Northern Ireland Tunes - Round-Up #34

Just when you think you've covered all the fantastic Northern Irish tunes that you can for the month, your attention is immediately drawn to another fantastic bunch of songs that you have no choice but to write about. As far as problems go, it's relatively minor, but still something worth rectifying.

So here's another bunch of great songs from here we hope float your Metaphorical Boat this month - 
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Malojian - Communion Girls

I've mentioned before how my passion for local Northern Irish music stems largely from a Los Campesinos! gig that I went to see in July 2008, for which the band were ably supported by three great local bands - Two Door Cinema Club (whatever happened to them?), Kowalski, and the duo who opened the night, folk duo Cat Malojian. The band released two great albums (the latter of which, "The Dawn Chorus", I heardedly recommend checking out if you can track down a copy) before they went their seperate ways.

Stevie Scullion continued on the act under the simpler name of Malojian, and having released one album under the name ("The Deer's Cry), is lining up #2, "Southlands", in the next few months. The first track to be taken from the album, "Communion Girls" has already picked up a lot of love from Radio Ulster and BBC 6music. The music video's pretty great too, a dark yet charming animation which is well worth your attention.


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New Portals - Standing Over Here

"Standing Over Here" might be the first single from the band, but New Portals aren't exactly a new act, more one made up of old friends, given that they're the new project of Ruth & Michael Aicken, who we've written about in the past under the name The Jepettos. "Standing Over Here" sees the band exchange the "lullaby-folk" that they've become known for over the past few years for sleek, futuristic electro-pop. It's an interesting new direction for the duo, and although one hopes it doesn't mean that they've retired their Jepettos moniker, it'll be interesting to see where they go with this one.



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Patrick Gardiner - I'm Your Creation

County Down born Patrick Gardiner is lining up to release his first E.P in three years, "Carcassone", on April 1st, and if that news doesn't immediately excite you, then the lead track from the E.P, "I'm Your Creation", surely should. The song is a loving ode to his parents, wrapped up in an 'everything up to, and including, the kitchen sink' approach to percussion, with its vaudevillian charm calling to mind a more embryonic version of Duke Special. There's also a video for the song, inspired by Frankenstein, which is available now for your oracular pleasure.

He's launching the E.P in Voodoo, Belfast on Thursday April 9th.


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Jealous Of The Birds - Goji Berry Sunset

We came across Jealous of The Birds, the moniker of 18 year-old Portadown native Naomi Hamilton, after local super-producer Rocky O'Reilly brought her to our attention on Twitter. Needless to say, her debut E.P "Capricorn" should be enough to understand why she's already received praise in high places. The entire E.P is a stunningly lo-fi collection of tunes, and if we could bring your attention to just one of them, it would be the opening track, "Goji Berry Sunset". It's a charming little song, underpinned by the earwormiest of whistling hooks.

If you're looking to see her live, thankfully you won't have long to wait, as she's going to be supporting Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly's Sam Duckworth in The Bar With No Name, Belfast on Thursday 9th April.


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Comrade Hat - One Of Them

And concluding things this week is Comrade Hat, the moniker of Derry producer Neil Burns. Inspired by his time writing in the cold, dark depths of the Canadian rockies, he produces icy electronic music with deep atmospherics. "One Of Them" is taken from his E.P "The Winter Takes It All", which sounds like a cross between Air and Lorde, as fronted by Vampire Weekend. It's a song that's best suited for repeat listens, as you discovered something new hidden within the song's intricacies every single time.