BarryGruff Presents #6: w/ Sive, Padraig McCauley & The P Affection and Sea Area Forecast :: Flanagan’s Newbridge :: May 25th

So, ‘BarryGruff Presents’ returns to Flanagan’s Bar, Newbridge for its sixth instalment on Friday, May 25th.

The first 5 shows have been fantastic & ‘BarryGruff Presents’ #6 promises to be no less impressive, with the delectable talents of Sive, Padraig McCauley & The P Affection and Sea Area Forecast on show.

Sive, the brainchild of Naas musician Sadhbh O’Sullivan, who’s recent debut album We Are Moving was greeted by rave reviews. Drawing from a wide variety of alternative rock, jazz and folk influences, Sive’s gorgeous sound fuses these influences, with excellent musicianship and charm.

Accompanying them on the bill are Naas-based Padraig McCauley & The P Affection, whose genre hopping sounds of their debut album received notable acclaim last year. Meanwhile Newbridge based Sea Area Forecast take time out from prepping their debut EP, indie, folk and rock sounds. It is going to be yet another memorable night. 

Entry is FREE as always and starts at 9.00pm Friday, May 25th. More info & Facebook event here.

Sive – Sunkissed

Download: Padraig McCauley & The P Affection – Lingo

Sea Area Forecast – Marvelous With Tin

Johnny Feeney’s 3 Albums of 2012 So Far

The ever reliable Johnny Feeney returns for another guest post to highlight his favourite albums of 2012 so far.

First Aid Kit  – The Lion’s Roar

Swedish country/folk duo First Aid Kit (sisters Klara and Johanna Soderberg, aged 18 and 21 respectively) certainly had help from people in high places for their second album – The Lion’s Roar is produced by Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Monsters of Folk) with a guest appearance from Conor Oberst. Mogis adds flourishes throughout but the acoustic guitars and the remarkable intertwining voices of the Soderberg sisters are what rightfully come to the fore here.

One of the album highlights, ‘Emmylou’, is a song in thrall to country music with its sliding guitars and name checking of country greats such as Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris et al. The soaring harmonies on the gorgeous ‘To a Poet’ and ‘I Found a Way’ are breathtaking and heartbreaking in equal measure. The mainly melancholy lyrics of heartbreak and sadness on here are in almost complete contrast to the upbeat, cheerful music and it takes a few listens to realise the conflict. A delightful album from a band who sound much older than their years.

Of Monsters and Men – My Head Is An Animal

A debut album of rousing indie-folk/pop from this 6-piece band from Iceland. There will surely not be too many records released this year as constantly, positively uplifting. The joyous ‘Dirty Paws’ opens proceedings brightly and the mood rarely drops – there are lots of encouraging shouts, whistles and mass singalongs throughout. With a girl-boy dynamic switching vocals, the music is similar in places to Mumford & Sons with acoustic guitars, uplifting accordions and trumpets.

The impossibly catchy ‘Little Talks’ is an album standout along with the majestic, life-affirming ‘Lakehouse’, a song that builds and builds until it explodes into so much life it’s hard not to be affected by its contagious positivity. The band can tone it down too and do so with devastating effect in the beautifully sparse closer ‘Yellow Light’, reminiscent of the XX but if after taking their happy pills.

Grimes  – Visions

It’s difficult to pigeon hole this album by Grimes, aka 24-year-old Canadian Claire Boucher, into any category other than electronic as the sound veers so wildly throughout. Clearly not sticking to any sort of template, the album is bristling with ideas and songs can change direction at any moment. When it clicks it’s sublime but understandably not everything does. However, you can only commend Boucher for her bold experimentations.

A highly danceable record with synths and beats dominating, there are some gems in here – the dreamy electro of ‘Genesis’, the squelchy ‘Oblivion’, the claustrophobic ‘Circumambient’, the spikily evil ‘Nightmusic’. Boucher’s high-pitched voice is almost indecipherable in places and frequently and effectively used in loops as added layers of sound. The tender R’n’B of ‘Skin’ comes out of nowhere towards the end and, in keeping with the rest of the album, pleasantly throws you off one final time.

