LISTEN: Hilary Woods – ‘Where The Bough Has Broken’

A hypnotic instrumental inspired by a deep love for the city she grew up in, Irish artist Hilary Woods has shared her latest single ‘Where The Bough Has Broken’. Lifted from her upcoming album, Acts Of Light, which is set for release on 3rd November via Sacred Bones, the track is an atmospheric ode to communal growth and memory, with an accompanying video that pays homage to the seemingly minor moments that play a role in creating these things.

Following on from her second full length record Birthmarks (2020), and her hypnotic EP Feral Hymns (2021), Woods has expanded and experimented with her sound even further on her upcoming album. Written, recorded, mixed and produced by Woods over the two years she spent between the west coast of Ireland and Dublin, Acts Of Light includes a myriad of idiosyncratic sounds.

The record features choristers of the Palestrina choir together with the voices of the Galway City Chamber Choir, that Woods captured in the Pro Cathedral Dublin. Strings by Oslo-based musician Jo Berger Myhre appear throughout, and all the tracks are interspersed with field recordings that Woods captured during her time spent travelling through the north west of Spain. These influences have culminated into the nine “hypnotic dirges” that make up Acts Of Light, with single ‘Where The Bough Has Broken’ being the first hint of what’s to come.

Shadowy and evocative, the track is a deep rumination inspired by Woods’ memories of living in Dublin, which she captures in the accompanying self-directed visuals, made with footage from RTE Archives. “Made from old newsreels of archive footage, this video muses on the beauty of community and resilience, made to a piece of music that celebrates connection and the specificity and transience of time, space, and human expression,” Woods comments. “This music video is a visual love letter to the Dublin City I grew up in, to the spirit of familial roots and the extraordinary moments in ordinary life that leave their lasting impression.”

Watch the visuals for ‘Where The Bough Has Broken’ below.

Hilary Woods Ireland & UK Tour Dates 2023
25/10/2023 IRL Dublin The Gallery space at The Complex
26/10/2023 IRL Dublin The Gallery space at The Complex
30/10/2023 UK Liverpool Kazimier Stockroom
31/10/2023 UK Brighton Rose Hill Arts
01/11/2023 UK London Cafe OTO
02/11/2023 UK Bristol Cube Cinema
03/11/2023 UK Newcastle Cobalt Studios
04/11/2023 UK Manchester The White Hotel
05/11/2023 UK Leeds Headrow House

Pre-order Acts Of Light here

Follow Hilary Woods on bandcamp, Spotify & Instagram

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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NEW TRACK: BLAB – ‘Hate Love, Make Love’

Following on from her 2022 single ‘Age Gracefully’ – a lo-fi musing on toxic beauty standards – Southend based multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer Frances Murray, aka BLAB, has shared her new single ‘Hate Love, Make Love’. Released via Cool Thing Records and self-described as “Something silly and funny and not too serious,” the track explores the burnout that comes with trying to keep up with the requirements of modern day dating, romance and self-love.

After taking a year off from publicly sharing her music, BLAB has returned to reaffirm her staunchly DIY attitude and anti-establishment, anti-ego message. On ‘Hate Love, Make Love’, she playfully confronts the difficulties that come with seeking genuine romantic connections via her glitchy, punchy ’80s synth sounds and direct lyrics: “Being in love is really hard / loving myself is even harder”.

“This song was super fun and quick to write and record for me,” explains BLAB about the new track. “I think the whole thing only took about two days total. I have this Yamaha PS-20 from the ’80s that my friend sold to me, and it’s got so many wacky sounds on it. It has a built-in bass arp and as soon as I tried that out, I knew I was onto a finished song. I kind of wanted to write a song that felt like it could be on the Austin Powers soundtrack, a pastiche of the ’60s but with a Ramones-eque bite to it.”

BLAB has been busy writing and recording her debut album, which is set for release next year. She will be playing a show at The Old Blue Last in East London on Friday 10th November, as part of a Cool Thing Records label night supporting Asylums and A Cause In Distress. Grab a ticket on DICE.

Listen to ‘Hate Love, Make Love’ below.

