IT’S ALMOST OCTOBER, when gig schedules start ramping up, and bands start preparing for events such as the Hard Working Class Heroes festival. On this month’s podcast, Lauren Murphy gives us her top five bands to catch at HWCH, so if you can’t make the festival, have no fear: there’s plenty of new music on the podcast to get your ears twitching.
** Belfast-based Defcon make glitchy, squelchy electronica with a throb of dub, and new album In Binary Shines does indeed shine brightly. soundcloud.com/beatsbydefcon
** Ickis Morolo has teamed up with Margie Lewis for a track on his new EP Hark! Crippling Sadness. Lewis's timeless voice is worlds away from Morolo's fragile electronica, and yet they weave together beautifully. ickismirolo.bandcamp.com
** Biggles Flys Again (yes, the spelling mistake is charmingly deliberate) craft handmade jaunty pop songs, reminiscent of the Divine Comedy at times. The latest single Friends will be available for free download from October 4th on bigglesflysagain.bandcamp.com.
** Modern classical fans will heartily embrace the debut record from composer Sam Jackson (above). With hefty heapings of jazz and a touch of found sounds, it's a fresh and fascinating collection. samjacksonmusic.com
** Laura Sheeran's album What the World Knows is undoubtedly one of this year's best. Her latest single from it, the languorously spooky Into The Fire, is out now on Flaming June. facebook.com/laurasheeranofficial
** Dublin's September Girls do fuzzy garage pop with panache, and their latest single Green Eyed is brimful of layered guitar and keyboard lines, sweet harmonies and spunky attitude. facebook.com/septembergirls
** This month's bonus track is courtesy of Seti The First, a Cork band who come recommended by Plugd Records' Albert Twomey on the podcast. Listen to or buy their album Melting Cavalry on setithefirstbandcamp.com
