Author: Breffni Banks

Dublin postpunk / nugaze / electro artist Revolution Above Disorder presents the single ‘Scream Quietly’, paying tribute to the groundbreaking band Television Personalities and the songwriting genius of Dan Treacy.

Revolution Above Disorder is the solo moniker of Vancouver-based Dubliner Stephen Nicholas White (The Orange Kyte, House of Dolls, Magic Shoppe). Revolution Above Disorder’s music is a melting pot of post-punk, psychedelic rock and electronic music. This is guitar-based rock augmented by synths, drum machines and heavily treated instrumentation with haunting reverb-soaked vocals.

“The lofi outsider-art indie-pop of Dan Treacy’s Television Personalities occupies a place in my heart all of its own. Stylistically all over the map, Treacy’s four decades (and counting) of off-kilter demonstrations of punk and psychedelia are held together by the emotional depth of the songwriting and the vocal delivery, which sees Treacy careering unconstrained from acerbic, to playfully whimsical, to heartbroken and vulnerable. Beautiful,” says Stephen Nicholas White.

This cover originally appeared on ‘Mummy, Mummy Please Look At Me: A Tribute to the Television Personalities’, released via Dandy Boy Records.

Revolution Above Disorder recently debuted with ‘Illuminate’, a 3-track offering that was produced, mixed and mastered at Jacknife Sound by Jason Corbett of ACTORS, which also featured all other members of ACTORS’ (Shannon Hemmett and Kendall Wooding on backing vocals, Adam Fink on drums) and Josiah Webb of Magic Shoppe on guitar.  The video, directed and edited by Eliot Galán of Galán Films, stars Analissa Longoria and Mat Durie. Dublin-based artist Delta Omega a.k.a. Conor Paxton(House of Dolls, Buffalo Sunn, The Brothers Movement) also contributed the more dance-oriented ‘Illuminate (Delta Omega Remix)’.

As of January 11, ‘Scream Quietly’ will be available via Apple Music, Spotify and elsewhere digitally. It can already be downloaded via Bandcamp, where the debut single ‘Illuminate’ is also available.

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Photo by Analissa Longoria

Wallis Bird announces the release of new album, Hands, with lead single, ‘What’s Wrong With Changing?’ plus B-Side ‘Pretty Lies’, out 28th January 2022.

‘What’s Wrong With Changing?’ offers a jubilant first look into Wallis Bird’s forthcoming album Hands, which will be released on 27th May 2022.

Musically inspired by the rhythmic discipline of Janet Jackson circa her iconic ‘Control’, ‘Rhythm Nation 1814’ and ‘janet.’ eras, ‘What’s Wrong With Changing?’ gives fans an early taste of the joyous and curious approach Wallis has taken to writing her seventh studio album. The song epitomises the Berlin-based, Meath native’s unapologetic style and demonstrates her well-respected and shamelessly unafraid temperament.

Thematically, ‘What’s Wrong With Changing?’ concerns major milestones affecting Wallis’s life and sees her deftly weave personal tales of change with stories of societal transformation: from living in different countries and getting to know other cultures to Ireland becoming the first country in the world to vote in favour of legalising same-sex marriage and the traditionally starkly Catholic country’s move towards the separation of Church and State.

‘What’s Wrong With Changing?’ is something of a sister song to ‘As The River Flows’ from Wallis’s 2019 album, Woman; a song that celebrated migration, yet sought to “stand in awe and solidarity with migrants and fight ignorant racism in people and political agendas”, as Wallis told Songwriting Magazine at the time (read here). Following on from that standpoint, ‘What’s Wrong With Changing?’ sees Wallis striving to “think more and understand others a little more; not to ‘other’ each other but to create the idea that we are all one.”

Wallis Bird says: “The song is about the milestones of my life: living in London, getting to know other cultures as a young person, to Ireland breaking free from State and Church and voting in gay marriage in such a stark Catholic country. In my short life there have been huge changes and social structures have been dissolved and I have said over and over: what is wrong with changing? There is nothing in this world that is not changing, so I think let’s move with the change.”

The single’s b-side, ‘Pretty Lies’, is like three songs in one and captures the range of emotions we have felt as people experiencing this global pandemic. “It documents the silence and the beauty of hearing the birds for miles and miles at the beginning of lockdown when there was no traffic and nobody was leaving their house. It moves from that into when things began reopening a little more. This quiet, uneasy safety at the start develops into a spiral of unending possibilities. The end of this song expresses all of the possibilities of where we’re going to go from here,” says Wallis.

Wallis is undoubtedly a ‘musician’s’ musician, citing concert attendees such as Brandi Carlisle, Paul Brady and 26-year-old musical prodigy Jacob Collier, the five-time Grammy Award winner who has called Pretty Lies “a banger!”.

