Bell X1 released a video this week for their current single “Velcro”, which is available now on iTunes.
It is taken from the forthcoming album Bloodless Coup out next Friday 1st April and they will play two nights at Vicar St to coincide – Wed 6 & Thurs 7 April – and the Trinity Ball on Fri 8th.
It was also announced that the boys are playing at the Marquee, Cork this summer on the 1st July.
Fred release Leaving My Empire, their fourth studio album on April 15th 2011. Recorded by Producer Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire) at Montreal's 'Hotel2Tango studio and mixed by Ben Hillier (Elbow, Blur, Editors). The result is Fred's most assured and ambitious album to date. The first single to be taken from the album 'If Not Now When' is out on April 1st.
At the start of November last year the five members of Fred travelled to Montreal to start recording the album. Howard Bilerman invited the band to come and record at his renowned ‘Hotel2Tango’ studio after hearing their demos earlier in the year. As well as recording and playing on Arcade Fire's Breakthrough record ‘Funeral’, Howard has worked his magic with an array of great artists including Wolf Parade, God Speed You Black Emperor and British Sea Power to name but a few.
Fred had spent nearly a year laying low writing, producing and demo-ing the tracks, this would be their first time recording in a studio to tape, eschewing the safety of computers. “We had never really recorded as a group, so it was a leap of faith.” says bassist Jamin O’Donovan "but it paid off, and that natural sound that comes from a group playing together, with all the happy accidents that process brings, is there to hear and brings the album to life".
What emerged was eclectic, exciting, and a contrast to the musical associations people have with the band. There are crests and troughs of tempos and dynamics, multiple vocals, a slew of strings and introspection themes versus brasher pop.
In 2008, Fred Go God Go, which raised their status from cult local heroes to that of an international act. The band’s live reputation increased on the back of constant touring and festivals both at home and abroad, and gig highlights included performances at the Electric Picnic and Oxegen. In 2009, a Hot Press Reader’s Poll of Top Irish Bands saw the band make the Top 10. Fred were also selected for the Top 10 of iTunes Canada’s Indie Spotlight albums for 2008. Their first Canadian single ‘Skyscrapers’ was picked as single of the week and was subsequently downloaded by over 80,000 people.
As a band, Fred have always been hard to place, not just in an Irish musical context, but within a genre. “With the last album, we tried a lot of different things, which helped us learn a lot of different things, so we took all that and decided to make a more focussed and streamlined record,” says Joseph O’Leary (singer). O'Donovan agrees, “We all like such varied music, so it’s great to be able to create something in the confines of a pop song and then try something darker and edgier you feel like it”.
Fred may be uncategorisable, but there are reference points – ‘If Not Now When’ sets out an album that seems to embrace influences that come from the West (America, Canada) rather than the East. Bilerman’s big-drum influence permeates ‘The Life Behind’, where everything pivots around percussion. The faraway echoes of ‘Somewhere Else’, 'Stereoscope’ and ‘As You See’ with 'Stereoscope' being one of the most singular and introspective tracks on the album. ‘Eleven’ is led by vocals that have a Wall-Of-Sound wooziness, building to an epic, insistent chorus. ‘Villains’ opens with dirty bass before transforming into multi-vocal anthemic pop. There's even the nod to ‘70s soul in the form of ‘Fears and Melodies’, which channels ‘Les Fleurs’-era Minnie Riperton and Rotary Connection. ‘Trial By Fire’, an infectious pop-romp has something of a cheer-leading mantra. Along with ‘Villains’, both songs look unashamedly to the past. ‘We Are The City Now’ signs off the album with the same verve and energy that races through all 11 songs. At the end, what’s left? 11 songs written with heart; rhythms and melodies that are willing to take risks and a band who have finally made the album they always wanted to.
In an age of internet newness and obsession with the next-big-thing, it’s easy to forget that there’s merit in slow-burn. Fred have been together, in various line-ups, since 1999 and their experiments with style and sounds has directly affected their skill in the craft of song-writing. About 'Leaving My Empire' Guitarist Jamie Hanrahan say's “A band’s first and second albums can be like a map for where they want to go. We’ve moved onwards and upwards since the last album; our ambitions and musical desires have changed and grown. We've attempted to create songs that go from intimate to epic and back, and to create little journeys for anyone listening”
Catch Fred@:
• April 15th – Tower Records Instore – Dublin
• April 16th – HMV Instore – Cork
• May 16th – Blackbox Theatre, Belfast
• May 19th – Whelans, Dublin
• May 20th – The Forum, Waterford
• May 21st – Cork Opera House, Cork
• May 26th – Townhall Threatre, Galway
• May 27th – Belltable Theatre, Limerick
• June 1st – Wexford Arts Centre, Wexford
• June 2nd – The Spirit Store, Dundalk
Fred Leaving My Empire out 15th April 2011
For further info contact Susan@nulllhpublicity.ie/ 014970313
Sligo based singer-songwriter Glenn Cal is quickly making a name for himself on the Irish music scene. Since the recording of his debut EP 'Brand New Day' Glenn has been gigging extensively, playing at festivals such as Electric Picnic, Temple House and Sligo Live Sessions.
IN VALOUR is the product of a musical alliance between Cork songstress Valerie Hely and Sydney based electronica artist howard. They work from opposite ends of the globe to create their own unique sound, forged from a blend of cultures, styles, tastes and experience.
Their single ‘Into the Light’ is available as a free download on http://invalour.bandcamp.com/ and was mixed by Dublin music producer Stephen Shannon (Strands). Live shows are facilitated by Sean Breathnach who takes over laptop duties, as well as backing vocals for howard.
