Video: Tapes ‘n Tapes – ‘Freak Out’

Indie rockers Tapes ‘n Tapes have dropped a new video for ‘Freak Out’, taken from their forthcoming third LP Outside.

It shows a newlywed watching an old vid, discovering his wife likes a party, the ‘odd’ drink and makes a mean sandwich. To be honest I’d be more worried about the stalker with the camera than anything else.

Tapes ‘n Tapes look like they could be another band set for a renaissance of form. Check out the video up above and you can grab the track from here.

Outside is out on Ibid Records January 11th 2011.

Barrygruff: Albums of 2010

Okay, it’s simple, these are my personal picks from what’s been a great year for music. There’s been so many wonderful records throughout 2010 which made this a pretty arduous task to be honest.

Right, that’s enough waffling - Drum roll please – Here it is the ‘Barrygruff Albums of 2010′.

30 Deerhunter – ‘Halcyon Digest’

29 The Black Keys – ‘Brothers’

28 The Hot Rats – ‘Turn Ons’

27 Manic Street Preachers – ‘Postcards Of A Young Man’

26 These New Puritans – ‘Hidden’

25 The Mighty Stef – ‘TMS & The Baptists’

24 Fionn Regan – ‘The Shadow Of An Empire’

23 Shit Robot – ‘From The Cradle To The Rave’

22 Captain Moonlight – ‘On The Lough (Agroculture Pt 3)’

21 The Bees – ‘Every Step’s A Yes’

20 Arcade Fire – ‘Suburbs’

19 The Futureheads – ‘The Chaos’

18 Blood Red Shoes – ‘Fire Like This’

17 Caribou – ‘Swim’

16 The Like – ‘Release Me’

15 Max Tannone – ‘Mos Dub’

New York producer Max Tannone’s spell binding mash-up album pits Mos Def’s intelligent and insightful political lyrics with the feel good vibes and rhythms of old school reggae and dub cuts. This is nothing short of genius.

Mos Dub – In My Math via Max Tannone

14 The Chemical Brothers – ‘Further’

The Brothers Chemical returned from the brink with this one. They rediscovered their independence, blew away the cobwebs and started again. The result? A more patient album free from the pressure of big name collaborations which concentrated on doing what they do best, making great dance tunes. They haven’t gone away you know.

The Chemical Brothers – Horse Power via Electrocorp.fr

13 We Are Animal – ‘Idolise’

We Are Animal are a curious 5-piece from N. Wales who wrote and recorded their album in households, slate quarries, fields and woods around their locality. This DIY attitude helped conjure up something rather exciting, original and organic – a curious mix of eccentricity, buzzing guitars, pummeled drums and Rapture-esque disco-punk, often sounding like a dancier Super Furry Animals.

We Are Animal – Black Magic via Tim Chester

12 Johnny Flynn - ‘Been Listening’

Flynn continues to outshine almost all his folk contemporaries, we find him in a sombre mood sounding wise beyond his years. There’s no happy-clappy folk pastiche on offer here, rather superb songwriting with stirring, heartwarming and sombre folk music. A solid follow-up to 2008′s A Larum, marginally fails to surpass his former achievements.

Johnny Flynn – Kentucky Pill via Morgan-2

11 Röyksopp – ‘Senior’

Dubbed as “the introvert and darker sibling who lives in the attic” to last years quirky, jolly and bouncy dance record. In reality Senior is more of an afterhours record than a club floor filler as they scale effervescent and melancholic synthesized soundscapes.

 Röyksopp – The Fear

Maverick Sabre – ‘The Travelling Man’

So, where to begin? Michael Stafford aka Maverick Sabre is a young London-born and Irish-raised musician who I discovered in Nialler9‘s list of the ‘Best Irish Music Downloads‘ in Day & Night Magazine.

This guy is astonishingly good. He recently released his debut record Travelling Man Mixtape for free via bandcamp. It’s a brilliant blend of Grime, Reggae, Electro, Dub Step and Hip Hop, although it isn’t genre specific it’s very fresh and substantive. Lyrically it’s deep and insightful, delivered with a raspy confidence as he tackles everything from heartache to the socio-political issues of everyday modern life.

Expect to hear much more from this guy in 2011.

Maverick Sabre – Run to the Roof via Nialler9

Maverick Sabre – Slow Down via Hoodcelebritys

Download: The Bottletop Band – ‘Fall of Rome’

Get this, Gruff Rhys (Super Furries), Matt Helders (Arctic Monkeys), Carl Barât (Libertines), Drew McConnell (Babyshambles), Reverend and The Makers, Eliza Doolittle, Tim Burgess and a raft of other musicians have come together as The Bottletop Band.

