EAR CATCHING NEW RELEASES

It's been a while since we posted as we have been on a hiatus, but we are back and this month the below have been catching our attention:

LONDON GRAMMAR

HEY NOW

We penned these as our hotly tipped act of 2013 and we were not too far off. The absolutely brilliant and gorgeous lot that make up London Grammar are back with this gem 'Hey Now'. And like lightening they will be striking the hearts of many with this slow burner. The band’s profile has increased over this last year and “Hey Now” is soon to be their trade mark song. 

STORYFOLD

THE UNDERPASS

Following from their album Rocket Science, Irish act Storyfold have returned with a fine EP after spending the last year in the realms of studio-ville perfecting a new sound. Finely polished and pristinely recorded and produced- The Underpass- with its swooping infectious chorus captures a plethora of pop sensibilities. Easy to hear the Ger McDonnell magic touch at hand (U2, The Cure, Kasabian). This is guaranteed to get crowds dancing and turning heads in their general direction.

Pharrell Williams

‘G  I  R  L’ 

Headlining the charts for almost a decade now, Mr Williams has a brand new album out. With now massively commercially successful track, HAPPY, G I R L is a fine example of delivering perfectly produced and structured pop music on par every.single.time. Pharrell, how can you be this cool, oh right...it's the HAT.

PALOMA FAITH-CAN'T RELY ON YOUThe ever wonderful and ever rising super cool Paloma Faith has just released "Can't Rely on You," a brand new single and video that signals she is back with a rather impressive loud bang. "Can't Rely on You," is an alluring and intriguing song both musically and.... visually. See the epic video below!

January playlist

Howdy folks, here at FUGM we have compiled a January playlist for you of tracks we feel you need to hear.

BLITZ KIDS- SOMETIMES

“Sometimes” is taken from their forthcoming album The Good Youth which is out later this month. Its a powerhouse track totally nailing the pop-punk sound that makes us long for our teenage years. Put this on repeat and let the embarrassing images flow of your tender years.

MØ- 'Don't Wanna Dance' (out now)

The great Dame from Denlark, MØ, has gained much support in the last year after releasing a string of online hits that include 'Pilgrim' and 'Waste of Time'. She has just announced that she will release her debut album in March much to our joy! Check out the latest single - catchy alternative electro-pop gem!

 

SARAH PACKIAM-Before I Fall

Sarah Packiam won the RTE 2FM songwriting contest almost a decade ago, and up and left the fair isles for greener...well the not so green pastures of LA. Honing in on her songwriting craft, she signed to EMI and has had a string of releases in the US. She supported the likes of Jason Mraz and has been on tour with Shakira. Before I fall is a quinessential little Indie alternative number, out this coming Friday Jan 25th, along with a homoerotica music video in toll, the song has an instant groove that will appeal to the repeat button oh and did we mention its a free download!

BOXER REBELLION- DIAMONDS

What would happen if you put The National and Arcade Fire in a room and told them to create some offspring? The Boxer Rebellion would happen that is what. "Diamonds” is a pounding stampede of rock - with a solid driving drumbeat, dreamy synth pads lead on by Nathan Nicholson’s baritone voice. It's demanding and definitive. Check it out.

Best of music 2013

What a year 2013 has been. Here is a low down of albums and bands that we couldn't stop listening to. 

BEST 5 ALBUMS:
1. LONDON GRAMMAR-IF YOU WAIT
2. ZERVAS & PEPPER-LIFE BRINGER
3. KODALINE- IN A PERFECT WORLD
4. LITTLE GREEN CARS- ABSOLUTE ZERO
5. EMPIRE CIRCUS- SELF TITLED

BEST 5 TRAD/FOLK ALBUMS
1. VALERIE JUNE- PUSHIN' AGAINST A STONE
2. AOIFE O'DONOVAN- FOSSILS
3. BILLY BRAGG-TOOTH AND NAIL
4. MORE POWER TO YOUR ELBOW- UNTIL THE LAST NOTES FADES
5. THE BARLEY MOB- SELF TITLED

BEST 5 IRISH TRACKS:
1. VILLAGERS- MY LIGHTHOUSE
2. HOZIER- LIKE REAL PEOPLE DO
3. LITTLE GREEN CARS- HARPER LEE
4. KODALINE- ALL I WANT
5. THE HOT SPROCKETS-SOUL BROTHER

BEST 5 INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS:
1. LONDON GRAMMAR
2. DAFT PUNK
3. VALERIE JUNE
4. HAIM
5. THE 1975

TRACK OF THE WEEK FROM Röyksopp

Another absolute gem from the uber cool Chart-topping electronic duo that is Röyksopp as they release their first new single since 2011 with ‘Running To The Sea’. A stunning track that reinstates the Norwegian's validity in todays music industry. 

