THE THINGS - TIGER EP

Another assailment of angst and aggression from Dublin's favourite freaks of the underground, The Things' Tiger EP contains three ultra-primitive, garage rock stompers in the shape of Tiger, Voodoo Spells and Lungs. As a limited edition taster for the as yet untitled début album which is now due for release this spring, signs are promising for what could be a milestone psychotic stomper in the mill.

After arising from the dreggs of Dublin's low society back in 2002, The Things have since established themselves as a cult band in their own right as one with a rabid despotism and few peers. The term 'Cult Band' is usually reserved for commercially unsuccessful acts who curry favour with the underground masses but fail to hit the nail on the head in terms of Album Sales, though in the case of The Things, it is a case of not yet putting out that album to test the water. Despite the fact that they've yet to release that long awaited début album, their live shows, backed by a couple of limited edition vinyl releases, have placed them firmly in the shadows of notoriety, with a passionate and ever growing fan base in Europe and around the U.S. Inspired by outsider Rock N'Roll in the shape of The Cramps, The Damned, The Stooges and The Misfits, their Hammer Horror smeared venom has unleashed on us an infested angst ridden core with a dark underbelly of depravity.

Although this Tiger is jammed out to near military precision, the EP marches as close to a live experience that can be captured to vinyl. An EP released on their own Psycho Sound Records label, TIGER is limited to 500 copies vinyl, but also available as an itunes download. Hitting stores this March 28th, this is yet another testimony to all that is vibrant about the alternative/underground scene in Ireland today. One awaits their début album with unabated trepidation. 10/10.

Related Links:

http://www.myspace.com/thethings

http://www.myspace.com/psychosoundrecords

Lines Drawing Circles - Lines Drawing Circles EP

3 guys. 1 girl. She's French. They're not. A curious synopsis included with the release advertises in brief a multicultural aspect that is now part and parcel of the band. I am dealing with the début EP from Lines Drawing Circles, a band which formed in late 2007 from the ashes of Dublin indie-rock act Cry Yuma. The question is, with the French connection, and a fresh start, do we like them now?


The EP is certainly a step forward from their Cry Yuma days. Creating a sound that is not unlike a mixture of Nada Surf, The Shins and Radiohead, they describe their sound now as progressive pop with a fondness for noise, and one can certainly appreciate both the noise favour and the looser structure within the material now. In parts we can even hear subtle leanings into the circles of Good Morning Spider and the genius of Mark Linkous, in second track, simply titled '108'. Undoubtedly, though, the appeal of the EP will be its Radiohead leanings which manifest in both opener 'Lull' and closing track 'I Wont Let It Keep Me'. Meandering, melodic and adventurous, the three tracks give a fine taster of what may yet come from them. Recorded at Windmill Lane, the début EP which was released this March can be purchased from the band's website. Nice work... 8/10.

Related Links:

http://www.linesdrawingcircles.com/

http://www.myspace.com/linesdrawingcircles

THE SPIKES - HYPNOTISED

Having taken their legendary live show underground for almost a year, The Spikes return to show the world just how well that time has been spent. Surely their most vibrant offering to date, Hypnotised is the new single out on Thick Neck Records, and one has to now start asking, is this a band on the verge of greatness?

As with the previous three singles, again the influence of The Doors can be heard in the bass line and the confident swagger, though now out of their minds on a half a dime, the new single is more explosive than what we have come to expect. The gamble pays off, and is surely the Ace they have been threatening to pull all along.


The Dublin-based band whom had arrived here from New Zealand just a few short years ago have had many successes to date. Their début single Monster received considerable praise from the press, while the follow-up In Love No More was listed in the top 100 tracks of 2006 by Phantom FM. Their third release Ninja Girlfriend was selected by Hotpress for the Tisch Video production by the Tisch School New York. With a naturally compelling hip-swaying beat, expect this new offering from The Spikes to be as big of a hit on the indie dance floors as on the air waves. One awaits what will surely be an arresting début album. 9/10.

