Albums

Fionn Regan

Shadow of an Empire

EMI
On release now
****/5

Right, I’m gonna tell the truth from the off here. Fionn Regan’s ‘Shadow of an Empire’ got handed to me, I put it in the computer, did the itunes thing and pressed play. Did some quick flicking through the tracks and then pressed stop. Mainly cause I, ahem, didn’t really like it.

Now, I’ve been asked to write some words on it, so I said fine, and pressed play again, and within 8 bars I realized I’d slipped up the first time. Not sure what was wrong with me, maybe I was expecting something totally different when I went at it the first time, something along the lines of the good old Irish singer songwriter favourites we’re used to from the good old Irish singer songwriters. But, and as much as I love the good olds, gladly this is very, very different. When I came at it cold for listen two, the first thing I heard was a healthy slice of Grant Lee Buffalo. And I love Grant Lee Buffalo.

Flanked either side by Bob Dylan and Neil Young, Regan wears his influences on his forehead, and the result is a great, country/folk/rock-tinged upbeat and only positive record. One track after another plays like a gentle, young Kings of Leon, ‘Coat Hook’ trips along with punchy Camden guitar & yelps, ‘Violent Demeanour’ like a modern Christy Moore/acoustic Supergrass bastard, ‘Little Nancy’ harmonicas its way into the record and waltzes perfectly and morosely for the next 3 minutes before the title track closes an expertly crafted 35 minutes.

A more than accomplished follow up to Regan’s acclaimed debut ‘The End of History’, ‘Shadow of an Empire’ sounds like a tenth record, not a second one.
-jody

Two Door Cinema Club

Tourist History

Kitsuné / Glassnote Label

On Release Now
****/5

Hailed as one of the most exciting bands to come out of Ireland this year (they were longlisted in the BBC Sound of 2010 Poll), Two Door Cinema Club certainly live up to the hype with “Tourist History”. The album is saturated with gripping hooks, breezy rhythms and all round feel good vibes.  The songs amass to between three and four minutes in length resulting in a wonderfully punchy directness.
“I Can Talk” is a guaranteed dancefloor killer with its driving rhythm and soaring melody. Alot of the time you would think you are listening to a less serious-Foals.The guitar work is frenetic but never overbearing.
Some may say their sound is quite similar to the many indie guitar bands to dominate the UK in recent years (e.g Bloc part, Futureheads etc.) but it appears they have fused those bands sound into an indie pop engine of their own. The indie scene in Ireland needs its own heroes to admire and maybe,just maybe Two Door Cinema Club are those heroes. Adventurous it ain’t, but “Tousist History” is godammn infectious.
A warm and zesty debut that most certainly lives up to the hype.

E.P

The Superblondes

***.5/5

The Superblondes offer a debut EP laced with throbbing basslines and lush vocal work. The duo of Eoin and Lory adopt a retro electro sound akin to that of LCD Soundsystem in tandem with an underlying slice of indie rock. There is a soothing tone inherent in the Superblondes material that puts the listener in a placid mindset. “Traffic Flow” is a real standout here with its pulsating beat and twinkling synths. This EP does what a good EP should do; offering the listener a taste and leave them with an appetite for more.

Superblondes play Baker Place on Monday March 15th / www.myspace.com/superblondes

-David Morrissey

Free E.P Download

Walter Gross

LA Pink Filth

I had an accident records

Distortion. Crunch. Static. General dissonance. These are the spheresthat Mr. Gross operates within. Tearing up the hip hop template with genuine aplomb LA Pink Filth makes deathcore trash metal seem positively tame, the Gaslamp Killer seem like Funkmaster Flex and will, in all likelihood, give you a savage pain in your head. The music is visceral, horrific and wildly imaginative, snatches of grunged up breaks juxtaposed across the spectrum of experimental art music, musique concrete thrown in the blender with Kool G Rap. The intro “In America” sets the tone for what is to follow, a 400 second assault on the cerebrum, the LP reaches somewhat of a zenith with “Allie McRaw”, the “straightest” track on LA Pink Filth yet still a mindfuck of boombap beats and vomiting distortion before settling into drone terror-tory for the final third of the release. Lest I’m not making myself clear, these are all good things.A cacophony perhaps, but a glorious cacophony nonetheless.

www.myspace.com/waltergross

-Andy Connolly