Check out their ‘Running To The Sea’ EP with remixes from Pachanga Boys, LNTG and Villa.

The track’s lush sweeping sound-scopic vocals, which come in from Susanne Sundfor are sublime. our must listen to track this week.

Celtic Rock music gets more power

On Celtic rock band ‘More Power to Your Elbow’s new and third album "Until The Last Note Fades" the band deliver a high octane energetic set that will make your feet tap and will also pull on the heart strings. Recorded by the legendary producer Mudd Wallace, their blazing array of electro-acoustic instruments, driving melodies and rhythms makes the album a must for any fan of Celtic Trad Rock. Top notch musicality amidst each band member that entwines and cements this solid record.

Key tracks: Two new Bows & So far Away

Ryan Keen releases debut album

A busy year for UK singer-songwriter Ryan Keen touring the majority of 2013 - the past twelve months have seen him play over 200 gigs, supporting everyone from Plan B at the iTunes festival, to Ben Howard, Ed Sheeran, and X Factor star Leona Lewis at the Royal Albert Hall. And he will be soon supporting our own Irish troubadour Gavin James.

Signed to Lookout Mountain who also boast an impressive list of acts such as the adopted Irish son Jamie Lawson, Keen recorded the album in his own garden shed. (Impressed... yes me too). 

On the Room For Lightmarks record, Keen debuted single ‘Old Scars’ which he teamed up with record producer Dan Parry, who previously worked with the likes of Adele and Lady Gaga. Well received on Uk Radio, it is set to hit Irish shores with 'You Know About me' a stunning track which will easily land him his own growing Irish fan base. 

Having mastered the art of storytelling, Keen is not just your standard singer songwriter but  one fuelled on emotions and passion, (he was  inspired to delve into song-writing after the tragic death of his friend at university), he draws from the every day and pieces the mundane mixed with the realties of life into a musically fluid songbook that will appeal to many.

This first record sounds like his third or fourth - it is that mature- something tells me there will be yet lot more to come from the vastly impressive songsmith Ryan Keen.

Be sure to catch him in Ireland this December with our own Gavin James:

Gavin James

The Forum, Waterford, Ireland

SAT Dec 07 2013

Gavin James

Dolans Warehouse, Limerick, Ireland

SUN Dec 08 2013

Gavin James

Róisín Dubh, Galway, Ireland

TUE Dec 10 2013

Ryan Keen Black Box, Belfast, UK

THU Dec 12

2013 Gavin James

Cyprus Avenue, Cork, Ireland

FRI Dec 13 2013

Gavin James

Pepper Canister Church, Dublin, Ireland

Paul Melia aims to impress on his debut

This album has been on my radar since his single (Lights in the sand) arrived in my inbox a few months back. To be honest I wasn't too gone on the single, which sounded like every other Indie act out there trying to climb the ladder with little of their own unique sound offerings, so the album I was up in arms about...

Fortunately enough I was wrong. 

It is a slow grower. Intelligent and sophisticated, Melia's music draws from many sources- classical, electronic, acoustic, pop... the list goes on. Although opener and the title track and name of the album 'Hold Onto Colours' sounds like an out-of-date track that missed out on making it onto an episode of Dawsons Creek, the rest of the album contains stronger tracks that draw you in and utterly impress.

Such as the stripped back tracks which soflty introduce just the voice and piano - Melia's strongpoint. This we see in the absolutely stunning Miss You, with its lingering intro and gradual build to its beautiful string section in the middle. It is a superb song that surprises and makes up for any doubt you may have on this multi faceted singer songwriter. His musicality alone in this track embodies the entire album. This would be a great track for radio, especially leading into the Christmas market when you see families reunited at the Airport. After I finished listening to that, on REPEAT, the album began to impress more and more. It is a mixed lucky bag, with some sweets you will like, love and others you will leave there until you have relished on the others. But all in all a superb debut album well worth listening to again, and again and again. Oh and AGAIN.

Listen to: Miss You and Shelter from my Mind.