Come join Republic Of Loose; A collective of like-minded souls with a loose aggregation of influences and inspiration. But they’re not some funkateers from LA, Memphis or Philadelphia. This is a bunch of white Dubliners on the musical razzle. And if you have a problem with that, then frontman Mick Pyro, he of the gorgeous white soul voice, will cheerfully stick two fingers in your direction, but in the most academic manner.
Republic of Loose VOL IV:Johnny Pyro And The Dance Of Evil "Another excellent album from one of the best bands in the country" Hotpress 4/5
"Another cracking record from probably the best band in Ireland" Sunday Tribune 4/5
Aaagh! "Splicing Outkast and The Stones In Songs that rely on Pure feel" The Observer
"An astonishing work of wit and soul" The Daily Telegraph
"A cocktail of sleazy blues, dirty funk and righteous fervour that has more in common with the deep south than the suburbs of Dublin" Q
Ed Zealous, the most electrifying band to hail from the burgeoning Belfast scene, were crafted from ice and flames and are prepared to chill the bones and fire up the senses with their precision rush of melody and guitars.
"Bursting with fine slices of experimentation. A dislocated epic style of rock that’s capable of being just as moody as their flailing floppy fringes. Right now, you won’t find many better prospects." Chris Long, BBC Introducing, In The City 08 Review
"A Cracking debut single…fell in love with it the moment I stuck it on my turntable" Tom Robinson / BBC 6 Music
"Panama Kings have made an impressive impact on the NI music scene in double quick time... Onstage they have swagger and edge, coming across like an outfit who mean business rather than a collection of faux indie hipsters. There are a number of stand out tracks, with ‘Your Children Are Screaming’ already so seared into a section of the crowds consciousness they supply their own backing vocal to accompany the melody. It’s an all round convincing performance that justifies the buzz they’ve been building." Jonny Tiernan, AU Magazine
Our basic mission is to play good original music: our songs make you dance, make you sing, make you listen, make you happy, make you love (mostly dance though!) We sing about politics, relationships, vices, freedom, happiness, love, hate, sunshine and, again, dancing! Using soul as our basis, we also take elements of funk, ska, jazz, blues and rock'n'roll and wrap it all up with a Northern Irish twist.
"Understated but oddly overwhelming, Heliopause create songs that tiptoe their way into your affections. Everything is beautifully measured, guitars chiming like a spoon striking the rim of a fine china cup, the pitter-patter rhythms evoking the image of rain beating against the windowpane of a lonely cottage.
This is daydream stuff, woozy, blissful, satisfying. Others might like their thrills more bullish, but Heliopause reward patience and those who take the time to properly befriend this record will be amply rewarded. The central pivot is ‘Lullaby’, a song of devastating purity, spectral and startling. Throughout the male / female vocals are delicate, the delivery either hushed or tickling like a lover’s breath against the ear. And yet, for all the shimmering gorgeousness, Heliopause are more than capable of wrestling the air from your lungs. Note ‘Dark Ink, a song which blots the moment like a depth charge, pulling us under with a swathe of fierce guitar and cascading drums. Mesmerising." AU Magazine
Ten Gallon Hat & The Big Salute are officially here, thanks to an arresting debut EP “New Horizons.” which serves to challenge every stereotype you have ever had about the country and roots music scene here in N.I. This Belfast based four piece pull no punches, ever ready to deliver their own inimitable blend of raucous rock, soul and gutsy blues with a feverous undercurrent of country bubbling through every track.
Albrecht’s Pencilwww.myspace.com/albrechtspencil In the spring of '07 two alt-folk turbo-troubadours collided at full speed in the halls of Queen's University Belfast. Albrecht's Pencil emerged from the wreckage. The duo now write and perform their very own music, mostly with larynges and guitars, occasionally (and increasingly) with cavaquinho, tongue drum, glockenspiel, whipcrack, hang, violoncello, wind up radio, tam-tam, etc. Their 5-track debut EP, cunningly entitled "Extended Play" was recorded in one night in QUB's McMordie Hall. This album can be bought by thwacking the links hiding somewhere on this page. The pair are currently working on material for their second CD, to be recorded sometime in the autumn. A reasonably motley B-sides compilation album is also set for release asap.
Downpatrick duo Ellipsis feel that although their main genre would be 'Electro-acoustic' they love to incorporate many different sounds into their music and have said that experimentation is a big part of who they are as a band. Their tracks range from typical acoustic to electronic- with a little bit of rock, indie, chill-out, and pop mixed in just for good measure. They are also partial to including modern classical sounds into their more ambient tracks.
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