The band have recorded an album in aid of UK charity Bottletop, which supports grass-roots education projects, empowering young people throughout the world. This stellar line-up should prove to be an interesting listen as well as raising funds for the charity.

The first taster from the forthcoming album is ’Fall of Rome’, an Ennio Morricone style tune of swirling, propelling guitars. This one’s pretty infectious after a couple of listens – I like.

It’s available for download below.

The Bottletop Band – Fall of Rome

The Vagabonds EP Launch

The Vagabonds launch their debut EP Another Victory for Hysteria tonight in The Workman’s Club, Dublin.

I’m a big fan of these guys and I’m hoping to catch tonights rescheduled show. The EP is fantastic, a mix of bash-em-out punk and stirring songs dealing with personal heartache, strife and politics. Think of a bastard child of The Pogues, Stiff Little Fingers, The Clash and Whipping Boy.

Doors are at 7.30pm and it’s FREE in – support is from House of Dolls, The Mighty Stef and The Year the Monkeys Landed.

 The Vagabonds – 46A

The Bees – ‘Winter Rose’ (Tim Goldsworthy Remix)

The Bees returned to the fold this year through the release of the wonderful Every Step’s A Yes. Their latest single ‘Winter Rose’ has been given a lively makeover from DJ and produced Tim Goldsworthy, adding beats and cowbells a-plenty. This is one of three remixes to accompany the single release on December 20th

You can stream it below or download it from RCDLBL now.

The Bees – Winter Rose (Tim Goldsworthy Remix) via panouli77777

Listen: The Go! Team – ‘Buy Nothing Day’

First we had ‘T.O.R.N.A.D.O.‘, now we have another new track from The Go! Team.

‘Buy Nothing Day’ is another upbeat/cheery slice of Go! Team goodness. On this occasion Bethany from Best Coast lends her vocal prowess for the song. It’s another encouraging track as they continue shaking off the cobwebs from the lackluster Proof of Youth.

The new record ‘Rolling Blackouts’ is out, with a Blockbusters style cover on January 30th 2011.

The Go! Team – Buy Nothing Day

EMA – ‘The Grey Ship’

EMA is the brainchild of South Dakota musician Erika Anderson formerly of the now-defunct band Gowns. This new song called ‘The Grey Ship’ was pushed my way last week and wow!

It’s a wonderfully beautiful song which switches from lo-fi to, well I guess hi-fi, aided by lots of feedback and heavy reverb. Just make sure and listen to it right through so you can hear the bass drop.

EMA’s Past Life Martyred Saints LP is expected sometime in early 2011, for now though this is plenty to keep us going.

EMA – The Grey Ship via earfood99

Miles Kane – ‘Come Closer’

Miles Kane is gearing up for the release of his debut solo album early next year. Kane is best known as one half of The Last Shadow Puppets or from his time with The Rascals and The Little Flames.

We already got a taste of what to expect with ‘Inhaler‘ and next single ‘Come Closer’ (out in February) is much of the same ilk – 60′s inspired riff-a-plenty rock music with an added tuneful melodic swagger in the tank this time.

The NME has the official video up now but I prefer this Rak Studio version, it has much more of an edgier organic ragged sound.

Caribou :: Button Factory :: Dec 9th

Yikes! That was some kind of gig.

I’ve long admired Caribou, I missed them when they rolled into now defunct Wrexham venue The Tablot a few years back, last night I got my chance to make amends. That said, shamefully I’ve never really appreciated them properly, you know as they should be. For this reason I felt like I was intruding at last nights over capacity show in The Button Factory.

This feeling didn’t last long once Caribou took to the stage, I like everyone else was enthralled by the show, absolutely amazing. ‘Bowls’ was a personal high point as well as being right up the front but alas for my ears sake I had to take a backseat.

Tried to keep it short, enjoy.

Caribou – Bowls via MrGroovaholic

Mixtape: BarryGruff’s Irish Songs of 2010

I’m not up to podcasts or being a superstar laptop DJ quite yet. I’ve always had a soft spot for making mixtapes and CD’s so I decided instead to have a punt at a straightforward Mixtape of my personal favorite Irish tunes from 2010.

Contrary to what all the pricks from the mainstream ‘record industry’ would have you believe Irish music is alive, well and more diverse and vibrant than ever. This year certainly has been the best I can remember anyway with the many great, albums, EP’s, songs and shows a testament to this. More hapless hysteria from the money men.

I only hope I do 2010 justice and you enjoy this as much as I did putting it together.

Mixtape: BarryGruff Irish Songs of 2010

Tracklisting after the jump.

Video: Rubberbandits – ‘Horse Outside’

We could all do with a laugh in this country at the moment and who better to provide the chuckles than the Rubberbandits. Here’s their excellent new single ‘Horse Outside’. Dat’s Limerick Citayyyyy!!