IN VALOUR have been tipped as one of ‘The Acts to Watch in 2011’ by Dan Hegarty, 2fm on Heinekenmusic.ie Here’s what he had to say about them;
The Contemporary Music Centre announces Irish Composer Gerald Barry’s opera,
The Importance of Being Earnest, world premiere with the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Gerald Barry’s The Importance of Being Earnest, an opera in three acts, commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and Barbican Centre, London, will receive its world premiere under the baton of Thomas Adès, 8pm, 7 April 2011.
This performance is part of the Aspects of Adès Festival, 1 – 9 April 2011 at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles. British composer/pianist/conductor Thomas Adès, now an L.A. resident, is one of the leading music thinkers of today. In programming this series, Adès has created a unique festival especially for Los Angeles, which includes Gerald Barry’s new opera, The Importance of Being Earnest. It will receive its UK premiere at the Barbican, London, on 26 April 2012.
Gerald Barry was born in Ireland in 1952 and studied with Stockhausen and Kagel. He first came to public attention in 1979 with his radical ensemble works '_______' and Ø. Many of his works have been commissioned by the BBC. His first opera, The Intelligence Park (recorded on NMC) was first performed at the 1990 London Almeida Festival, and a second, The Triumph of Beauty and Deceit opened the 2002 Aldeburgh Festival followed by performances in London and the Berliner Festwochen. It received its North American premiere with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2006, followed by performances in Paris, Amsterdam and New York. In 2005 the stage premiere of The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (recorded on RTÉ) was given at English National Opera and the German language premiere at Basle in 2008. A one act opera for Radio France, La Plus Forte (The Stronger), was written for the 2007 Festival Presences with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and given it's English premiere with the London Symphony Orchestra. It has since been performed in Amsterdam, Toronto, Dublin and Miami. Portrait concerts of Barry's music took place recently at Columbia University and the Isabelle Gardner Museum in Boston. A new orchestral work, No other people, was commissioned by RTÉ for 2009. Feldman’s Sixpenny Editions for chamber orchestra, will receive its American premiere with the orchestra of St Paul in 2012. The Intelligence Park will be performed at the Irish Museum of Modern Art on May 18, 2011. Gerald Barry is exclusively published by Schott Music as of September 2009. His earlier music is with Oxford University Press.
And So I Watch You From Afar have confirmed a host of new dates across Ireland to promote their new album 'Gangs' which is due for release on May 02nd 2011 on The Richter Collective Label.
Declan O’Rourke is back! After a long but eventful absence of three years, Declan returns with his third studio album Mag Pai Zai, available on Friday 8th April.
Mag Pai Zai is the first album to be released on Declan’s own record label, Rimecoat Records. Recorded primarily at The Factory and Windmill Lane in Dublin, and mixed at world-famous Platinum Sound Recording Studios, NYC, the album sees the return of some old collaborators: Steve Wickham, who played the dreamy strings for ‘Galileo (Someone Like You),’ features on the folk ballad ‘Time Machine’; and some new ones: veteran arranger Fiachra Trench, whose catalogue includes The Pogues’ perennial classic ‘Fairytale of New York,’ Sinead O’Connor’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U,’ and Van Morrison’s ‘Brown Eyed Girl’, created the lush arrangement for the poignant track ‘The Hardest Fight’ which closes the album.
That Declan O’Rourke is in a new, different and more elevated place as a songwriter is proven by the sheer quality of the material on Mag Pai Zai. From the deceptively simple opening song, ‘Slieve Bloom’ and the heart-wrenching tale found within ‘Langley’s Requiem’ to the life affirming ‘Be Brave And Believe,’ he has fortified his talent with a firm mixture of intuitive lyrics and pure melodies.
It's only been four weeks since NTB launched thirty-eight of their original bluegrass songs and tunes on the U.S.digital Radio Platform, Air Play Direct, but this week the Band have hit the number one slot, with a massive 268 Radio Station downloads from around the World.
India 9 nine are set to release their first E.P 'Highs and Lows' at Crawdaddy on April 20th. In the short few months that the band has been together the crumlin 5 piece have caused quite a stir. Their music has captured the attention of some of the UK's biggest names including producer Ville Leppansen and several leading A&R personnel/music lawyers. They have quickly gained local recognition, bringing a blend of contemporary acoustic sounds and blending them with impacting lyrics and solid rhythms to the Irish music scene. Taking inspiration from artists like Mumford and sons, The Frames, The Beatles and Tom Baxter, India 9 Nine have melded alternative and acoustic influences to create a body of work that can only be described as uniquely modern and fresh. Banjos, Mandolins, Violins, Double Bass are just some of the earthy instruments at their disposal yet these guys pack a punch and should be tipped as 'ones to watch'.
India 9 nine are set to release their first E.P 'Highs and Lows' at Crawdaddy on April 20th. In the short few months that the band has been together the crumlin 5 piece have caused quite a stir. Their music has captured the attention of some of the UK's biggest names including producer Ville Leppansen and several leading A&R personnel/music lawyers. They have quickly gained local recognition, bringing a blend of contemporary acoustic sounds and blending them with impacting lyrics and solid rhythms to the Irish music scene. Taking inspiration from artists like Mumford and sons, The Frames, The Beatles and Tom Baxter, India 9 Nine have melded alternative and acoustic influences to create a body of work that can only be described as uniquely modern and fresh. Banjos, Mandolins, Violins, Double Bass are just some of the earthy instruments at their disposal yet these guys pack a punch and should be tipped as 'ones to watch'.
