Tag Archives: halves

Culch.ie’s 5 Favourite Irish albums of 2010

  By Éilish Burke | December 21, 2010 - 12:30 pm | The Culch
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It has to be said, this past year was a good one for Irish music, but there were some clear stand out albums. In the spirit of wringing every last bit of value out of a collective piece of writing, here is (in no particular order) the round-up of Culch.ie’s music writers favourite home-grown albums of 2010. Villagers - Becoming a Jackal The debut album for Conor O’Brien’s Villagers was universally praised on its release mid-year and Culch has taken it to its heart too. Bryano calls it “an album which is equally charming and beguiling throughout” and Elaine proclaims it “a stunning album, which captivates from beginning to end”. Here’s the lovely The Meaning of the Ritual Cathy Davey - The Nameless Having scored major success with her breakthrough album Sound of Silversleeve in 2007, Davey came back this year with an album no less inventive. Landing straight at … There’s more →

Culch.ie’s Albums of 2010

  By Éilish Burke | December 15, 2010 - 12:30 pm | Featured Post, Music, The Culch
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Every newspaper, magazine and website worth its weight in salt is currently counting down their top picks of 2010. And the music writers here at Culch.ie have decided to hop on this list-making bandwagon; sure if it’s good enough for Santy, it’s good enough for us. Forthwith, each writer gives us their top three choices of the year: Sweary’s Picks 1 – Been Listening – Johnny Flynn Yeah, like you’re surprised. Mr. Flynn’s second album, Been Listening is a triumph from start (the breezily addictive Kentucky Pill) to gentle crescendo (touching yarn The Prizefighter And The Heiress). Reconquering ground covered by debut A Larum, there’s nothing pretentiously risky in Been Listening; it’s the sound of an artist who’s confident about where he is, and good God, is this ever “nu-folk” at its best. Mournful without being mawkish, charming without being twee, it’s earthy and evocative and rousing, all melodies your … There’s more →

Music Interview: Not bad by Halves

  By Éilish Burke | October 27, 2010 - 1:45 pm | Featured Post, Music, The Culch
1 Comment

A few months ago I went to Crawdaddy to see Brooklynites Bear in Heaven, a band I’ve been mildly obsessed with for the past year. They were great. I was beside myself. But when I look back on that night it’s the performance of their supporting act Halves which sticks in my mind the most. The tiny Crawdaddy stage was a jumble of cables, foot pedals, trumpets, guitars and (joy of joys) that oft-forgotten gem of an instrument, the melodica. Performing as a five-piece on the night, Halves shifted themselves and their various accoutrements around the tiny stage for so long before they got going I began to wonder if they ever would. But get going they did and what an unexpected surprise; they were awesome. And all of those instruments were put to good use as the band brought to life their multi-layered sound on stage. That night in … There’s more →