Don't look back in anger
Annual article: John Walshe casts a reflective eye over the domestic music scene over the course of 2006.
John Walshe, 09 Jan 2007
The last 12 months saw the return of a few of the heavyweights of Irish music, as well as the emergence of a number of new acts who could become the international success stories of tomorrow.
The Frames may have been quiet by their standards on the gigging front, but they were beavering away in the studio. The final product, The Cost, more than justified their absence, with long-time fans’ favourite ‘People Get Ready’ finally consigned to record.
Meanwhile, frontman Glen Hansard released the quietly arresting Swell Season with Czech musician Marketa Irglova.
Damien Rice, too, was relatively conspicuous by his absence, until autumn saw the release of his long-awaited second album proper, 9. Eschewing the popular wisdom of milking the success of his debut, instead the Kildare man and his band ploughed new musical furrows, combining whispered confessional Cohen-like ruminations with a real sense of experimentation, nowhere moreso than on the distortion-fuelled ‘Me, My Yoke And I’.
David Kitt proved the doubters wrong by delivering his most confident record yet in the shape of Not Fade Away, perfectly evidenced by the stirring lead single ‘Say No More’ and the powerful, two-fingers of ‘Don’t Fuck With Me’. Similarly, The Frank And Walters proved that rumours of their demise were greatly exaggerated with their latest LP, A Renewed Interest In Happiness, chock-full of the most life-affirming pop music the Leesiders have ever created.
Meanwhile, Snow Patrol conquered all comers with the ubiquitous Eyes Open.
Bell X1 may not have released any new material this year, but 2006 will still go down as the year when they became the biggest band on the domestic scene, a fabulous 12 months neatly bookended by celebratory concerts in the RDS and the Point. Bell X1 drummer Tim O’Donovan somehow found time to record and release the eponymous Neosupervital, an 80s-tastic synth pop masterpiece.
Of the new breed, Delorentos continue to excite. Arguably the hardest working outfit in the country, rarely a fortnight went by without the Dublin quartet treading the boards in some corner of the country. As a live act, they are getting stronger and stronger, while 2006 single ‘The Rules’ confirmed that they have the stuff to turn live form into chart success. Expect great things from their debut album early in 2007.
Page 1/3 <Previous 1 2 3 Next>
©Hot Press 2011. Why be a member? | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy