:: FRUITY – BT9 (single, self-released)
THERE can be no better way to kick off this week than with words on the latest offering from Belfast's premier exponent of lo-fi slack-hop queer pop genius: BT9 by FRUITY, aka Dan O'Rawe, is the haunting warning shot from their upcoming FRUITERAMA EP, the follow-up to last year's excellent debut collection FRUITY.
The song is a deliciously melancholic heartbreak bop which cleverly de/re-constructs Debussy's Clair de Lune for its tale of romantic frustration – "you've been taking liberties, left me like Swiss cheese, full of holes, you're so cold, I'm sick of doing what I'm told" – Dan's distinctive faux-bored vocals gliding serenely over broken beats and glassy synths to create something simple yet highly atmospheric and addictive.
Having recently witnessed FRUITY performing live at the recent Gig 4 Choice, looking resplendent (if slightly sweaty) in their arresting stage ensemble of pink balaclava, crop top, short shorts and high heels while nonchalantly/expertly holding an enthusiastic crowd in the palm of their hand for the duration of the set, it's already pretty clear that Dan's a sweetly subversive star in the making.
Apparently, FRUITY was on the longlist for Glastonbury's Emerging Talent competition this year, yet sadly the powers that be failed to follow-through. Hopefully, Belfast can play a part in making them realise the error of their ways – any large local events fancy giving FRUITY a platform for wider exposure?
Enjoy BT9 and the rest of FRUITY's current crop of tunes via 2fruity.bandcamp.com, and be sure to check back for the rest of the FRUITERAMA EP when it ripens on August 31 – as in next Wednesday.
:: Atomic Drag – Now It's Dark (single, self-released)
BALLYMONEY surf ghoul Atomic Drag is back with another new tune, this one showing off the slightly slower, more contemplative side to his reverb-drenched 'surf rock for the undead' sound.
The movie samples featured on previous releases are noticeably absent (perhaps Hammer Films' lawyers were in touch?) – there is an unintelligible snippet of something or other included on there, but it's buried deeper in the mix than the Martian craft in Quatermass and The Pit – but Now It's Dark still offers listeners a feast of twangy guitars propelled by brooding bass and insistent beats.
The tune's mildly melancholic bent makes it an ideal soundtrack to our ever-shortening evenings, as we kiss summer goodbye and brace ourselves for an 'eating cold Tesco Value Baked Beans with no central heating and six jumpers on'-style autumn and winter of discontent.
However depressing that sounds, you're sure to experience a surge of hope/joy when the excellent guitar solo kicks in towards the end.
Suck it and see now at atomicdrag.bandcamp.com.
:: Roe – Cut My Teeth and Cold Feet (singles, self-released)
CURRENTLY gearing up for the release of the second part of her debut album That's When The Panic Sets In next month, Derry singer/songwriter Roe has a put out a couple more tracks from it as a taster of what's still to come.
Released last week, Cut My Teeth is the penultimate tune on the album and probably one of its most personal moments: a heart-on-the-sleeve piano-powered ballad that's an emotive note-to-self about moving past dark thoughts and turbulent times towards better days.
"I wrote Cut My Teeth when I was in a really dark place and felt the need to write to remind myself that it wasn't a permanent state," explains Roe of the song, which as ever showcases her expressive, emotive vocal and is enhanced with strategically deployed strings in all the right places.
"This song is about how incredible it is that we get to be alive. It was an emotional one to record but I'm putting it on the album because writing it made me feel hopeful and I want other people to feel that too."
Released last month, Cold Feet is another arrestingly confessional moment, a tale of imposter syndrome and crumbling self-confidence belied by brave faces. The dreamy chorus swells pleasingly to life out of the quieter, more reflective verses, a stop/go dynamic which gives the song a slow-building power that's hard to resist.
Both tunes make fine trailers for the album itself, which is currently available to pre-order on CD and limited edition vinyl (500 copies only) which will unite the previously released Part I with the upcoming Part II – due out on September 23 – in physical form.
Roe will be signing the first 50 copies of the vinyl sold, but you'd best move quickly if you want one of those: point your device at biglink.to/roe and cross your fingers that they haven't already gone.
As for Cut My Teeth and Cold Feet, you can hear them along with Part I of the album at roemusicofficial.bandcamp.com and wherever you stream music.
Roe has also announced a hometown album launch party at Bennigans in Derry on October 8: tickets are £8 and available in advance via roe.eventbrite.com.
:: Exhalers' debut show
WITH two most rocking Exhalers albums already under his belt an third on the way, it's high time that ex-LaFaro man Alan Lynn actually got his act together and played a live show.
Anyone who enjoyed the abundance of heavy alt-rocking goodness on the self-titled debut and its follow-up Tolerator would be wise to keep the evening of Friday September 2 free, as that's when you'll finally be able to hear the likes of Impersonal Relations, White Nights, Trial and Error and Middle-Aged Spidey Guy (hopefully) performed live by Alan and his merry band of mystery sidemen at The Black Box in Belfast.
We might even get a couple of as yet unreleased scraps off the third Exhalers album, the pleasingly titled Meat Clown, which is due for release later this year.
On the subject of meat, this live debut finds Exhalers the tasty protein-packed filling musical sandwich between headline act Organs (Mike Watt-endorsed psych/drone rock instrumentalists) and openers Stratford Rise (pummelling noise rock with indistinguishable David Yow/Black Francis vocal howlings (Yowlings?)).
Grab your tickets for £7 in advance right the hell now from blackboxbelfast.com.
:: Andrew McGibbon solo headline debut
LAST but certainly not least this week, a reminder that Andy from The Bonnevilles will be making his solo headline debut this Sunday afternoon at The American Bar in Belfast, where you'll be able to hear some Bonnevilles favourites 'unplugged' and selections from his superb solo record Northern Gothic – currently available to pre-order on CD for the first time right now at thebonnevilles.bigcartel.com – plus a few brand new tunes to boot.
As an added bonus, you'll also get an opening set from the one and only Malojian, the guy who first put The American on the map as a safe place for original live music with his Month of Sundays residency back in the Before Times, and a debut screening of the video for The Dreamers Blues, Andy's contribution to Sara O'Neills The Dreamer collection.
Doors are at 2pm and tickets are very limited – 40 only – available for £15 in advance via thebonnevilles.bigcartel.com/category/tickets.
Meanwhile, you can see The Bonnevilles themselves in action tonight when they headline the Hilden Beer and Music Festival just outside Lisburn. Tickets for that are on sale via hildenbrewery.com.
