The best of new and future worldwide music from an Ireland-based music blog.

The Rubberbandits’ top 5 new artists of 2011

Wednesday, December 21, 2011 - 7 comments


To conclude the new artist series of guest posts, we have an exclusive collection of The Rubberbandits‘ top 5 new artists of 2011. Blind Boy Boat Club and Mr Chrome have just released their pretty serious double album Serious About Men which contains the earworms that are ‘Spoiling Ivan’, ‘Black Man’, ‘Up Da Ra’ and ‘Spastic Hawk’ amongst other amazing and lovely hits. To win a copy of the album leave a comment on this Facebook post before Christmas Day. If you win it’ll be a lovely January surprise. Over the lads….

Oh Boy. What a year 2011 has been for music. As requested by Niall of the 9 hostages we have assembled a list of what we think are the 5 best new artists of 2011. We have selected two Irish entries.. Dublin rap crew Greenzer, Spliff Richard and MC KATONIC who are telling like it is in post Celtic Tiger Ireland and also Cork based industrial act “The squealers” which we have on good authority is the side project of well known actor Cillian Murphy. Among the lesser known names we have bigger acts such as Sweden’s “The Gasyard Gascoignes” and New York’s controversial “Whiskey Disco and the Boy Negro”. Our number one Selection “Babyrock And the Casio Cloakroom” deserves a special mention for having the unique achievement of operating as an act for the past 5 years despite being a newcomer….

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The Nialler9 Dublin gig guide (Christmas 2011 edition)

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 - 4 comments

Highlights:  State’s Midnight Mass with Toby Kaar, Kool Thing, Little Xs For Eyes, Bitches With Wolves, Come On Live Long and more, Lisa Hannigan’s three headline gigs, Skream, Spies Seasonal Soiree, Loud Mouth Compilation Volume 3 Launch Party, The Jimmy Cake, POGO/HSSH’s Stephen’s Day Bash… Oh and Christmas.

A list of recommended events taking place over the next seven days in Dublin. All times are 7.30/8pm unless stated. Feel free to recommend gigs in the comments as this post gets a lot of eyes every week.

See the full 7 day gig guide …»

Daughter – ‘In The Shallows’ (Daytrotter session)

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 - 1 comment

One of the most consistent live session sites on the internet, Daytrotter has gone to a monthly membership system ($2 a month for free downloads of sessions, a new one per day). Musicians drop into Rock Island, Illinois on their tours and record a four-track live session. Over the years, there’s been great ones from Edward Sharpe, Yeasayer, Grizzly Bear, Mayer Hawthorne and hundreds more.

The latest session to impress me is an artist I’m already smitten with, Elena Tonra aka Daughter. Her music burns bright in a dark place and the four songs recorded for Daytrotter – ‘Candles’, ‘In The Shallows’,'Tomorrow’ and ‘Landfill’ are calming yet teeming with ripped emotion.
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Azealia Banks – ‘Liquorice’

Saturday, December 17, 2011 - Leave a comment

Azealia Banks

The seal around Azealia Banks has been broken. There’s no going back to the underground space she occupied for 2011. Kanye’s already emailed her, she’s inevitably on the BBC Sound of 2012 poll and ’212′ is being noticed by those beyond the blogs and Tumblrs.

The Harlem club rapper’s latest track uses Lone’s ‘Pineapple Crush’ as the backing track for some “liquorice bitch” shit.

Listen to more tracks …»

Niki & The Dove – ‘DJ, Ease My Mind’ (video)

Saturday, December 17, 2011 - 2 comments

As 2012 approaches, Sweden’s Niki & The Dove look increasingly likely to be a going concern for many. I’m pretty excited about finally seeing them live at Eurosonic in January. While ‘DJ, Ease My Mind’, the song, has been knocking about for a while, its tribal dance sound has just received the video treatment. The single is out in February.

You’ll find another new homemade video for ‘Mother Protect’ after the jump. Read More… →