Related Links:

http://www.myspace.com/thespikesmusic

http://www.thespikes.net/

Music For Dead Birds - Cathedrals

Latest to arrive through the Frequency-Ireland postbox, the second demo from Galway two-piece Music For Dead Birds. Drawing influences from severe lethargy and the burden of ageing, these two solemn musicians are surely only creating for the benefit of their own mental health, or so goes the press release.


Leaving mental health issues aside, this is a well balanced and varied offering worth sharing with more ears. Opening with a solemn organ backed intro reminiscent of Casiotone For The Painfully Alone, the EP branches out subsequently in quite different directions. An acoustic instrumental follows with First Time Seeing An Ocean, before we lead into The Sex, a well penned indie-folk strain which is surely the highlight of the demo. Perfume then recedes into a sleepy and laid back indie-acoustic meandering, which reminds somewhat of The Blue Trees EP from Welsh outfit Gorky's Zygotic Mynci before the remainder of the demo delves into some welcome experimentalism, with Marvellous Dog a curious propulsion overdubbed with chatter, and then an alluring outro takes one on a journey with the sparsest of melodies, about as hypnotic as the last time hearing an ocean. 7/10.

Related Links:

http://www.myspace.com/deadbirdmusic

http://www.bebo.com/deadbirdmusic

Crayonsmith - Lost In The Forest

Midway upon the journey of our life, I found myself within a dark forest, for the straightforward pathway had been lost...

Sifting through some of the best releases over the coming weeks, Crayonsmith's Lost In The Forest jumps to the fore, as a propulsive, and synthetically cyclical voyage, which spirals quite favourably into a behemoth of bewilderment.


Taken from White Wonder, the forthcoming new album, Lost In The Forest seems a distinct change in direction from the highly acclaimed Stay Loose, which had brought us a lo-fi synergy of Pavement style twisted guitar melodies and moments of Sebadoh crunch, intertwined with the tenderness of Sparklehorse. None the less, it is quite the appetiser, and holds onto the signature lo-fi sensibilities and warmth. Whether it sets the tone for a more electronic White Wonder, time will soon tell, but for now we have a vibrant and exciting new single, from an artist whom has won many admirers over the past two years with Stay Loose. The single will be available as a digital download from March 7th. White Wonder follows on Out On A Limb in April, when we'll find out what it means to be lost in that forest... 9/10.

Related Links:

http://www.myspace.com/crayonsmith

http://www.myspace.com/outonalimbrecords

The Discarded Retarded - Devils Tango

There's always that intangible fixation to chaos ridden punk, such is the case with Dublin amalgamation The Discarded Retarded. Listening in on the live material available for download from their space on the web, one finds enough reason to be hopeful of an interesting début release from them.

A shambolic avalanche of country-punk propulsion, Devils Tango, spun out by eight parts human and one part noise, is the main attraction thus far from the Dublin outfit, carrying more than enough momentum to make one want to join in and be a part of it all. The Devils Tango is surely an infectious one.


The band predominantly take their que from The Cramps, but there is also a lot of The Ramones, The Dead Kennedys, alcohol, sweat, drunken promises and base impulses in the mix. As a unit they have been on the go on the Dublin circuit for the past 18 months, with their next date set at The Acadamy in Dublin (formerly Spirit) on March 19th, and one can expect an Irish tour come the summer. As for a release, one may not have to wait all that long. Hearing from band member Liamtard recently - "We don't have anything released at the minute, but we're almost there, 4 songs have been recorded and just need some studio wizardry to lick them into shape and then hopefully we'll be able to get something out.. most likely as an independent release that you'll be able to get from here or some other music-type website as a download and then a proper CD to follow when we've built up some funds to finance it." Blending old-style rock and roll with sleazy gutter-drunk warblings, the Retards explode onto stages and fillet their audience with a visceral assault of edgy guitar melodies, with a distraction of harmony that only their big band mentality can provide. Recommended listens for those who love to revel in the chaos of it all - Dirty Shave, Hissing Of Arabs & Devils Tango.

Related Links:

http://www.myspace.com/thediscardedretarded

http://www.nme.com/newmusic/the-discarded-retarded