LISTEN: Lisa Hannigan & s t a r g a z e Orchestra – ‘Bookmark’

Cinematic sounds and affecting vocals combine on Irish songwriter Lisa Hannigan‘s latest single ‘Bookmark’. It’s a beautiful collaboration with composer André de Ridder and his s t a r g a z e neo-classical orchestra, recorded when they accompanied Hannigan onstage at Dublin’s National Concert Hall. The live album will be released on 31st May via Play It Again Sam, titled Live In Dublin.

The new record spans Hannigan’s discography, including her critically acclaimed 2016 third album At Swim. It paints a beautiful musical portrait of her 17 year career so far, which has included award nominations from the Mercury Prize to Ireland’s Choice Music Prize and Meteor Music Awards.

Speaking about ‘Bookmark’, Hannigan explains: “’Bookmark’ was one of those lost songs that I wrote for At Swim that didn’t seem to fit with the rest of that record. I also never could figure out how to orchestrate it beyond my guitar part and it felt a bit stuck. Andre wrote an arrangement for it during the PEOPLE festival in Berlin, and overnight it came to life.”

Listen to ‘Bookmark’ below and pre-order your copy of Lisa Hannigan’s Live In Dublin here.

Photo Credit: Gerry Sugrue

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: ZAMILSKA – ‘Hollow’

Dense, rhythmic, hypnotic beats permeate Polish producer ZAMILSKA‘s new single ‘Hollow’, the first track released from her upcoming album due later this summer. The jagged soundscape combines techno textures and intriguing vocal samples to reflect “the anxiety of what we want vs what we get”.

From Silesia, the coal-mining region of Poland, Natalia Zamilska’s music combines both melodic and industrial elements in a beautiful yet brutal fashion. Her work has attracted the attention of Nine Inch Nails, who recommended one of her tracks on their official Spotify playlist and recently she stepped into the gaming world and contributed to RUINER (Digital Dragon Award 2018 winner Best Polish Game Soundtrack), which features her music heavily throughout.

ZAMILSKA has also garnered acclaim from Radio BBC 6 Music’s Iggy Pop, Mary Anne Hobbs and Tom Ravenscroft, and with her superb remix of Gazelle Twin’s ‘Belly of the Beast’ which was played on the ABC series How To Get Away With Murder.

With her ability to create beats that ricochet around our skulls and her obvious talent for collaborating, we’re biting our nails in anticipation of ZAMILSKA’s upcoming record. Listen to ‘Hollow’ below and follow ZAMILSKA on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Tacocat – ‘Hologram’

A joyful poke at the dynamics of power; Seattle pop-punks Tacocat have shared their latest singe ‘Hologram’. The track is taken from the band’s upcoming album This Mess Is a Place, set to be released on 3rd May via Sub Pop.

We’ve been waiting for new Tacocat material since 2016 (when the band released their second record, Lost Time) and if their new single is anything to go by; This Mess Is a Place is set to be another buoyant, reassuring listen for these misguided and politically turbulent times.

“Just remember if you can, power is a hologram ” sings Emily Nokes during the chorus for ‘Hologram’, which dismantles the translucent nature of power via pop hooks and catchy lyricism. Tacocat excel at taking difficult political concepts and dismantling them in to bubble-gum sized chewable pieces.

Speaking about the new record, Emily explains: “We can examine some hard stuff, make fun of some evil stuff, feel some soft feelings, feel some rage feelings, feel some bitter-ass feelings, sift through memories, feel wavy-existential, and still go get a banana daiquiri at the end.”

You heard her – grab yourself a banana daiquiri and Listen to ‘Hologram’ below. Follow Tacocat on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: Varley – ‘Phantom Studies’

An understated, captivating listen: Berlin-based trio Varley have shared their new single ‘Phantom Studies’ released via Seahorse Music. It’s an introspective, atmospheric alt-folk gem that explores the breakdown of communication in a relationship.

Formed of vocalist Claire-Ann Varley and multi-instrumentalists Matthias Heising and Joschka Bender, Varley won us over with their stripped back live set at our at Notting Hill Arts Club gig last year. On their new single, the trio continue to give us goosebumps by delivering pitch perfect vocals over a hypnotic, dreamy soundscape.

Speaking about ‘Phantom Studies’, Claire-Ann explains: “Was it real? Did it actually exist and if so, did it exist in the way it appeared to me? ‘Phantom studies’ looks at the dynamic between two people who, although have the same daily routine, see things in a completely different way. It shows how memories can be warped and changed over time and how one person’s reality is not the same as another’s. It shows the breakdown in a relationship and communication and how sometimes even when we communicate our feelings they are not taken seriously”

If you’re a fan of Bon Iver, London Grammar or Daughter; then Varley’s music is definitely worth investing in. Listen to ‘Phantom Studies’ below and follow Varley on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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