Raglans – Digging Holes

Raglans burst 2012 into life with the release of their superb self-titled debut EP at the beginning of the year.

The Wicklow four-piece are all set to release the follow-up EP, Long Live, on May 25th. The first offering from the release is ‘Digging Holes’, a tasty morsel which retains the blistering energy of the debut EP and continues their love affair with jangling guitars and infectious sing-along choruses. ’Digging Holes’ it is accompanied by yet another eye catching video from Finn Keenan (remember ‘The Man From Glasgow‘?). Raglans might not be a name too many are familiar but that looks as though it could change sooner rather than later.

Check out the video and download ‘Digging Holes’ below. Raglans’ Long Live EP will be launched in Whelan’s, Dublin on May 25^th.

Introducing: King Twit

King Twit are Liverpool-based purveyors of lively and supremely catchy alternative-indie-folk.

The band formed in late 2011 and quickly to hit the road, blagging dates across Europe before returning to produce debut EP, Bicycle. Heavily indebted to the likes The Shins & Captain Beefheart, accompanied by a mix of up tempo scratchy guitars, snappy percussion, wonderful brass and an unmistakably distinctive vocal drawl, the EP is lively, infectious, endearingly likeable.

King Twit are currently in the midst of on an Irish tour (the full list of dates are here) you can also ‘name your price’ and get Bicycle from bandcamp.

Download: King Twit – The Partys Been A Prison All Along

Download: King Twit – Parking Space

Download: King Twit – Bicycle

Introducing: Sive | Charming & Sweet Folk / Alt Rock Fusion

Sive is the brainchild of Kildare songwriter and musician Sadhbh O’Sullivan. The band was formed (in full) in 2010 following the addition of Eoin Hartweig, Patrick Hopkins and Mark Dudley to the fold. 

Drawing from a wide variety of alternative rock, jazz and folk influences, Sive’s gorgeous sound is a fusion of these influences, with perfect arrangement, excellent musicianship and charm. No question it is Sadhbh’s voice which is the greatest asset, it is simultaneously powerful, delicate and intricate, sweeping along sweetly, adding depth and feeling to songs, both bright and touching.

Sive left quite an impression on everyone with a stupendous performance at ‘BarryGruff Presents’ back in December and with their debut album, We Are Moving, out this Thursday, April 19th, it was high time we shed some light on this talent. The launch takes place in The Grand Social on the same day. More info here.

 Sive – We Are Moving

Download: Sive – Sunkissed

(Video) The Mighty Stef – If You Cant Give Me Everything

The Mighty Stef & Cheap Freaks are releasing a split 7″ for Record Store Day. Entitled Bad Bad Men, the EP features four covers of songs by american songwriter Greg Cartwright. To give us a taste of what’s to come, here is The Mighty Stef’s wonderfully touching rendition of ‘If You Cant Give Me Everything’ and Lindsey Byrne’s directed video.

The Bad Bad Men EP will be available from a variety of record stores in Dublin on the 21st of April.

Conor Mason – Standstill

Album review of Conor Mason’s ‘Standstill’ published for State.ie on March 30th 2012.

Despite this being his third album, Conor Mason is not a name many will be overly familiar with. Growing up in the historic walled city of Derry, music has been present in his life from a young age. Mason has now found his space on the musical landscape, not dissimilar to that occupied by luminaries Matthew Jay or Elliott Smith.

Standstill continues where 2009’s When It’s Over left off. It flows gently by, amid a sea of soft lilting vocals, whispering lyrical poeticisms and subtle instrumentation. It is permeated by an air of richness, comforting tranquillity and shrouded in melancholy.

While it is predominantly an acoustic affair, the beautiful soft acoustic ballads of ‘Standstill’, ‘Sundown’ and ‘Last to Leave’ lead the way. There is a willingness to branch out beyond the simplicity of ballads. ‘Misunderstood’ is much more ‘indie-rock’, as is ‘Words’ which begins softly with hushed vocals before picking up pace and descending into a Coral-esque freak out, yet neither sound out of place. It is this and Mason’s preference for embracing the whispering delicacies of mood and lyrical emotion, which bind the album and prevent it from slipping into tedium.

