realities of being black, British, working class and depressed. An emotional powerhouse, and one of the best hip hop albums to emerge from the UK in years, everything about this record seems calculated and compelling. From its unsubtle cover art (Dave, alone, set against a bla

Foals - Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 1 There is something about Foals that allows them to get away with things other acts don’t. An attractive arrogance that has endeared fans to their absolute unwillingness to be boxed in. They’ve rarely stayed the same, challenging their former albums with their latest, discontent to take handouts or compromise. They’ve never been afraid of mixing the hard with the soft. But everything is different now; they’re fifteen years older and a bassist removed from last they released an album. Surely this has chipped away at their mammoth confidence? Wrong. Rather it is the opposite, as the latest from the Oxford quartet sees them embrace a new lease on life. Taking aim at social dissonance, global warming and the prevalent absurdity of the 2010s, Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 1 is the first of two albums that sees Foals give themselves a leg up to new heights. With this being said, despite their gargantuan profile, Foals still

Son Of The Hound - You Are Alive  Musician. Writer. Podcaster. Doggo. Friend (?) of Nathan O’Regan. Take your pick from any number of the titles used to describe Mick McCullagh, but for the purpose of this exercise, we’ll refer to him with his nom-de-plume: Son Of The Hound. The guitar pop troubadour with a penchant for soft, almost vulnerable, anthems returns with new track ‘You Are Alive,’ a strident alt-folk/rock number propelled by a determined spirit and resonant tone. An electric echo leads the march before a percussive stomp kicks the anti-nihilism into its wide-eyed gear. The upbeat chorus is introduced with a Janis Joplin-esque roar of “lonely, lonely, loh-oh-oh-oh-ohnely” before a wall of ringing chords, dripping in alacrity and zeal, slams into the listener. Streams of twilight infused licks flow through the track like tributaries, carrying extra pep with each flick of McCullagh's wrist, towards the grand sense of commonality found in the football chant appeal

Junk Drawer - Year Of The Sofa  There are many words you can use to describe Junk Drawer. Traditional… would not be one of them. The Belfast based quartet have won the hearts and minds of many with their DIY ethos, genre fusion and John Osbourne-esque predilection for cynicism. Assimilating an assumedly unpalatable mix of Krautrock, Indie, Post Punk and Psychedelia, Junk Drawer are somewhat of a puzzle box. Charming, yet morose. Funny, but anxious. Aware, but in an excessive, bliss shattering way. Junk Drawer sounds like they’re playing a prank, and you’re in on the scheme. You’re privy to the inside jokes. You’re in the inner circle, and it’s a whirlwind of derisive one-liners and filthy, toothsome riffage. This spirit of glorious discomfort is the foundation upon which Year Of The Sofa was built, and it carries on Junk Drawers tradition of releasing guilty pleasure for rainy days. Superb stuff. Receiving the music video treatment (visuals by Ciara King, colouring by Matty

Rebekah Fitch - The Mac, 5th March 2019 They say that often the venue fits the performer, not the other way around. Tonight, I couldn’t agree with them more. The MAC is one of Belfast’s premier artistic hubs. It’s downstairs theatre, all high ceilings and ultraviolet haze, has seen some of the best talents in the city and beyond pass through its stage doors. And tonight its sold out stalls play home to the neo-soul and alternative pop of Rebekah Fitch, one of the brightest rising stars to emerge from the northern capital in a number of years. Accompanied tonight by a full band, I eagerly take my seat in preparation for, what is sure to be, a spectacle for the soul. First, however, an opening act. Derry songstress Reevah emerges from the shadows, her guitar slung low across her body. Silence grips the theatre. Reevah seems unbothered, tuning up her instrument before a smattering of embarrassed applause breaks out. The opening act receives this lull breakage with a gracious sm