Gavin Friday – Catholic [2011]

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Genre: Alternative / Other / Pop

Location Dublin, Ierland

The night he fell in the Mouth of the Flowers… a dark medal of blood slowly forming near the general’s unmoving head. He was dressed in green. In his fading iris, the moon — and the future of the indefeasible Republic. The Angelus bell pealed and the sky flared as the British guns fired a salute in his honour.” Requiem for the Fallen, Pat McCabe

16 years since his last album, it’s time to salute anti-hero Gavin Friday, who returns fittingly, at a time of upheaval, of political chaos, and of spiritual, financial and moral bankruptcy. Ireland is a very different place to the country Shag Tobacco was recorded in, and the intervening decade and a half coincided with a prolific work period for the singer. From soundtracks for In America , The Boxer and Get Rich Die Tryin’ with Quincy Jones to collaborating on Nothing like the Sun with Gavin Bryars and the Royal Shakespeare Company, he moved away from the conventional parameters of the album. There was his acting debut (in Neil Jordan’s Breakfast on Pluto), Scott Walker collaborations and a Kurt Weill show at Dublin Theatre Festival. In personal terms, he endured illness, the end of his marriage and his father’s death. To some, the personal is political; but Gavin Friday is clear that this is “an emotional, not a political, album”. The singer likens catholic to “waking from a deep sleep, of letting go and coming to terms with loss”. And somewhere in the middle of all that, there are slivers of love, contentment and romance.

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Requiem for the Fallen by Patrick Mc Cabe, written and inspired by the words, music and world of ‘catholic’.

Ruarri Joseph – Shoulder To The Wheel [2010]

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I sing and write songs (hmmm…sounds like a singer songwriter). Played in a heap of different bands and settled on being a soloist due to the fact that it was dead easy to organise rehearsals.

I signed to Atlantic Records in 2006 and put a record out called TALES OF GRIME AND GRIT, then I left Atlantic in 2008 and holed up in my shed to make the second record, BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN, which I released under my own label PIP.

Had to abandon ship on the second record as my son had to go into hospital, so I spent most of 2009 being a dad and a husband and not playing any music at all.

With the family all well again I decided to make another record called SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL and I’m out playing again with a renewed sense of enthusiasm and love for what I do. So it’s been somewhat of a rollercoaster and if I’ve learnt anything it’s that the rollercoaster doesn’t actually stop, it just slows down occassionally! Feel free to stop by and let me know what you think. – Ruarri

 

Tony Gwynne – Hear Lies The Truth [2011]

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Genre: Folk Rock / Indie / Pop

Locatie Southwest, United Kingdom

All songs written, recorded, performed and produced by Tony Gwynne, with the exception of ‘Rain Down on Me’ co-written with Sadie Fleming and ‘The Arrival of the Season’ co-written with Miles Biddulph and Iain Archer (Snow Patrol) Produced by Miles Biddulph. ‘Mystery to Me’ co-written with Mark Chappell.

released 31 January 2011
Piano, Guitar, Bass, Vocals – Tony Gwynne
Backing Vocals – Tony Gwynne/Heidi Berry/Miles Biddulph
Strings – Tony Gwynne/Sadie Fleming/Craig Thomas
Drums – Josh Clark

Ace Reporter – Sleepyhead [ep] [ 2011]

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Genre: Folk / Indie / Rock

Locatie BROOKLYN, New York, United States

Ace Reporter wrote and recorded one original song every day of 2010. Now Ace is releasing a series of EP’s that highlight various tracks from the ambitious threesixfive project. The Sleepyhead EP is five song collection of stripped down acoustic songs featuring introspective songwriting intertwined with delicate guitar strums, violins and chimes.

Jules Larson – A Lot Like You [ep] [2010]

Thanks Jan74

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Genre: Pop / Rock / Soul

Locatie LOS ANGELES, California, United States

Emerging artist Jules Larson has come a long way since her days as front-woman for Los Angeles pop/rock outfit Overnight Lows. Now solo and choosing to stay in her native City of Angels, Jules released her debut “Strangers” (produced by Ethan Allen) in late 2009. Her new EP, titled “A Lot Like You“, was released in September 2010.

néGar – néGar [2011]

Thanks Jan74

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Genre: Alternative / Folk Rock / Indie

Locatie Toronto, Canada

Elemental and elegant. Bluesy and bold. Negar’s lush arrangements and lilting vocals reverberate with the strength and grit of Jim Morrison and Patti Smith.
Born in Tehran, Negar moved to Canada at age three, leaving a country torn by revolution and war. She returned to the Middle East at age 11 to live in Abu Dhabi for five years, a city of wealth and repression, that in turn inspired her to express her creativity.
In her senior year, Negar formed a few bands and played around town at the Rivoli, the Reverb and other venues. After graduation from Ontario College of Art and Design, she worked in advertising agencies as an art director before deciding to focus on her music. To create her debut album, Negar found an ideal collaborator and mentor in producer Dan Achen, whose sudden passing in early 2010 added another haunting chord to her life, and to whom she dedicates her upcoming five-track CD.
Her passion is evident in the power and beauty of every note she sings. With the launch of her album, top club dates, and her original music featured in an entry to next year’s TIFF, Negar is one to watch.
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Members:

néGar – vox and guitar

Midnight Mile – Silence Brings The Morning [ep] [2010]

Thanks Jan74

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Vocalists Romy Quinnen and Andy Oliveri make up the soul-folk hit-machine that is Midnight Mile. Since their mutual musical exploits joined them via the voices of friends the band have honed their craft (a mix of Feist’s avant folk-pop and Damien Rice’s acoustica) for a collection of years now. Whilst numerous magazine fabricated fashion genres pass by their window the ‘Mile peacefully wait to unleash their sound. And what a sound it is…a monstrous sculpted figure of fragility and innocence, of breaking bones and arresting love, strewn gracefully over foot-tapping snare rolls, country guitar chords, twinkled organs and sultry vocals.

Carrie Rodriguez and Ben Kyle – We Still Love Our Country [2011]

Thanks Jan74

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Genre: Americana / Pop / Roots-muziek

Locatie Austin, US

Love and family have always been sources of inspiration for critically acclaimed singer/songwriter/musician Carrie Rodriguez, but never have they featured so prominently than on her brand new release Love & Circumstance, a covers album that includes songs written by her father, and once performed by her great aunt.

Rodriguez’ journey from teenage violin student to touring the world with the likes of Chip Taylor (famed songwriter of “Wild Thing), Lucinda Williams and Alejandro Escovedo, has resulted in a prodigious output of recordings – eight albums in as many years – for the young musician; with the new album, Carrie relies on others to handle the songwriting duties, she provides the interpretations.