The Goo 1
JOHN BRERETON & ETHAN GOLDING Reviews Singles AOI
FE NESSA FRANCES: EMPTINESS FOLLOWS For her new single, Emptiness Follows, Frances has looked to Europe for inspiration. While she retains the sixties spark, now there is a touch of French pop colouring the instrumentals, a classy sheen similar to that of the Yéyé sound of Southern Europe. Aoife’s vocals are alluring as ever as she wrestles with absence and attraction with all the laissez faire delivery of Françoise Hardy. angst. The production is superb, the rhythm section (Dubliner Jay Oglesby and former Smiths bassist Andy O’Rourke) are on fire and it all adds up to an indie disco winner. trends than I should be but, for whatever the reason, there’s no denying that this young Dubliner is nailing it with her releases at the moment. Following on from the scintillating Disco Junkie, this six track EP showcases the many facets of Pastiche, from dance bangers to broody ballads and its all wonderfully vibrant and uplifting. COLUMBIA MILLS: ADDICTION DEF NETTLE: WAR MACHINE Dublin DJ Glen Brady has had an interesting musical journey over the last 2 decades; NYC post punk funk outfit The Glass, DJ Wool and now Def Nettle, probably his meatiest incarnation yet. The arrangement is muscular 80’s - think Psychedelic Furs, The Cure & Iggy - with a laconic vocal drawl that screams Hollywood brat pack PAGE 10 Taken from their soon to be released third album, Addiction sees the band in top form, delivering an empathetic view of modern day anguish over a euphoric groove that scoots along with a brio that cleverly conceals the songs dark heart. The National and Future Islands are good reference points but the Dublin based three piece are firmly on top of their own abilities as songwriters and performers, all of which augurs really well for the new album. ZOID & MELJOANN: PORTAL GER EATON: PHOENIX (REBORN) PASTICHE - FREAK SHOW SYMPHONY EP Maybe it’s because I have 3 sets of young ears and a mad for dancing wife around the house that I’m more attuned to current pop Recently signed to London based label Dimple Discs, the instantly recognisable retro-vintage aficionado (and guitar/keyboards/theremin player of The Pale) Ger Eaton follows on from his acclaimed singles ‘Hollow’ and ‘The Time It Takes To Fall’ with another beautiful slice of baroque pop. Utilising recorders, mellotron, flutes, trumpets and tablas give the soothing tune an instant ‘acid folk’ haze and, allied with Eatons resonant lead vocal and multi-layered harmonies, make this another tasty teaser for his imminent album. The first of two collaborative singles from Irish producers ZOiD and Meljoann, Portal is a breath of fresh air, a beautifully produced electro pop blast that incorporates a superb string arrangement over lop-sided rhythms and found sounds. Meljoann’s voice is a powerful instrument and the duo’s musical telepathy, as they delve lyrically into the world of science fiction, is pitch perfect. Portal is an intriguing interplanetary alliance - bring on the sequel. CARRIE BAXTER: YOU (ALTERNATE) The Waterford born singer has been living in London for the last thirteen years and she successfully tapped into its soul on last year’s excellent album What Now. A wonderfully crafted record full of chunky urban rhythms and romantic jazz flourishes, Baxter’s songwriting skills and