The Main Bit
The second GoldenPlec Select on In Colour on RTÉ’s 2XM featured GP mag co-editor James Hendicott talking in-depth on Derry’s spacy, mountain-inspired dream-tracks from the wonderfully named ‘Comrade Hat’.
The segment features a chat on using synths to create modern music, and how the style has changed since its early 90s prominence.
Presenter Darren Cleary and James delve into Comrade Hat’s peaceful influences and samples, the influences of orchestra, ‘The Beach’ and escapism. You can listen the Comrade Hat’s EP ‘The Winter Takes It All’ below, and all our rambling on the podcast, here.
This Week’s Other Highlights:
Here are some other highlights from the past two weeks of James’ inbox:
Jamie Duff – This Dublin singer-songwriter kindly gave us a preview of his soon to be released self-titled EP, which we can’t play for you just yet (it’s not out until next month), but it sounds like an Irish folk form of Jack Johnson on a particularly emotional day. There’s definitely a nice summer vibe, if not quite the happy buzz of flawless ecstasy that tends to constitute summer tracks. Think smart guitars, a softly seductive vocal and some tender topics. Jamie will be avoiding us on the streets of the capital after that description. You’ll have to make do with this for now, though:
Anna Leah Pearl – Woah, that voice! Another less than happy outing, but if you’re not slightly in awe of Anna Leah’s vocals you’ve a cold, cold heart. Her latest ‘Goodbye’ is a slow-build, heartbroken piano track that sees the Cork-based singer hit some serious vocal highs. The kind of track you’d want a perfectly silent cavern and a quiet glass of whiskey to sit in front of. This’ll make you feel:
RC Lo-Fi – A band that already pop up fairly regularly on In Colour (Darren’s a fan), RC Lo-Fi are a bouncy, electro-pop influenced group from Kentstown in Co. Meath, who deal in subjects like tales of economic woe whilst dabbling in a fresh brand of funky guitar-based electro. Happy, meet sad. They’re catchy as hell and deal with the trials and tribulations of ‘Facebook’ whilst simultaneously being on Facebook. Influences include both Audioslave and Bob Marley. What’s not to like?
James will be appearing on In Colour every two weeks, with the next review due to take place on the 8pm show on Monday 11 May.
To submit music for review on the show email track links and a bio to james@goldenplec.com. We will listen to it all, but cannot realistically reply to or provide feedback on every submission. As we’ll be talking extensively about a single record, we can only consider albums and EPs to feature on GoldenPlec Select, not individual tracks, though we will include individual tracks in the submission highlights. Please do not send large attachments as they’ll end up being blocked by our web server. We look forward to hearing from as many bands as possible!