The Goo 1
Reviews Emileo - ‘Northside Lament’ Dublin based
Berlin born Emileo’s new single is a departure from her trademark world music sound as she utilises an electronic sonic palette to express her sadness at the recent riots in Dublin city centre and, more pointedly, the opportunistic actions of the far right elements that are insidiously creeping into our society. It’s less a song, more a warning and one that we all need to heed. PF Travis & Elzzz - ‘Blockbuster’ Back with a bang Dublin duo Travis & Elzzz release their first single of the year titled ‘Blockbuster’ which pulls no punches. A trap inspired beat with a catchy hook and hard hitting verses this song will no doubt be blowing speakers around the country. With the Irish rap scene in a very good place at the moment Travis & Elzzz are one of the shining stars of the genre with their debut mixtape titled Full Circle landing the number two spot on the Irish album charts. JMcB Jesse June - ‘Maybe Next Time’ It seems these days in the Irish music scene new talents are popping up every few days of which Dublin based artist Jesse June is the PAGE 12 latest. .His debut single ‘Maybe Next Time’ is a soulful laid-back track that draws influences from a wide range of artists such as Andre 3000 and Kendrick Lamar. In a year that looks highly promising for Irish music Jesse June is certainly an act to keep an eye on. JMcB SexyTadhg - ‘Ride The Wave’ SexyTadhg’s latest release assembles a fearscape composed of anxiety and dread while simultaneously demolishing it. ‘Ride The Wave’ is an anti-anxiety anthem with resilience at the helm. Tadhg’s learned experiences have stood to them in turn creating a firm crutch which they have passed on to the masses. Following a sold-out performance in The Sugar Club at the end of 2023, this year they are set to embark on a six date nationwide tour. NR Cormac Todd - ‘Don’t Call Me When I’m Famous’ Punchy, peppy and poppy, Cormac Todd leaves no room for doubt on his latest single. ‘Don’t Call Me When I’m Famous’ is a manifestation mantra in its purest form. Self-belief is in for 2024 and Cormac emanates this powerful air in his work and in his presence. With multiple collaborations on the horizon this year for Todd, his zeitgeist-like vigour prevails. NR SHAR DULLAGHAN / ETHAN GOLDING / DAVID CARR / Albums NewDad - Madra NewDad are everywhere, between being penned as ones to watch by Rolling Stone and attending London Fashion Week, their accession continues, culminating in the expectation of their debut album. Hailing from Galway, Ireland, NewDad was formed in 2018. After a steady stream of singles and two stellar EPs, it was an uncanny two-year wait for the arrival of their debut, yet, this seems incredibly apt. Madra is a delectable sonic experience, packed with scrumptious textures to chew on and illuminating clarity. The four piece traverse through tracks that are both sickly sweet (if you pardon the pun) and insidiously foreboding, creating an unnerving terrain that pulls you in to spit you out again. They call on 90’s dreampop with ease on ‘In My Head’ while also navigating a pang of melancholy as the project grapples with themes of selfloathing, destructive tendencies, and failed relationships in ‘Angel’ and ‘Nightmares’. There is no hyperbole in Julie Dawson’s songwriting, blunt cynicism and discontented nonchalance control ALAN MONNELLY / SHAR DULLAGHAN / ETHAN GOLDING / DAVID CARR / ALAN MONNELLY / ADHAMH O’CAOIMH / ORAN O’BEIRNE / PAUL FITZPATRICK the narrative of the album, leading to unfiltered lyricism that only falters slightly throughout. ‘Let Go’ embodies a doomy crunch in its chorus that gorgeously juxtaposes the slathers of bass that drive the verses, peppered with disintegration-esque guitar motifs. NewDad does not shy away from their influences here. It is in the heavier moments of the album that they shine, away from the immediate influences of indiepop predecessors. Madra conjures an incredibly cohesive sound from NewDad, with the progression of their songwriting beautifully encapsulated as it finds stronger footing in the latter half of the project. SD Ronan Group - I Don’t Want To Go Anywhere Has anyone ever heard of Attic Abasement? If you have and also enjoy their counterintuitively catchy vocal stylings, Ronan Group have a batch of songs I think you may enjoy. If you enjoy the bouncing cadence of Michael Hurley, I Don’t Want To Go Anywhere is a fix and a half. Sporting a more accomplished vocalist in Ronan Boland, Ronan Group have produced an eclectic mix of Shins ADHAMH O’CAOIMH / ORAN O’BEIRNE / PAUL FITZPATRICK