The Goo 1
Reviews ETHAN GOLDING / CRAIG MCCOMISH / NIKKI RA
YMOND / GARRY BAYLON / PAUL FITZPATRICK / IAN SAUL Singles PANOPTICON - PETER GABRIEL Initially slow moving, ‘Panopticon’ requires a perseverance commitment from the listener. The opening bars are sparse and a touch languid, harpsichords ring out in isolation before an unmistakable Gabriel synth melody takes over for a spell and it’s almost two minutes before the track takes off. The restraint shown by Gabriel for two thirds of the track are worth the brief moments spent in a chorus which is typically Peter Gabriel. Lush, propulsive and theatrical. EG RICE - YOUNG FATHERS Young Fathers’ 4th single since July 2022, ‘Rice’ is a continuation of the reconstruction project the group has been on since the release of 2018’s Cocoa Sugar, an album which plowed further into the group’s Gospel instincts, an aspect which proved to be more rewarding when sprinkled throughout an album, losing its potency when leaned on as a major through line. ‘Rice’ blends Young Fathers’ undeniable knack for noise pop and their obvious devotion for Southern Blues & Gospel. EG THE CROW - CRUACHAN ‘The Crow’ opens with a deep and wide Acoustic guitar, met with Fiddle and multiple vocals building on the druidic tonality of Irish folk music. The arrangement then U-turns with the weightily introduced clicky kick drum and is married with Folk metal culminating in a birds eye narrative of the darker side to Irish history. An open criticism of faith as well as human capacity for evil channelled through paganistic folk shanty meets hard-rock. CMcC 7PM - CURTISY X CILLIAN A new cut from Tallaght rapper Curtisy and Balbriggan based producer Cillian, 7PM kicks off with a sumptuous, slinky jazz piano motif that evokes early 2000’s trip hop grooves. The mood darkens as Curtisy’s introspective words intertwine with the chunky rhythms and repeating samples to produce a very impressive slice of urban hip hop that marks them out as ones to watch. PF HEY CAROLINA - THE 2:19 NEVER LEAVE ME - SALAMAY Soulful, smooth and complex. Salamay’s new single ‘Never Leave Me’ is everything we have come to expect from one of Ireland’s most accomplished Hiphop / R&B artists. Salamay’s conscious lyrics and flow set him apart as a truly compelling rapper and storyteller but it’s his choice of instrumentals which elevate this track. It’s gentle, accented with melodic vocal refrains and manipulations of Salamay’s own vocals. EG PAGE 10 DEATH OF A SOCIETY GIRL - PERRY BLAKE A rich evolving soundscape that cocoons Blake’s variety of almost surrealist lyrics. The limits of the Downtempo rulebook are broadly stretched with a weaving instrumentation that dips and wanders.‘Death of a Society Girl’ is heavily reminiscent of the Portishead, Massive Attack open study of the musical possibilities within a stagnant dynamic, combined with elements of Introspective era Pet shop boys. CMcC ONE POTATO - THE MIDDLE AGES ‘One Potato’ heavily matches the aesthetic of 90s alternative rock with production reminiscent of Presidents of the United States of America’s ’95 Debut, the jarring jumps in dynamic of Sally by Kerbdog or Longview, and the sludgy strumming hand borrowed from Bleach era Nirvana matching the vast Alt Rock CV the band holds collectively. It features often satirical depictions of the dreariness of day-to-day inconveniences when paired with a detached sense of abandonment. CMcC ‘Hey Carolina’ is a blisteringly ambitious americana serve by the 2:19. Opening with a tremolo guitar rich with crispy high end and thematically on par Leslie Hammond Organ, ‘Hey Carolina’ is an Eagles-centric country rock jamboree tastefully laced with a lively melodic Bass and intrinsically Allman unison bends. The spaced out halftime bridge with beautifully compressed cross stick snare finally culminates in the blues brothers brass arrangement taking over in the final chorus ala Ray Charles or Paolo Nutini. CMcC