Sister Ghost – Dark Matter (single, Third Bar)
IT’S been a while since we heard from Sister Ghost, but happily Shannon and co have returned this month with a brand new single from the band’s long-awaited debut album, Beyond The Water, recorded back in 2022 with Brad ‘producer of Liz Phair and Veruca Salt’ Wood in the US of A.
Thankfully, if Dark Matter is not some sort of dumbed down ‘LA rock’ record – although it was made in Los Angeles and it does, indeed, rock, but only in the slinky, spooky, 90s indie/alternative rock-informed way we already know the Ghost to be well able for.
As ever, Shannon’s distinctive vocals are front and centre on the song, which perhaps has a slightly spacier, atmos-heavy vibe to its twangy guitar and fuzzy bass-fuelled charms than previous SG outings – along with a smattering of French amongst its lyrics.
Get it in your ears now via sisterghost.lnk.to/DarkMatter, and keep them peeled for more Ghostly goodies coming our way between now and the album release date on – when else? – October 31.
Hypnic Jerk – Spit It Out (single, self-released)
DERRY/Donegal wans Waldorf & Cannon have long been a reliable source of off-beat, groovy tunes with an eclectic musical bent: now, the half of the duo that answers to Philip ‘Wally’ Wallace is making a bid for solo fame and fortune with a single that’s cut from a similarly funky patterned cloth.
Spit It Out by Hypnic Jerk is a joyous spurt of incessantly catchy, garage punk-flavoured fun delivered on fuzzed-out guitar and stomped-on footdrums: think Black Flag meets Beck at Ty Segall show, or something.
It’s an auspicious debut to be sure, which sounds class and features the delicious lyric “It’s complicated, the way you move / Like a bishop in chess / Instead of angles, try moving forward / To decompress”.
Words to live by, I tell thee: listen now at hypnicjerker.bandcamp.com, look for the trippy DIY video for the tune in the usual places, and be advised that there is a Hypnic Jerk album ‘in the can’ and heading our way in the very near future.
Beauty Sleep – Big Sky (single/video, self-released)
A FEW weeks ago I was writing about the super-summery new single from Beauty Sleep, Big Sky, and mentioned that I would keep you posted on the imminent arrival of an accompanying promo clip for said 80s-tastic tune.
Sure enough, having recently enjoyed a trip to beautiful Zadar in Croatia, Ryan and Cheylene arrived back with a Go-Pro-captured video for their new tune, which involves them miming along while posing on the sun-baked Zadar seafront, zipping around on a jet ski, and jumping into the sea without missing a lyric like the true pop stars/stunt professionals they are.
It’s nothing but a good time, and there’s even a wee bit of dreary Belfast footage shot at the start too, just to prove they haven’t forgotten their roots: check it out now at Youtube.com/@BeautySleep and be advised that the duo will be playing live at the Hilden Brewery Beer & Music Festival in Lisburn on August 24, so get your tickets now via hildenbrewery.com.
Nick Power and McKowski – Throat (single/video, DeltaSonic)
ON A completely different tip/trip, this spooky atonal soundscape incorporating a lo-fi gothic folk lament from The Coral’s Nick Power and The Lost Brothers’ Mark McCausland will provoke feelings of unease right from the first listen – and that’s before you’ve laid eyes on the accompanying video clip.
Film-makers Devin Morgan and Eddie Levine have created a short anxiety-inducing clip of mounting backwoods delirium with a ‘decaying VHS’ aesthetic.
Don’t listen/watch before bed at youtube.com/@deltasonic4580.
Spoon Speaker Man – The Age of No Opinion (single, self-released)
HOW could I resist the charms of a team up between Ned’s Atomic Dustbin drummer Dan Worton and Craig Walker, frontman for 1990s Irish indie heroes Power of Dreams?
That’s right, I couldn’t – and you’re also likely to succumb to their charms if you’re a sucker for melodic indie rock done right: catchy hooks, loud guitars, pummelling drums and the odd pretty, twinkly, quieter bit for good measure.
There’s an old-skool 90s feel to this, but crucially it doesn’t sound like Ned’s or POD, apart from the obvious familiarity of Craig’s voice, which sounds as strong and distinctive as ever. He even chucks in a crowd-pleasing lyrical reference to the incredible PWEI on a tune which is also the title track from the project’s forthcoming debut LP, due out in October.
Before you ask, yes, there will be tour dates – including some Irish ones, which will be the first time a Ned has made noise on this island since Féile 1992. Spoon Speaker Man will make their live debut at the Shiiine On festival in November with a band line-up also featuring Craig’s brother/POD bandmate Keith on drums (Dan is playing bass) and guitarist Jason Brown from Tom Hingley’s band The Lovers and ex-Fall survivors group Brix and The Extricated.
And for those standing at the back with their arms folded in reserved judgement, be advised that the Man will be dust(bin)ing off some favourites from Craig, Keith and Dan’s illustrious musical pasts to sprinkle throughout the live set.
More details on those Irish dates as and when we have them, in the meantime get your album pre-ordered now at spoonspeakerman.bigcartel.com and look out for The Age of No Opinion on your favourite streaming platform from tomorrow.
Buí – Stopping Distance (EP, self-released)
LAST but by no means least this week is the new EP from Belfast’s Buí: four new tunes of 4-Track Portastudio recorded indie pop greatness, led by a bittersweet piano-tinged and bass-led shoegaze slowie called Reset that will have you swaying and singing along with Josh’s vocal right from the first listen.
It’s backed up the pleasingly Elliot Smith-y acoustic guitar powered lament Static, a slow-building work-in-progress instrumental mood piece called Cycle and a gentle summer ballad called Turn, which rounds off the EP in introspective recorder-assisted style.
Does anyone else do this kind of lo-fi greatness as well as Buí right now? I think not.
Agree with me now at bui43.bandcamp.com.