Track Of The Day: Montauk Hotel – ‘White Billboards’

A luscious shimmering soundscape with a poignant context; Montauk Hotel have shared their new single ‘White Billboards’. Released via Reckless Records, the Dublin-based band say their new track is a “reflection on the power of advertising in our society and how models and [industry] standards influence our choices, happiness, and feelings of adequacy”.

Montauk Hotel’s music is influenced by the glimmer of early 80s indie-pop, full of glistening guitar sounds and shining melodies. The band released their self titled EP in March 2017, and have shared stages with the likes of Goat Girl, PINS and Beauty Sleep. Across Ireland, they’ve played venues such as Whelans, The Workman’s Club and Roisin Dubh, and they’ve performed at Electric Picnic too.

Their new single ‘White Billboards’ is sure to take them back to these stages. Speaking more about the track, the band explain: “The song pictures an imaginary future where as an result of over-saturation, people have become indifferent to commercial models. Advertisers and brands have run out of slogans and have lost their impact on people and society. There is a question left open, which whether a society with empty billboards would indeed set us free to be happy or whether it would leave us lost and unable to regain a personal identity”.

Listen to ‘White Billboards’ below and follow Montauk Hotel on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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ALBUM: Dott – ‘Heart Swell’

A shimmering blend of optimism and adrenaline, Galway band Dott‘s sophomore record Heart Swell lives up to its name. Released via Grave Face Records, from start to finish the album make your garage-pop loving heart palpitate with glee.

Upbeat single ‘Bleached Blonde’ opens the record, and it’s the perfect soundtrack for those who love sunshine, surfing and intensely singable choruses. If you’ve ever tried to surf on an ironing board (watch the video below, you’ll understand), you’ll sympathise with guitarist & vocalist Anna’s struggle when it comes to catching waves.

Activism and garage-pop collide in anthemic style on second track ‘Like A Girl’. The band released the song ahead of Ireland’s vote to Repeal the 8th Amendment on May 25th, but it rings out with truer intensity now the “yes” result has been confirmed. The song features an impressive guest appearance from Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz on guitar too.

The unapologetic, carefree ‘Not Sorry’ transitions gently into the restless bass lines and riffs on ‘Floating Arrows’, whic will keep your feet twitching and heads bopping. ‘Swim’ paints an enviable picture of losing yourself by the seaside, with Anna’s clear vocals as bright as the sun she sings of here. The eponymous ‘Heart Swell’ is a wonderful ode to finding love, a genuinely satisfying aural head-rush. It flows into the gentle sounding ‘Self-Help’ which shimmers with sensitivity. “I try to live my life without forgetting anyone,” sings Anna, a poignant and admirable sentiment.

‘How Do I Feel?’ is another joyous offering of buoyant guitar and feel-good lyrics, before listeners are urged to reject the “double standards” that girls are subject too on ‘You Don’t Have To’. The age of independence and ambition is reminisced about on ’18’, which fades effortlessly into penultimate track ‘Do Ya?”. The beautiful ‘Wedding Song’ closes the record on a reassuring note. Anna’s lyrics systematically strip away the traditions and expectations that come with wedding ceremonies, revealing the only thing that truly matters when you consider spending the rest of your life with someone: Love.

If you’re searching for the soundtrack to Summer 2018, invest in Dott’s second album Heart Swell now. Download it here.

Follow Dott on Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Alison MW

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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Track Of The Day: Dott – ‘Bleached Blonde’

The perfect soundtrack for those who love sunshine, surfing and super-catchy garage pop anthems, Galway’s Dott have shared their latest single ‘Bleached Blonde’. The track is taken from their upcoming album Heart Swell, which is set for release via Graveface Records on 8th June.

If you’ve ever tried to surf on an ironing board (watch the video, you’ll understand), you’ll sympathise with guitarist & vocalist Anna’s struggle when it comes to catching waves. “‘Bleached Blonde” is about trying, failing and surfing,” she explains. “I’ve been doing a lot of all three since I moved back to Ireland from Toronto last year and became obsessed with the sea. I went on a solo trip to Lahinch in County Clare last summer and rented a cottage where I could surf and write songs for this album. Naturally, themes of the sea started to appear in the songs and Bleached Blonde was written in that cottage. The song is about how much I enjoy surfing despite not really being very good at it”.

Dott are making waves with their music, and have appeared at international festivals such as SXSW, CMJ and CMW, as well as Irish Festivals Electric Picnic, Indiependence, Camden Crawl and Westport Fest. They’ve toured with and opened for Shellac, La Luz, Hinds, Chastity Belt, Sad13 and Honeyblood.

Watch the video for ‘Bleached Blonde’ below and pre-order your copy of Heart Swell here.

Follow Dott on Facebook for more updates.

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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LISTEN: Hvmmingbyrd – ‘Papillon’

Having charmed our ears with previous single ‘Gozo’, Irish duo Hvmmingbyrd are back with an exquisite new offering.

Exploring the ebb and flow from creative euphoria to self-doubt, ‘Papillon’ is a soaring slice of ethereal electro-pop. A poignant and reflective creation, it’s hard not to fall in love with ‘Papillon’s sweeping, luscious harmonies, captivating musicality and dreamy allure. Of the track, the band explain:

“Creating music can be incredibly joyous and life-giving, but when it consumes you, sometimes you can lose a little bit of yourself.”

Listen to ‘Papillon’ here:

 

‘Papillon’ is out now.

 

Mari Lane
@marimindles

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