Culture

Nialler9′s New Irish Music: Donnacha Costello, Variant Sea, Le Galaxie

The best new things in Irish music right now

Niall Byrne
Fri Oct 2 2015 - 07:47

RELEASE OF THE WEEK Donnacha Costello – Love From Dust / Stay Perfectly Still Donnacha Costello has long concerned himself with producing melancholic electronic music with releases dating back to 1996 on D1 Recordings. Five years ago, Costello moved away from music and sold his equipment. Later, when the opportunity arose to purchase an old analogue synthesizer he was on a waiting list for, Costello didn’t manage to hit his crowdfunding goal. So he bought his second choice instrument, a Buchla Music Easel.

That portable device's modus operandi encourages live playback that resulted in a new ambient electronic album released in June called Love From Dust, his first after the hiatus. This week, Costello released a second live album made with the Buchla that makes use of the instrument's real-time manipulation. The music is simple, stagnant, yet quietly transforms itself through passages of droning synthesizer notes and gentle arpeggios.

Le Galaxie

NEW ARTIST OF THE WEEK Variant Sea - Season Of Mists

Taking a minimal approach, Luke Duffy and Shell Dooley’s music uses intertwining guitar and piano arrangements to create music that they say fits into the post-rock scene. To me, their songs, ‘River Sallows’ and ‘Nearer To Thee’ would be more at home on the soundtrack of a film than anywhere else. The duo’s debut EP is out next Tuesday and is called Season Of Mists.

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VIDEO OF THE WEEK Le Galaxie – Love System, ft. Elaine Mai Directors: Feel Good Lost

One of those tunes that has been knocking around for ages, yet you never tire of, Love System’s new saxophone-featuring version has been given a new video treatment by Take Me To Church directors Feel Good Lost. The narrative concerns a lovesick (and possibly mentally unwell) couple who take a Hollywood-style road trip around Bray taking in Maxol garages, diners and amusement arcades. The man in the relationship is definitely the jealous aggressive type. Meanwhile, we’re hearing rumours of a Le Galaxie show in Dublin this Saturday. Keep an ear out.