Irish born and Berlin based, Wallis Bird has released six albums since 2007, for which she’s won two Meteor Awards (Ireland’s annual music prize which ran between 2001 – 2010 and has now been replaced by the Choice Music Prize) – mostly recently for Best Female Artist – and a prestigious 2017 German ‘Music Autoren Preis’ (Music Author Prize), not to mention two further nominations for the Choice Music Prize. In addition, she’s racked up over a thousand shows during the past decade, earning a reputation worldwide for her passionate, energetic and good-humoured concerts. Wallis has also previously found a champion in American artist Amanda Palmer, and the Irish Times once noted that Bird’s irrepressible trademark energy on stage could “kickstart an entire economy”.

‘What’s Wrong With Changing?’ propels us into Wallis’ seventh studio album to date, Hands – also known as ‘NINE AND A HALF SONGS FOR NINE AND A HALF FINGERS’ (in reference to a childhood accident that permanently damaged her left hand). The album is a turning of the spotlight onto herself, raising issues that are sometimes far harder to face. Confronting themes of trust, alcohol abuse, stagnation, self-censorship and self-improvement. Each of them, however, is delivered by a voice uncommonly blessed with joy, ingenuity and empathy.

The release of ‘What’s Wrong With Changing?’ comes with the support of “half song” and B-Side – ‘Pretty Lies’.

‘What’s Wrong With Changing? (& B-Side Pretty Lies)’ is available 28th January 2022.

Wallis Bird – ‘Hands’ – Track Listing

1. Go

2. What’s Wrong With Changing?

3. I Lose Myself Completely

4. The Power Of A Word

5. Aquarius

6. No Pants Dance

7. Dreamwriting

8. I’ll Never Hide My Love Away

9. The Dive

9 ½.  Pretty Lies

On 4th Feb 2022 Sharon Shannon releases her brand-new EP ‘Unlocked Series 1 – Inspiration’ .

The Unlocked Series was recorded during lockdown in 2021. Sharon had an opportunity to put the Big Band together for a few streaming shows and so decided to record the music.

The UNLOCKED series acknowledges that the world is about come out of lockdown from Covid-19.

Series 1 INSPIRATION, takes some of the music inspired by the enforced lockdown and recorded for her 2020 lockdown album ‘The Reckoning’.

Tracklisting:

Track 1             Unlocked / The Lochaber Badger

Track 2             Merry Go Round

Track 3              Daddy Shannon’s Jig / The Bealacana Polka

‘Unlocked’, written by Sharon and Justin Adams, is put together with a piece written by Scottish piper Fred Morrison and learned from Mike McGoldrick. It appeared on her ‘Tunes’ album back in 2005.

‘Merry Go Round’, written by Sharon and Donal Lunny, was the theme tune for Sharon’s acclaimed TV series ‘Heartlands’ on TG4 in 2021.

‘Daddy Shannon’s Jig’, written for The Reckoning, is coupled with ‘The Bealacana Polka’, which originally appeared on her ‘Live at De Barras’ album. Bealacana is the place Sharon was born.  These are put together to celebrate Sharon’s father IJ, who passed away just before Christmas 2021.

Sharon Shannon has achieved legendary status not just in Ireland but throughout the world, and is known for her arrangements of Irish traditional tunes and Irish influenced compositions, as well as her many collaborations with artists of all musical genres.

A prolific composer, she has recorded 10 studio albums to date, and after more than 30 years touring and recording, she is as vibrant and energetic as ever. She is looking forward to touring again, with a UK tour scheduled for February 2022.

She celebrated 30 years in music in 2020.

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Following the championing of his first three releases by the likes of Hot Press and RTÉ Radio, Caoivín returns with his fourth single “Home By Bearna”, a modern re-work of an Irish folk song featuring a unique blend of traditional and contemporary elements.

The track will be released on all streaming platforms on Wednesday February 26th

Caoivín (pronounced “Kwee-veen”) is a producer, singer and multi-instrumentalist making Celtic fusion music in Dublin. Born into a musical family, Caoivín began playing traditional Irish music at the tender age of 5 and spent the majority of his early childhood summers traveling to and from various different fleadhs and music weeks.

In his late teens and early twenties, the musician began to develop an interest in a wide variety of other genres outside of the traditional Irish music realm which led him to discover bands and artists such as Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, DARKSIDE, JJ Cale, Bonobo, Khruangbin, Tinariwen and many others.

The Caoivín project takes influence from the range of musical styles which the artist has been exploring from that point up until now, while being rooted at the same time to the long unbroken lineage of traditional music on which he was reared.

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Legendary Belfast, Ireland based instrumental outfit And So I Watch You From Afar has shared “IV in Air”, the fourth single from their ambitious upcoming multimedia album Jettison.

