Newfound Sounds for October

Dublin’s Squarehead, Cork’s David Nelligan and the long-awaited return of Crayonsmith

It’s October, which means that it’s a bumper time for new releases – and this month there are some stellar records being unleashed by Irish bands.

Among the country's finest music makers, Squarehead have embraced a grungier sound for their confident second album Respect. Plus, they haven't lost their ear for a great melody. squarehead.bandcamp.com

Speaking of melodies, Dott create some of the sweetest West Coast-style sounds being made in Ireland at the moment. Their debut album Swoon (such an apt title) is due out on November 5th, and the excellent track Day That I Found You is featured on the podcast this month. dottmusic.bandcamp.com

Cork's David Nelligan is usually found with a guitar in hand, but on his latest EP, Who is Synthia (inspired by a Shakespeare poem), he goes electronic. It's great to hear another side to his impressive songwriting skills. davidnelligan.bandcamp.com

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We've waited five years for a new Crayonsmith album, and it was worth it. By turns invigorating and heartfelt, the trio have got their sound down pat. Buy Milk Teeth on LP/digital formats from 18 October. soundcloud.com/OOAL

The Driftwood Manor’s dark folk is always a pleasantly affecting listen, so their forthcoming full-length, Of the Storm, comes highly recommended. There’s a taster of what you can expect on this month’s podcast, so get ahead of the rest by listening in. thedriftwoodmanor.bandcamp.com