NEW TRACK: Coolgirl – ‘Druid’s Hood’

A mesmerising blend of evocative beats and cell-tingling vocals inspired by the sounds on vintage video games, Dublin-based artist and producer Lizzie Fitzpatrick aka Coolgirl has shared her latest single, ‘Druid’s Hood’. Taken from her upcoming EP, Failed Reboot, which is set for release on 8th November via VETA Records, the track offers another intriguing insight into Coolgirl’s cinematic, synth-soaked universe.

GIHE fans will recognise Fitzpatrick as the front person of grunge trio Bitch Falcon, but under her solo moniker she uses electronics to create vivid, sometimes ambient, sometimes upbeat soundscapes. After releasing a handful of singles over the past few years – including recent tracks ‘Silverlight‘ and ‘High Altar‘ – Coolgirl is preparing to share her new EP, with ‘Druid’s Hood’ providing listeners with another captivating glimpse into the experimental world she inhabits.

“‘Druid’s Hood’ was written as a counterpart to the more poppy heavy tracks on the EP,” Fitzpatrick explains about the single. “I wrote it as it led me down a sci-fi path, almost like something out of a SEGA genesis game found deep in the bargain basket. Vocals appear only on this track on the EP and I wanted to mix the emotion of Kate Bush with the intensity of Karin Dreijer.” With her eclectic range of instruments – including a TR8, PRO-1, Tin Whistle and Korg DW6000 – and her Kate Bush/Fever Ray tinged vocals, Coolgirl evokes a potent feeling of nostalgia, whilst also retaining her fresh unconventional sonic perspective.

Coolgirl’s upcoming EP Failed Reboot will be released on digital platforms and on cassette tape. Described as “a warped and deep sound that delves deep in reverb while bouncing back to a steady dance beat,” the songs dissolve into each other in a way that is best appreciated when heard on tape. Pre-order your copy now.

Listen to ‘Druid’s Hood’ below.

Follow Coolgirl on bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter & Instagram

Follow VETA Records on bandcamp, Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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WATCH: Projector – ‘And Now The End’

Written as a response to a breakup scenario, but inspired by the general state of chaos that we currently live in, Brighton trio PROJECTOR continue to evolve their sound on their latest single, ‘And Now The End’. Accompanied by a beautifully shot video – the second in a trilogy of Cold War inspired films – the band question “Who do you think is winning now / and does it really matter anyhow?” via visceral riffs and cutting lyrics.

Ricocheting between spite and apathy at a disorientating pace, ‘And Now The End’ is permeated by brooding bass lines, sardonic vocals and gritty guitar FX. Together, these elements reflect the nihilistic attitudes that people often indulge in when they feel powerless in the face of overwhelming adversity. On the track’s writing process, bassist and vocalist Lucy Sheehan comments: “I was listening to Massive Attack’s Heligoland a lot, I wanted those bass lines that sounded like they could almost be a synth line, and guitars that could be noise samples.”

“Ed’s guitars are mostly noises created by dropping a Carl Martin Headroom on the floor,” Sheehan continues, “[and] as with all our stuff, Joy Division’s the major influence. That said, this wasn’t a cerebral process. We wrote ‘And Now The End’ in about half an hour, it came naturally. That’s why I think it’s probably the aesthetic signifier of the major piece of work we’re shortly about to announce…”

In the lead up to this news, Projector have announced their biggest UK tour to date, which kicks off in 2024. Fans can access tickets early in a pre-sale at 10am on Wednesday 4th October by signing up to PROJECTOR’s email list. The remaining tickets will be on general sale at 10am on Friday 6th October on the band’s website.

Watch the video for ‘And Now The End’ below.

Follow Projector on Spotify, Twitter (X), Facebook & Instagram

Projector UK Tour Dates 2024
22nd Fed – The Bodega, Nottingham
23rd Feb – The Green Door Store, Brighton
29th Feb – The Attic, Glasgow
1st March – The Castle, Manchester
2nd March – The Royal Oak, Leeds
22nd March – The Lanes, London
23rd March – Signature Brew, London

Photo Credit: Bridie Cummings

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

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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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