New found sounds

Compiled by AOIFE BARRY

IT ISALMOST December, the month in which music lovers collectively stress about their "best of the year" lists. To make matters more difficult (as well as morefun), there are still some great  Irish releases coming out, andwe have some of them here on New Found Sounds. This month's podcast has a heavy electronic bent (do the dank winter daysmake glacial synths even more appealing?), but with one nonelectronic track for some guitar-based relief. We also have Lauren Murphy
giving us her top albums of 2012, so if  you're struggling with your list, that might help.

We begin with Somadrone, and his dreamy synth-heavy single, Pulse of Joy, which will be launched by Skinny Wolves tonight ( November 30th) in Whelans at 9pm,adm €10, somadrone. bandcamp.com

A brother-and-sister duo is at the heart of The Holy Roman Army, who have just released their second album, One Atom That Was You. With baby monitors and Skype headsets employed as instruments, this album has a pleasingly fuller sound than its predecessor. theholyromanarmy.com

James Kelly is usually at home in black metal outfit Altar of Plagues, but with his WIFE project and its first EP, Stoic, he harnesses that darkness and adds distorted vocals, repetitive riffs and electronic beats to build a captivating sound. left-blank.net 

The dark secrets of moonlit hours appear to inspire Hunter-Gatherer, who returns with new release, Nighthood. It's both fascinating and slightly unnerving. hunter-gatherer.bandcamp.com

Finally, we end with Holly Pereira, aka Queen Herod,who melds doo wop, surf-rock and Telecaster riffs with her own distinctive voice to make something timeless. NewEP Queen Herod will be launched on December 13th in Whelan's, Dublin, and will be available to stream from tomorrow on queenherod.bandcamp.com