CD Reviews
Vale - The Sun Is My Filter (single)
Vale is Irish electronic songwriter and producer, Eoin Hally. With emotionally stirring songwriting and lush electronic, atmospheric production, Vale excels at marrying ambient, cinematic tones with rock and pop sensibilities and conventions. Having spent the last decade living in Cork City, the Tipperary native found himself returning home and, for the first time, with a studio of his own. From here recording began and tracks formed. Vale released his debut single ‘Tore It Down’ in October 2020, in collaboration with producer Owen Lewis, who’s based in Nashville. His second track ‘Border’ is the result of an in-studio collaboration with Icelandic musician Sin Fang, creating an accompanying ambient track to the artist’s first release. Vale’s second single ‘All Rise’, co-produced with multi-instrumentalist and ongoing collaborator David O’Connor, follows on from where Tore it Down left off, expanding the sonic landscape.
David Punch - Out of Reach (single)
David Punch is a 25 year old multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter from Cork in Ireland. He has been very open about his journey with Asperger's Syndrome, and aspires to inspire other people who may face similar difficulties. Punch admits that growing up with Aspegers (a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication) was incredibly difficult, especially with having relationships. “Finding the right woman to spend the rest of my life with is a difficult one for me because, I’m looking for the right girl who will understand me and love me for the person who I am.” Punch took his experiences and used them as inspiration for ‘Out Of Reach’, a track that was recorded and produced during Lockdown, with the help of producer Dave Skelton. Inspired by Irish artist Gavin James' song ‘Sober’.
Brí - In My Head (single)
Hailing from Offaly, Irish indie pop artist Brí has previously released 3 singles, debut track, 'LowSupply', 'Polite' and 'Burying'. From the success gained from these releases she sold-out her own Whelan's headline show, received high praise from a multitude of blogs and radio and was selected to perform at Beatvyne's MusicX Tech Experience. While 2020 saw performances from Brí at the esteemed Whelan's Ones to Watch, The Ruby Sessions, headliners in The Sound House,Spirit Store, festival line-up announcements such as Vantastival and the radio success of her recent releases, Brí hints at her debut album Hide, set to be released in October.
Ruby Moss - Shades of Grey (single)
Ruby Moss turned 14 years old on Monday 26th July 2021 – the same day that her first original song was released across digital platforms. Ruby’s Song entered the iTunes charts the same day as its release and went to number 1 on the following day. Ruby is originally from Trim, County Meath. Ruby and her mum moved to Cabra in Dublin when Ruby started in St Patrick’s Cathedral Choir School. Ruby ended up in the choir school because it was the closest school to her mum’s work and Ruby loved music. Ruby had been learning piano with Bernadette Belton in Trim and had been attending Musical Theatre Classes with Carmel McKiernan in Limelight Theatrics before starting in the choir school.
Downtown Association - Urban Legends
Downtown Association was founded in 2015 by guitarist George Matikas (ex- Shock Absorber) who joined forces with Tasos D.(Prassein Aloga) on the drums , Nik Danielos(ex-Bend for eleven) on the bass and Dean Mess (W.A.N.T.E.D. , Payday) on the vocals. This new act was formed in order to capture the sound of the late night jams of a lively neighbourhood in Thessaloniki’s downtown. George wanted to create the group that could play the soundtrack of ladadika’s neighbourhood and so Downtown Association happened. The debut album “City Guide” was released on December 2016 successfully introducing the new band to the hard rock/metal audience. The second album titled “Born Enraged” didn’t have to wait to long and so it went out on March 2019 gaining a bigger circle of attention.
Pop Wallace - Noises Made Figuring Things Out (EP)
Pop Wallace is a singer/producer from Co. Carlow, Ireland, currently based in Phoenix, Arizona. In 2013, he moved to the US, after meeting his American wife in Ireland. “I used to write and play a lot. And then I moved to America and… did nothing for eight years. But the pandemic made my friends start making new music. Soon we’re thinking of starting up a label, and last year, I started learning to produce music.” He co-founded Poxy Records in 2020, alongside hip-hop producer Willhouse and songwriter/producer Lenny Melon. “Link Up”, Wallace’s debut single was released in June 2020. It was popular enough to warrant a successful crowdfund for an entire full-length album for Pop Wallace, “Good Boy”, whose limited edition vinyl record became Poxy Records’ first physical release in less than half a year of its existence.
Jack Joyce - Black Cat by the Bins (single)
Jack Joyce is a 19 year old, Dublin based up and coming unsigned Irish multi instrumentalist singer-songwriter first embarked on his music career at the age of sixteen when he began booking and performing gigs in local pubs and clubs. From a young age, Jack has been composing his own songs and released his debut demo EP, Get Down, in October 2018. Jack Joyce’s sound delivers a unique acoustic, indie-pop style. His cleverly crafted lyrics blend wit and poetry to create a perfect balance between insight and humour.
Mark Dignam - Angels of Mercy (single)
Mark Dignam was born in Dublin, Ireland, and raised for the most part, in Finglas, a working class suburb known for its rough and tumble character, soccer players, and some fine singers and musicians. His mother, Maureen, sang around the house a lot, and the neighborhood itself, was soaked in music; Irish Traditional, Pop, Rock, Punk, Ska and Reggae tunes seemed to be everwhere. In the late 1980s Mark and his fellow northside friend Glen Hansard, began busking on Grafton Street in the city center, meeting up with Mic Christopher, Kila, Miriam Ingram, Leslie Keye, et al, to establish a street performing phenomenon. It was a racous mix of covers and originals which garnered a staunchly loyal, weekly following over three to four summers. The group became a storied part of Dublins’s music history, and from the vantage point of their pavement stage, they were not unused to seeing members of The Waterboys, Van Morrison, or Sinead O’Connor in the audience. The police were also frequent visitors (not the band!).
A Ritual Sea - Radiate (single)
Formed in 2016, A Ritual Sea’s distinctive, synth-driven, shoegaze sound is heavily influenced by the esoteric imagery of Andrei Tarkovsky, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Robert Altman and Ingmar Bergman. Having featured at the renowned Other Voices Festival in 2018 and supported international acts such as Gwenno and Jane Weaver, the band played a sold-out headline show in Dublin’s Whelans venue in early 2020 and are gearing up to return to playing live shows in support of their debut album launch.
Davey Long - Last Train to Tupelo (single)
Davey Long is a songwriter and a multi-instrumentalist from Kilkenny City who is well known in the Irish music scene. He has appeared on several albums including Celtic Woman’s GRAMMY nominated Destiny, The Fundamentals Past and Present Collide, Edisons Little Bohemia, The Kilkennys The Colour Of Freedom, Emma Langford’s Sowing Acorns and The Barnets’ forthcoming LP. Davey co-wrote On The Carousel for Drops Of Green and the song went on to win an ASLR Celtic Music Award.