Follow BLAB on Spotify, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter (X) & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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NEW TRACK: NewDad – ‘Angel’

A magnetic, heady guitar tune exploring noxious behaviours in romantic relationships, Galway alt-rock four piece NewDad have shared their latest single ‘Angel’. Taken from their upcoming debut album, Madra, which is set for release on 26th January 2024 via Fair Youth/Atlantic Records, the track is inspired by the destructive relationship between characters Rue and Jules in hit TV show Euphoria.

Initially guided by the sounds of Pixies, The Cure and Slowdive, NewDad blend cinematic influences with personal epiphanies to create their bittersweet shoegaze sounds. Their debut full length record Madra – which means “dog” in Irish – is a culmination of these inspirations, centered around reflections on self-sabotage, self-medication and depression, whilst finding catharsis in being openly vulnerable about these issues.

Written in their home city of Galway, before the band relocated to London this year, Madra was produced by NewDad’s long-time collaborator Chris W Ryan (Just Mustard) and mixed by Alan Moulder (The Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Wet Leg). Vocalist and guitarist Julie explains more about the themes behind the band’s upcoming record: “Madra explores various difficult parts of the human condition and the idea of the title is that these feelings that come up are sometimes ones you can’t escape – feelings that follow you around like a dog. We had an amazing team around us who helped bring these songs to life and we’re so excited for this album to be out in the world. We hope that people connect with the songs and that Madra can be a comfort to everyone who listens.”

Opening single ‘Angel’ is a culmination of these elements. Fuelled by hypnotic riffs, brooding bass lines and Julie’s distinctive, lullaby-like vocals, it’s a melodic musing on the spiralling nature of toxic romance. Listen to ‘Angel’ below.

NewDad UK & Ireland Tour Dates 2023 & 2024
1 Dec 2023 – Galway, Roisin Dubh
24 Feb 2024 – Leeds, Belgrave Music Hall
25 Feb 2024 – Manchester, Band On The Wall
26 Feb 2024 – Glasgow, St Luke’s
28 Feb 2024 – Dublin, Button Factory
2 March 2024 – Birmingham, O2 Institute
3 March 2024 – Bristol, Trinity
5 March 2024 – London, Koko

Follow NewDad on bandcamp, Spotify, TikTok, Twitter (X), Facebook & Instagram

Photo Credit: Zyanya-Lorenzo

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: Witch Weather – ‘Hazy’

Following on from their previous release ‘Don’t Need‘ – a brooding blend of grunge-infused riffs and punk attitude – Pennsylvania-based indie/punk/goth duo Witch Weather have shared their latest single ‘Hazy’. Taken from the band’s upcoming self-titled album which is set for release on 13th October, the track is a fuzzed up, buoyant reflection on seasonal mood changes and transient feelings of hopelessness.

Influenced by bands such as Siouxsie and The Banshees, Against Me!, Fugazi, Screaming Females and Depeche Mode, Witch Weather create “sad queer indie punk for your sad queer enjoyment.” Formed of guitarist & vocalist Kaitlynn Autumn and bassist & vocalist Juliann Frances, the duo work through feelings of confusion, frustration and self-loathing on their upcoming record, all aided by hefty guitar licks and rumbling bass lines. The lyrics on the album are also inspired by Kaitlynn’s experience of being a trans woman, learning to be confident in her identity and following her journey from “confused to closeted, to out and doing her best.”

On ‘Hazy’, the band reflect on feelings of self-hatred and the effects of seasonal depression, all underscored by Kaitlynn’s riffs, considered lyrics and Juliann’s thundering bass lines. “Hazy is a song meant for anyone who’s ever felt lost and directionless and maybe just doesn’t even quite want to be alive,” explains Kaitlynn in more detail. “The thought, ‘what am I doing here, how did I let myself get to this point’, was a pretty common one at the time that this song was written. Whether that thought be in reference to being at a truly awful job, stagnating in transition, or a whole host of other problems that were going on…”

“It was a challenge to write, but definitely something that was really rewarding and let us know that we were going in the right direction creatively. Lyrically it felt really cathartic to write as well, and is mostly in reference to a really tough ‘mental health relapse’ that happened over the winter. While that time is over now, the song still holds true and even as the writer, it keeps finding new ways to be relatable in day to day life.”

Listen to ‘Hazy’ below.

Follow Witch Weather on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram & TikTok

Visit Witch Weather’s website here

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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