The latest offering from the group will be available on February 18th, 2022 via Equal Vision Records in partnership with Velocity Records.  Through 40 minutes of sonic exploration spread across nine distinct parts and a visual accompaniment by artist Sam Wiehl, Jettison traverses the various shades of ASIWYFA’s euphoric instrumental output. The Arco String Quartet adds moments of ethereal elegance, juxtaposed against cryptic dialogue by Emma Ruth Rundle and Neil Fallon throughout the album, which is available for pre-order here. 

Swirling guitar chords and effervescent percussion introduce “IV in Air” alongside a gravely spoken word performance from Neil Fallon. The track builds the opening riff into a toe tapping, straight ahead jam that is equal parts danceable and ethereal. Far from just being a soundscape, the song conveys a compelling sense of melody despite its absence of vocals.

On the scope of their upcoming album, the band had this to say:

“Nothing in our repertoire comes close to the ambition of this latest project—the multimedia piece Jettison. The album is a memorable experience that transports the listener away from the tumultuous times and into a blissful musical utopia.”

The band will embark on a headlining tour supporting Jettison across Europe and the UK early next year, a full itinerary is available below. You can pre-order the album here.

Upcoming Headline Tour Dates:

3.18.2022 • Antwerp, Belgium • JC Kavka Antwerp

3.19.2022 • Tourcoing, France  • Le Grand Mix

3.20.2022 • Utrecht, Netherlands • Tivoli

3.21.2022 • Cologne, Germany • Gebäude 9

3.22.2022 • Hamburg, Germany • Bahnhof St. Pauli

3.23.2022 • Hannover, Germany • Bei Chez Heinz

3.24.2022 • Berlin, Germany • Urban Spree

3.26.2022 • Prague, Czech Republic • Prague Underdogs

3.27.2022 • Munich, Germany • Stom

3.28.2022 • Vienna, Germany • Flex

3.29.2022 • Budapest, Hungary • A38 Ship

3.31.2022 • Stuttgart, Germany • Club Cann

4.01.2022 • Luxemburg, Germany • Rotondes

4.02.2022 • Paris, France • Le Trabendo

4.03.2022 • Maastricht, Netherlands • Muziekgieterij

4.05.2022 • London, England • Islington Assembly Hall

4.06.2022 • Nottingham, England • Rescue Rooms

4.07.2022 • Manchester, England • Gorilla

4.08.2022 • Glasgow, Scotland • Mono

About ASIWYFA

Ireland’s instrumental rock quartet And So I Watch You From Afar has defied the layman’s definition of post-rock by absorbing new ideas and pushing the boundaries of their intricate and ecstatic guitar-based compositions. Crashing out of the gate with the big-riff worship and arena-level melodic heroics of their eponymous debut, ASIWYFA have continuously introduced new spins on their original sound while simultaneously expanding their sonic palette with every new album, taking in and repurposing everything from African highlife to Irish trad to the weirdo math-rock of the late ‘90s / early ‘00s. Their upcoming multi-media piece Jettison was conceived by And So I Watch You From Afar’s guitarist Rory Friers and brought to life by the band, orchestrator Connor O’Boyle, the Arco String Quartet, and visual artist Sam Wiehl. Jettison is a fusion of ASIWYFA’s life-affirming musical acrobatics, the sweeping grandeur of film scores, and the surreal and sublime capabilities of moving pictures

Jettison is by no means a normal ASIWYFA album. Rather, it is a very deliberate departure as opposed to an evolutionary

Renowned Irish artist NIYL (formerly known as Nile St. James), marks his return under a brand new artist moniker, and celebrates this relaunch with his debut single ‘The Heretic’ – set for release January 28th 2022.

Previously known for his soul-funk singer-songwriter based music, NIYL makes his return with a new sound, new look and fresh approach to his craft. A familiar face on the live circuit, he’s opened for the likes of Gavin James, Hermitage Green, and Wyvern Lingo, as well as appearing on stage with Dermot Kennedy and the RTE Concert Orchestra, Rufus Wainwright and an iconic live performance as lead vocalist with National Geographic Live in Concert ‘Symphony for our World’.

Hailing from Limerick, this is an artist who mixes a unique blend of soulful vocals and lush, ethereal instrumentation to deliver a powerful, cinematic-like catalogue of original works.

A lyricist who draws inspiration from the landscapes of the Wild Atlantic Way, NIYL writes as a means of catharsis, channelling emotions through word and song, calling on elements of nature to be pillars for each work, inspired by the greats before him like  Wilde and Yeats.

No stranger to media, his previous work has been championed across Hot Press, Spin 1038, GCN, Joe.ie, Limerick Leader, IMRO, and more, and has developed a loyal following through appearances at the likes of Ruby Sessions, Doolin Folk Fest, Live on Air and Go Tobann.

