Entertainment

Noise Annoys: Exhalers' Meat Clown rated, plus details of Output Belfast and AVA Music Conference

The live Exhalers line-up will be in action at The Deer's Head in Belfast on Friday night
The live Exhalers line-up will be in action at The Deer's Head in Belfast on Friday night The live Exhalers line-up will be in action at The Deer's Head in Belfast on Friday night

Exhalers – Meat Clown (album, Black Tragick)

AS AN animal lover and repentant carnivore – "yes I eat cow, I am not proud," etc etc – Noise Annoys does love its 'meat-free Mondays': however, things are about to get very meaty indeed as we take a big wet bite out of the new Exhalers' LP, Meat Clown.

Bangor-based drummer turned one man alt-rock band extraordinaire Alan Lynn is back with his third full-length under the Exhalers moniker, another record riddled with thick crunchy riffs, ear-smashing drumming and naggingly infectious melodies all played, performed and home-recorded by himself.

Al tends to squish his singing right down in the Exhalers mix, but even if it's hard to catch every word of his tuneful crooning, he still manages to successfully conjure a 'mood': world-weariness, frustration, self-doubt, recrimination, irritation caused by head-melting idiots ('meat clowns', if you will) – your basic Gen X staples, then.

To be fair, the groovy, headbanging pummel of Discolexic actually does feature a discernibly catchy chorus, plus a really cool quieter section based around a repeated sing-along-friendly vocal refrain – "Keep running, keep running, running all the way to something, you're running out on me". Two choruses for the price of one? Get it out as a single, tout suite.

You've already had plenty of time to digest the thunderous album teaser of its title track – a dynamic riot of furious cheese-grater/lazer gun guitars and stomping/thumping percussion, the seismic impact of which is matched by the snarling yet surprisingly tender Glitterball (another tune where the vocals cut pleasingly through the cacophony) and the pretty, fuzzed-up, stalk 'n' slash of Snake In The Grass.

Wet Nights Lamplight kicks off like a headbanger before gradually evolving into something more anthemic, then resolves with an unexpected spell of hushed contemplation that recalls the kind of quiet/loud trade off Jawbreaker used to do so well – but then comes Gubdumper (splendid title, there), a magnificently manic punk-grunge noise feast, lest we think Exhalers have gone soft.

Meat Clown is out now
Meat Clown is out now Meat Clown is out now

Fat chance: get thee to exhalers.bandcamp.com and witness the fitness.

Indeed, you can celebrate Meat Clown this very night in the company of the full-strength live band version of Exhalers at their album launch show, which takes place at The Deer's Head with splendid support from Mob Wife and Molarbear. Tickets are a mere £10.

:: Output Belfast and AVA Music Conference

BELFAST music events Output and AVA have joined forces for the first time this year to bring us a full day of free music conference and live showcase events which will take place on June 1 at The MAC and Oh Yeah.

The running order for the conference portion includes all kinds of useful talks and discussions for anyone forging a career in music – including the following:

:: Economics Of Music Streaming – The Story So Far.

CMU founder Chris Cooke leads a discussion on the campaign for more transparency in streaming, improved data management and a better deal for how music-makers share in digital income.

:: How You Can Be A Culture Changer

Linda Coogan Byrne (Why Not Her?) delivers a talk to empower audience members with knowledge for making positive changes in their industries, workplaces, wider communities and more.

:: Resident Advisor Roundtable: Reimagining Nightlife: Policy, community and the creative nighttime economy.

Resident Advisor presents a roundtable discussion on the intersection of policy and community in the late-night creative economy.

:: Your Press Release Sucks! How to write a press release that works

Music journalists on the art of writing a press release, from what to include to who you should approach and how best to approach them.

:: Self-Releasing Classical Music as a Composer or Performer

Tips for self-releasing Classical music, including budgeting, running recording sessions and getting your music on streaming platforms.

:: PRSfM Presents: Stop, Collaborate and Listen – Developing a career as a producer/co-writer

How to get started in producing and co-writing music, with Rocky O’Reilly (Start Together Studios) and Stuart Fleming (PRS).

