Video Blue, the musical project of Dundalk native Jim O’Donoghue Martin, has today announced his new album ‘The Pull’ will be released on November 18th. A limited edition vinyl release will follow in early 2023 via London label Straight Lines Are Fine.
‘The Pull’ includes the single ‘First Snow’ featuring whenyoung’s Aoife Power, which has recently enjoyed support from Hot Press, Nialler9 and RadioX’s John Kennedy, and for which Video Blue has recently shared the Chris Dunne directed video. A Giant Party remix of the track was released on the 7th October. Listen below:
Commenting on the themes of ‘The Pull’, O’Donoghue Martin remarks: “The title of the album is an umbrella term for the various themes within…the pull of ambition, vices and nostalgia. The pull of being drawn into old habits and patterns of thought. The pull of love, happiness and home”.
Written and recorded throughout the various lockdowns, ‘The Pull’ reflects the uneasy, confusing, and intensely emotional thought processes of a confined population. O’Donoghue Martin can be heard re-evaluating his life ambitions during yet another mundane lockdown shopping trip to satisfy a newfound interest in cooking on Weatherspeak. ‘Piece Of Work’ puts 24/7 living arrangements under the microscope, whilst the deeply confessional lyrics of ‘First Snow’…“You don’t keep your head, no, we were born to do this…falling off the edge of the earth”, are an ode to keeping your head and coming together with a loved one.
Across it’s 10 tracks, ‘The Pull’ combines wistful guitars and melancholic synths that recall New Order’s reflective pop with the part sung / oft spoken-word observational lyrics of Baxter Dury. Contemplative ambient electronics add texture throughout adding a sense of both nostalgia and the possibility of exciting futures.
Dundalk’s Spirit Store 18.10.22 TICKETS
London’s Servants Jazz Quarters 25.10.22 – TICKETS
Video Blue has self-released two previous albums: 2017’s ‘Love Scenes’ and 2020’s ‘Night Painting’, plus released a single on US indie, Wiener Records. His music has been supported by BBC 6Music & BBC Introducing, RTÉ 2FM, The Irish Times and countless blogs & zines. Live, he has supported Razorlight, whenyoung & Pillow Queens, and performed at Electric Picnic & Standon Calling. He has remixed and reworked music for whenyoung, Attawalpa, Sounds of System Breakdown & Giant Party.
An Associate Member of the Screen Composers Guild of Ireland, O’Donoghue Martin has created long-form ambient tracks for meditation, short film scores and made musical compositions for the Tate, Christies & Whitechapel Gallery. He is also a graduate of Fine Art Painting and creates all the visuals associated with Video Blue. O’Donoghue Martin also hosts the weekly show ‘Dusk Moves’ on Boogaloo Radio where he has interviewed Thurston Moore, Bernard Butler, Suggs, producers John Leckie, Mike Chapman & many more.
Praise for Video Blue:
“Captivating, occasionally giddy and always impressive leftfield pop gems” The Irish Times
“My favourite new track this week by a country mile” (What Have You Got) Tom Robinson, BBC 6Music
“Whether it’s ramshackle riffing or cinema-style atmospherics, O’Donoghue Martin is blessed with the catchy gene” Harry Guerin, RTÉ
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