CD Reviews
Noel O'Brien - Sunken Lines (EP)
Noel O'Brien is 24 years old songwriter/guitarist from Tipperary. His influences include songwriters like John Martyn, Elliot Smith, finger style guitarists Alan Gogoll and Thomas Leeb as well as psychedelic/experiemental music. He released a debut EP " Yet to Come" in 2015. Since then, he has been developing his craft at songwriter nights and gigs in Dublin.
The Lost Gecko - Race Day (single)
The Lost Gecko are a band hailing from Cork, Ireland, formed in 2006 by Scottish-born singer-songwriter Malcolm Urquhart. Having recorded 9 EPs, with cellist Elaine McCarthy and percussionist John O'Connor, The Lost Gecko have released a new album, 'Solasta', meaning 'Luminous' in Scots-Gael. They are currently recording their next album 'The Ghost That Minds the Crows', to be released in spring 2019 at Claycastle Studios in Youghal with John Burke.
Andrew Patterson - Out Of Babylon (EP)
An artist is an artist because he feels he couldn't be doing anything else. He puts his heart and soul into the work. That's exactly what Belfast singer/songwriter Andrew Patterson is doing. Honesty is the key in his songs. He recently captured the listeners with his Christmas single, Something in December, and now he comes with his latest offering, an EP called Out Of Babylon.
Brendan Monaghan - Unbroken
County Down songwriter Brendan Monaghan performs his material at home and in many different countries around the world. He shared the same bill as many top international artists and has written material for several recording artists. He has released eight albums to date. The themes on his latest release, Unbroken, cover feelings like love, faith, belief one's self and nostalgia. These songs were mainly written while travelling to shows between city to city, country to country.
Dreaming Of Jupiter - Fading (EP)
3 piece Alt-Pop/Soul band from Dublin City have been performing live together since late 2016 when they burst onto the scene with a packed out single/video launch for their debut track 'Light of My Life in Dublin's Whelans. This was followed by a string of several acclaimed festival performances and shows including Castlepalooza, Sunflower Fest and Sea Sessions among others, even performing in Spain for an intimate Sofar Sounds show in Madrid. The band finished up last year with a private live recorded performance for a limited number of fans in Dublin's renowned 'Windmill Lane Studios', making for a great closing show for the year, and ensuring that the band are a musical force to be reckoned with moving into 2018.
Andrew Patterson - Something in December (single)
Andrew Patterson is a singer/songwriter from Belfast. Influenced by the likes of Glen Hansard, Foy Vance or Bruce Springsteen, he writes honest songs about hope, love and loss built upon everyday experiences and dreams. He has made appearances at the Belfast Nashville and Portstewart songwriter's festivals and in March 2016 released his debut EP "Pave The Road".
Jamie McDonald & The Number Nein - Dark of Heartness
It's always amazing to see how productive some artists are. Jamie McDonald is one of them. He released the album "Maladies of country and soul" not that long ago ( you can read the review here and the interview about the album) but now he comes with another one. This time a bit different. Raw sound but still honest and with the unmistakable vocal.
Maul Park - Storybooks
Every creative person knows how hard it is to figure out a stage name if you don't want to use your own. Brothers Paul and Mark Byrne from Dublin solved this mystery in a very clever way by reversing the first letters in their names and Maul Park entered the world. Simple and catchy.
Gary Ó'Nualláin - Victories (single)
Gary Ó'Nualláin is an upcoming songwriter from West Dublin. He is a graduate of the inaugural class of BIMM Dublin, where he cut his musical teeth with indie alt rockers Casual Friday. His influences include Oasis, The Stone Roses, The Verve, The La’s, and U2. Gary started playing music at age 7 with the whistle. He continued playing trad, and in Céilí bands all through his schooldays. The influence of traditional Irish music can be heard in his compositions, with their punch the air rebel defiance.
Fiachna Ó Braonáin - Bougainvillea
This eternaly smiling gentleman certainly doesn't need long introduction. Many of you know him as the guitarist of Ireland's Hothouse Flowers, others immediately recognize his voice on RTÉ Radio 1 where he's presenting Late Date and often stepping in for John Creedon when this is away.