:: On Music Presents: Kind of Blue – Placing Northern Ireland bands in Blue Lights

Fancy appearing on Stevie's next playlist alongside The Bonnevilles? Catherine Grimes (Blue Lights music supervisor), Louise Gallagher (Blue Lights producer) and Simon Pursehouse (Sentric Music) can help.

:: BBC Introducing: Dance Music – How to get started and how to break through in electronic music

Musician and broadcaster Gemma Bradley's latest venture is a BBC Sounds podcast, Real Life
Musician and broadcaster Gemma Bradley's latest venture is a BBC Sounds podcast, Real Life Musician and broadcaster Gemma Bradley's latest venture is a BBC Sounds podcast, Real Life

With: Gemma Bradley (BBC Radio 1), Sarah McBriar (AVA Festival), Caoimhe Moreland (DJ), Sally C (DJ and label owner)

:: The Art Of Event Curation

AVA assembles four promoters working across different areas of the industry to talk about what makes a great festival tick.

:: SCGI Presents: Scoring Brendan Fraser – Inside the composed and supervised music for Professionals.

With: Dina Coughlan (Planet of Sound), Kormac (Professionals composer), Rory McPartland (Planet of Sound)

:: I Get Knocked Down documentary + Q&A

I Get Knocked Down director Sophie Robinson on the creation of and reception to her 2023 documentary on the rise of Chumbawamba and the impact of their chart-raiding anthem.

:: Legal 101 – Top 10 most frequently misunderstood legal terms in music.

With: Jonathan Tait (STV)

:: Ivors Academy Presents: Composing for feature documentaries

Composer for Oscar-nominated feature documentaries Nainita Desai discusses the nature of creating scores that honour the rawness of real lives.

:: Irish Music Industry Podcast Presents: The rise and fall of BalconyTV

Based on 2023 podcast The Untold Story of BalconyTV, a deep dive into the fascinating rise and fall of the global live concert music platform.

:: Get in the Vans – How Vans work with emerging talent in music

With: Tony Arthy (Vans) and Benjamin McGee (music manager)

:: How do you manage THAT? Pitching new music to established artist managers

With: Bekah Molony (manager of Celaviedmai, Negro Impacto), Phil Jones (VP artist management, MNRK), Maria Torres (manager, Mother Artists), Conor Cusack (manager of Saint Sister, THALA, Jed Holland)

:: CMU Presents: The Economics of Streaming – Where Next?

An in-depth discussion on the steps that must be taken to ensure the digital music business works for both music-makers and the music industry.

:: Sing When You're Winning – Top tips to sing harder, better, faster and longer

With: Dave Jackson (singer)

:: Women's Work Presents: Artist development opportunities in 2023

With: Charlene Hegarty (Oh Yeah Music Centre), Gill Dooley (AIM Ireland), Lea Heart (artist), Priscilla Kotey (Warner Ireland)

:: From Bedroom Beats to Timbaland Tunes – Making cuts for global hip-hop tunes

With: Pamela McCormick (UD Music), WhipitConall (artist), Dylan Murphy (District Magazine)

:: Go Fund Me – Opportunities for funding for artists and music businesses

An insight to funding opportunities available for musicians, creatives and music businesses - including schemes by the Arts Council, PRS Foundation and Help Musicians.

:: AIM Ireland Presents: Top tips for self-releasing on a budget

Indie label experts discuss ways for emerging and established artists to record albums, release music and market themselves on a budget.

:: Breaking Tradition – New adventures in trad music in Ireland

Irish traditional and folk artists discuss how to break through barriers, secure international showcasing opportunities and achieve career longevity.

:: Marshall Law: Inside the Marshall playbook for management, music and touring

With: Steph Carter (head of education, Marshall), Megan Devereux (education coordinator, Marshall), Hannah Richardson (CHERYM)

:: CMU Presents: Pathways Into Music

How the music industry, and music education sector, can better support anyone on their own pathway into music as frontline artist, portfolio musician, industry executive or music entrepreneur.

Sign-up details for Output Belfast & AVA Music Conference are available via outputbelfast.com, ticketing information for AVA Festival (June 2-3) via avafestival.com.