Standstill is a slow burner with Mason rarely going beyond first gear. It requires patience, understanding and repeated listens to be fully appreciated. Standstill is a beautiful, simplistic and assured album and sometimes that is quite enough.

Conor Mason – Standstill

Conor Mason – Words

Damon Albarn | Dr Dee ‘The Marvelous Dream’

Now, I’m a fan of most of Damon Albarn‘s work, especially Blur, The Good The Bad And The Queen and Gorillaz. If I’m honest,  I was more than a little dubious when I heard he was recording an album inspired by the life of John Dee, a mathematician, polymath and advisor to Elizabeth I. In fact, I was more like, “oh no, he’s turning into fucking Sting”!.

The first track from the album, ‘The Marvelous Dream’, reveals my fear while not unwarranted, may have been a little hasty. The song itself is wonderful yet pretty simple, a lightly strummed acoustic guitar is eventually joined by some claps and humming, with Albarn’s vocals impeccable as ever. Described by Albarn as ‘strange pastoral folk’, a fitting description. 

Albarn’s 2012 already looked as packed as ever, where does he find the time? Dr Dee will be released on 7th May via Parlophone Records.

Conor Mason – Misunderstood

Conor Mason releases his third album, Standstill, on Monday via Armellodie Records.

Standstill navigates similar waters to 2009′s When It’s Over, a slow burner, requiring patience and repeated listens to fully appreciate its richness and splendor. ’Misunderstood’ is a little taste of things to come. It exudes richness and warmth with soft, lilting vocals gently flowing between a comforting sea of tranquility and a driving rhythm.

Mason is one of this country’s finest artist and while his delectable talents remain relatively under the radar, hopefully Standstill will go some way to rectifying the situation.

Download: Conor Mason – Misunderstood

Knoxville Morning – ‘The Lighthouse Song’

For many people outside Newbridge it must seem as though there’s something in the water, given the flow of music from the town right now.

The latest, Knoxville Morning, began life as a side-project of Band on an Island’s Ciaran Dwyer, before, in time growing into something far bigger. On this self titled debut he is joined by fellow BOAI members and the likes of Stefan Murphy, Gavin Elsted, Brian Gallagher, Claire Prendergast, Stephen Fahey and Laura Caffrey.

Before the album arrives in June it is preceded by single, ’The Lighthouse Song’, a sweet, tender and ballad of friendship which tips gently along delicate acoustic strumming. It really is a beautiful little song. I have been lucky enough to hear some of the other tracks live too and they have been rather impressive.

You can stream / download ‘The Lighthouse Song’ below and judge for yourself.

Download: Knoxville Morning – The Lighthouse Song

Willy Mason – Restless Fugitive

It really seems like an eternity since Willy Mason was procliamed the ‘next big thing’. Despite a lack of releases since 2007 he managed to retain a certain level of interest, increased of late through a wonderful duet with Lianne La Havas.

Mason is set to return with his first album in over five years later in 2012. There’s no major surprises from ‘Restless Fugitive’, the first taster from the album. The track trots gently by, evoking images of dusty trails of the old frontiers, accentuated by the reverberating guitars, a steady percussive rumble and his distinctive chalky drawl.

You can stream ‘Restless Fugitive’ below or pick it up from his website gratis.

 Willy Mason – Restless Fugitive

Tom Williams & The Boat | My Bones

After releasing Too Slow in 2011, Tom Williams & The Boat are back with new single ‘My Bones’. 

Album number one displayed an obvious talent for folk rock, with storytelling at its core and a willingness to embrace it. ’My Bones’, a song of sadness and sorrow, a mournful cry from a jilted lover, continues this trend. Yes, we heard it all before but this succeeds where it may have failed through a combination of witty lyrics, fine song writing and emotion, augmented by an extremely sorrowful violin.

The band’s second album, Teenage Blood, is expected later in 2012.

 Tom Williams & The Boat – My Bones