Self-described as ‘atmo-soul’ NIYL positions vocals and lyrics at the forefront of his craft, with rich strings illuminating the stand-out lead vocal, supported by a cacophony of harmonies that leaves a lasting impression long after listening. ‘The Heretic’ is set to be the first release from a string of planned releases, and is the relaunch of this chamber-pop artist. His artful dramatic ballads, drawing from alt-pop, indie & classical genres, adding a fresh sound to the Irish music industry landscape, and a welcome contemporary breath of fresh air.

A previous finalist in Christie Hennessy’s Song of the Year Competition with IMRO, this artist is not only a memorable performer, but a talented songwriter and collaborator, who’s also seen great heights including winning a trip via Today FM to Norway to collaborate with Gavin James, being invited by Hot Press to be a part of their #MorningGlory25 Series, and joining Hermitage Green on stage for a special Tribute to The Cranberries in King Johns Castle, Limerick.

What NIYL has to say about the single :

“The song dances between moments of vulnerability and resentment. We have all been through situations where the lover and the fool are the same and the journey of this song is to show that we are not alone in this struggle. We have all strived to fully remove ourselves  from a toxic situation and start anew. We have resented the time wasted but as time moves, so too does the healing.”

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Thursday 3rd February sees Dublin singer-songwriter Gerr Walsh release Brighteyes, the follow up single from his debut album Ghosts of Hope & Magic.

Brighteyes is a breezy acoustic pop song featuring the wonderful Naimee Coleman on backing vocals, it will be available to stream and download everywhere on Thursday 3rd February.

The Album, features Drummer Adam Marcello (Katy Perry), Bassist Keith Duffy (The Corrs), Keyboardist Max Greenwood (Jerry Fish, Jack L, Tom Baxter), Backing vocalist Naimee Coleman and Gerr Walsh on guitars and vocals.

Gerr’s previous single Strays received great praise and numerous airplays from Radio stations across the country, reaching No 2 in the RTE Radio 1 Airplay Charts in October ’21 and appearing twice on the RTE1 Recommends Playlist.

Gerr’s debut album Ghosts of Hope & Magic received a 3.5 star review from Tony Clayton Lea in The Business Post calling it a “Fluid, Cinematic, Seductive” album.

Gerr Walsh, is a singer-songwriter from Dublin, Ireland. He released his debut EP ‘Prevailing Winds’ in 2016 – a collection of indie-folk songs, with a melodic heart.  With regular plays on radio by late night DJs, including RTE Radio 1’s Fiachna ó Braonáin and John Creedon, Gerr is building a loyal fanbase playing live with the likes of Joe Chester, Naimee Coleman and Alice Jago.

Website: https://gerrwalshmusic.ie/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/GerrWalsh

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gerrwalshmusic/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/gerrwalsh

‘Pemulwuy’ is the story of the Bidjigal (Indigenous Australian) man’s extraordinary life by Australian contemporary folk-artist Peter Baxter.

The song was recorded over lockdown with Multi-Award -Winning Producer David Bridie working from his base in Victoria and Peter from his base in Wicklow, Ireland.

This recording is a reinterpretation and re-recording of the song from Peter’s last Album – 2010’s The Blue Black Waves. That version was produced by Dónal Lunny and recorded in North County Dublin. An older version of the song was recorded with Dave Steel producing in Sydney in 1997 for Peter’s second Album – The Miracle Bell.

So, 3 versions of the same song over 25 years – why?

The answer is simple according to Peter “Each version is unique and has some great qualities, especially with regards to the Production. However, to me, there was always something missing, usually a lyric, or an element of the arrangement etc. During Lockdown I had the opportunity to take stock and wanted to go back and revisit a few songs from my back catalogue that were not quite finished. I approached David and he had great ideas about how the song could work. It was a pleasure working with him and I can finally say that now the song is finished!”

Simultaneously Peter is recording new material for an EP later in 2022 and working with Mick Thomas reinterpreting some other songs from that lockdown project which will be released as an EP in early 2022.

The beautifully illustrated artwork for the music video is by Indigenous Artist Frank McCleod. Check out more of his work at https://www.artstation.com/frankmcleod

Peter grew up in South West Sydney, in an Irish family. Raised on songs and stories as the Pete St John lyric goes and he started playing with his Dad at sing-songs and busking.

Songwriting was always an interest and after the success of his debut album “Since Then” he began his music career in earnest touring in support of Archie Roach, Neil Murray (Warumpi Band), Dave Steel and many more. This single is his first release after a long hiatus and will be followed by 2 EPS in 2022. Peter has released 3 albums to date and has been played on ABC, BBC (UK), RTE (IRELAND). Recorded with Internationally renowned producers Dónal Lunny, David Bridie, Mick Thomas and Dave Steel with songs covered live by Neil Murray, Chain of Hearts + more.

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https://www.peterbaxter.ie/