new music
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Agnes Obel
I’ve already waxed lyrical about my love for Dustin O’Halloran‘s latest album, Lumiere, and I’ve gotten such a buzz out of hearing from other people who’ve fallen for it too. It’s a work of beauty, check it out. Here’s another album that I fell for last year and seeing as its creator is playing in…
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Dustin O’Halloran – Lumiére
This album is breaking my heart already. Released on the FatCat label, Lumiére is a piano-based record that not only features the ACME string ensemble (they’ve worked with Grizzly Bear, Nico Muhly and more) but was mixed by Johann Johansson and has Peter Broderick on violin and Adam Wiltzie of Stars of the Lid on…
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My Lithium & Me – David Bowie covers with a twist
Here are six David Bowie songs like you’ve never heard them before. Cast aside your thoughts of face-painted glam-rock monstrosities, because in the hands of musician Leah Kardos, aka My Lithium & Me, they become a totally different beast. Take Criminal World (itself a cover), for example, which becomes a dark slice of trip hop,…
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Forwards/Backwards
The past year has, for most people, had its ups and downs. Similarly, the year in music has had its peaks and troughs – but thankfully there have been more highs than lows. Irish music in particular has had an incredibly strong year, with a remarkable amount of top-notch albums released by homegrown acts…
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Twin Shadow – Dublin date announced
A Dublin date has been announced for new kid on the block and current Sweet Oblivion fave, Twin Shadow. If you haven’t heard of this young fellow (aka George Lewis Jr) then please run to this website and have a listen to his debut album, Forget, for free. Being that I am a fan of…
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It’s Not Unusual
File this under ‘essential weird listening’: a recording of a broken fairground calliope playing songs like ‘It’s Not Unusual‘, ‘Moon River‘ and ‘Those Were the Days’. Wonky, off-kilter and gloriously offbeat, the songs sound like they’re being performed by a troupe of drunk clowns. The stuff of nightmares, perhaps, but captivating all the same. I…
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Cork Rock City
About a day after I’d submitted my article to the Irish Times on Cork’s underground, I discovered that the Drop-D site was about to release a free download of music by Cork bands. It’s a particularly good omen that Cork has had the national spotlight shone on its music scene twice within the space of…
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Make some Nouveaunoise
Nouveaunoise have their new PANAKA EP up for free download here, and it’s a cracker. Panaka has fuzzy vocals, tinkling synths and a funky drumbeat that will make you want to get off your ass and dance, while the intro to Psychasonic is what would happen if Belle & Sebastian (it’s all in the flute)…
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Groom’s Golden Age
One of the best things about moving to a new city is finding new music – discovering bands that may not be well known (yet) in your previous home town, or bands that simply haven’t fallen onto your radar. When I moved to Dublin two years ago, Groom were one of the bands I was…
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Open ears: New Music Roundup
Melodica Deathship Irish hip hop is a pretty small market, and I often feel that those who become hip-hop musicians/rappers are particularly brave souls. When you think of hip hop, you don’t often picture an Irish guy or girl at the mic, but thankfully there are people brave and talented enough to break into this…
Sweet Oblivion 