Cherym – Listening To My Head (single, Alcopop!)
THE last time we heard from Derry power trio Cherym was back in February when they were taking down Valentine's Day in fine grungy pop fashion via their bad romance anthem Kisses On My Cards.
Love gone wrong is also the subject of their latest release, a deceptively sugary blast of catchy sing-along melodies, caffeinated crashy-bashy rhythms and shimmery/squalling guitars called Listening To My Head which will likely lodge itself deep in your brain right from the very first listen in the manner of a pop punk bullet.
On the subject of headshots, the song's lyrics refer to the infamous and rather grisly tale of US couple Dan and Elisabeth 'Betty' Broderick, which involved marital infidelity followed by a double homicide – told you it was a deceptively sugary tune – as fans of hit Netflix's true crime serial Dirty John will already be well aware: the late-80s/early-90s case was the subject of its recent second series starring Christian Slater and Amanda Peet in the title roles (makes note to watch).
For those without Netflix, Cherym have come up with their own rather less gory dramatisation of the Dan and Betty saga for the song's promo video, which features Bafta-worthy acting from the Cherym crew (in multiple roles no less) and superb wig-modelling skills.
Check it out now via linktr.ee/Cherymofficial, where you'll also find links to hear and purchase Listening To My Head from a variety of streaming services.
Kate Nicholson – Street Lamps (single, self-released)
ONE of the artists appearing at this year's Women's Work festival (see below/over there), Co Derry-born singer/songwriter Kate Nicholson will be celebrating the release of her new single Street Lamps with a fully live streamed performance from Accidental Theatre on Saturday evening.
"Street Lamps is a song about new beginnings and hope," explains Kate, who is based on the north coast.
"It begins talking about the disappointment of a dream and a life somewhere or with someone falling flat when you weren't expecting it to. And finding a whole new world of possibilities in a new city."
Appropriately then, Street Lamps is an uplifting radio-friendly pop rock strummer which highlights Kate's strong, expressive vocals. It would surely sound good blaring out of the car stereo on a summer afternoon drive with the windows down – daytime DJs take note.
Full details of where you can hear/buy the single at Katenicholson.co.uk and see the Women's Work write-up elsewhere on this page for details of her Saturday evening show.
Tuath – That Looks Like a Good Spot for Some Luxury Apartments (single, self-released)
"SPARE a thought for those low-life hipster artists, that looks like a good spot for some luxury apartments" sing Tuath on their latest warped pop/soul classic, That Looks Like a Good Spot for Some Luxury Apartments, a funky ode to the expensive/'exclusive' strain of urban blight masquerading as gentrification that's been slowly infecting every town and city throughout Ireland for the past 20 years.
If you're fed up with affordable flats and art spaces, cheap shop units, and shabby yet architecturally/culturally significant buildings being razed/gutted in favour of 'aspirational living spaces', then get behind this only mildly sweary song and put it to the top of the charts – is there a daytime radio-friendly edit, lads?
It's taken from the Letterkenny band's equally great Research And Development EP, due out on June 23 and earmarked for more column inches here next time around.
In the meantime, view the great video for the song featuring clips from your favourite Darren Aronofsky classics and other visual stimuli on YouTube and – most importantly – buy/stream TLLAGSFSLA via Tuath.bandcamp.com, Spotify and so on.
Fantasy Video – BIG TREE (single, self released)
A VETERAN/survivor of Belfast punk institution The Dangerfields, Fantasy Video proprietor JP Reid also enjoyed a spell playing bass for excellent Newcastle Upon Tyne indiepop outfit The Plan For Tonight.
Currently based in Stuttgart, the Carryduff-born artist formerly known as Petrina Goatboy stayed sane-ish during lockdown last year by getting back into making music for the first time in a decade under the new moniker Fantasy Video.
His first release comes in the form of an uber-catchy indie/electropop banger titled BIG TREE. Pleasingly reminiscent of the uptempo lo-fi bionic homebrews once peddled by Reid's Carryduffian forerunners Clone Quartet and Cecil's Flea Circus, the song features a great guest vocal from Drying Weather man Dónal Kennedy and boasts a relentless sound so large its title demands to be represented in ALL CAPS with every print mention.
File under 'hugely promising debuts': blast BIG Tree now at Fantasyvideo.bandcamp.com and Spotify and stay tuned for for more collaborative tunes to come from Mr Reid in the near future.
Jake Wallace – Lacuna (EP, Black Tragick Records)
THIS debut EP from Elder Druid guitar abuser Jake Wallace is a major departure from his Belfast outfit's doom metal stylings, but then that's often the whole point of solo work – to be an outlet for kind of music that wouldn't fit your main outfit's ouvre without causing some sort of fanboy outcry.
Written and recorded during lockdown, the Lacuna EP features five tracks of dreamy, emotive instrumental introspection deftly fashioned from acoustic guitar, piano and synths.
A wonderfully calm and contemplative listen which feels like it could be the soundtrack to a poignant independent film, put it into your ears now at Jakewallace.bandcamp.com.
Women’s Work 2021
FINALLY for this week, a reminder that this year's Women's Work festival got underway yesterday and will continue until Sunday with a series of online shows, workshops and discussions aimed at breaking down the barriers between the music industry and women.
Highlights still to come include....
Mothers in Music – A Virtual Performance (tonight, 6pm on YouTube)
Watch KT Tunstall's Push That Knot Away performed by these 17 music-making mothers brought together for a 12-week programme at Oh Yeah
Getting To Know... Pillow Queens (tonight, 7.30pm on YouTube)
Dublin indie rockers Pillow Queens face the Getting To Know... treatment where you can find out all about their recent appearance on James Corden's Late Late Show, their debut album In Waiting and more.
Songwriting 101 (Saturday June 19, 2pm on Zoom, advance sign-up mandatory)
Struggling to start/finish/perfect a song? Join Eve Williams and Riley Holland for this practical songwriting workshop aimed at helping you hook your listeners.
Running Up That Hill – A Virtual Performance (Saturday June 19, 6pm on YouTube)
Katie Richardson leads a selection of local artists in a collaborative cover version of the Kate Bush classic Running Up That Hill.
Getting To Know... Dani Larkin (Saturday June 19, 7pm on YouTube)
Borderland alt-folker Dani Larkin's debut LP Notes For A Maiden Warrior is out today – find out more about it and her with this virtual Q&A.
Kate Nicholson – Street Lamps live launch (Saturday June 19, 7.30pm, tickets via Accidentaltheatre.co.uk)
You've listened to the song and read the review, now watch Kate performing it and other tunes live from the stage of the Accidental Theatre.
Why Not Her? (Sunday June 20, 1pm on Zoom, advance sign-up mandatory)
Linda Coogan Byrne in conversation with Siobhan McAndrew about why female artists are so under-played on Irish radio.
Creating Virtual Performances (Sunday June 20, 7pm on Zoom, advance sign-up mandatory)
Prepare for future pandemics with this two-hour workshop/demonstration from songwriter and performer Theodora Byrne, a step-by-step guide to creating your own lockdown-friendly virtual performances.
