Colour The Atlas - Building Skyscrapers

If you like your music pounding, epic, eerie and beautiful all at the same time 'Colour The Atlas' are for you. Reminiscent of 'the xx' with improved vocals, Colour The Atlas are all set to release their second EP 'Building Skyscrapers'. Their self titled EP released in 2012 was an accomplished success reaching no.2 on iTunes singer/songwriter chart.

All hailing from Swindon, Jess Hall (vocals), Alex Stone (guitar, vocals), Andy Vincent (Bass) and Stef Pysanczyn (Drums), Colour the Atlas are sure to attract plenty of attention with this release. 

The EP begins with 'Paper Wings'. A wonderful acoustic intro followed by the hard hitting drums bringing the song to life. Next up is electronic influenced 'Revolutions'.  Superb vocals from Jess Hall with backing vocals and harmonies coming from Stone. 

As a big fan of 'Iron & Wine' (Love and Some Verses) and 'Bon Iver'(Skinny Love, For Emma), you can really hear their influence on the third track of the EP 'Blue Eyes'. Lead vocals this time coming from Alex Stone. The EP closes with the acoustic 'Rise'. Once again Hall showing her fantastic vocal ability. 

Reading this today will probably be the first you hear of Colour the Atlas but it certainly wont be the last I can assure you of that.

For more information about Colour The Atlas check out their Official Site / Facebook / Twitter

A look at Tom Mitchell....

(photo by Tom Sparey)

Bristol support guitarist turned singer songwriter Tom Mitchell has finally released his eagerly awaited debut album 'New World'. A year in the making, Mitchell has come a long way since his 5 track EP 'Ruthless Thing', further perfecting his own sound.

As Tom says himself, he was helped with the creation of this album by "2 awesome musicians' in the form of harmonious vocalist Sarah Proudfoot and on harmonica, Henry Slim. 

Slim's harmonica most notable on the opening track of the album 'Hammock'. 

This album swings from genre to genre, folk to indie to pop and back to folk. A really good mixture and shows the versatility of Mitchell

One thing that really stands out about Tom's song writing is how personal it is to him. Each song with it's own little journey. The stand out track for me is 'From Experience'. I nearly got up and had a dance around the living room listening to it!

New World is available from his official website here priced at only £5. You can find out more about Tom on Facebook and Twitter and his official site.

Thanks for reading, feel free to comment here on tweet me @illusionalmusic

Pat 

IM Blog

FullSet - Whelans - 17/7/13

Review of Irish Traditional Music Group 'FullSet' in Whelan's on Wednesday 17th July for Dublin Concerts

Support on the night from Caroline Keane and Tom Delany. See my review and photos from Tudor Marian on www.DublinConcerts.ie 

Pat

IM Blog

Codes - Workman's Club - Friday 12/7/13

Codes played the Workman’s Club in Dublin on Friday night supported by Rachael Boyd. Check out my reviews on DublinConcerts.ie. Photos on the night by Shaun Neary

Rachael Boyd Review: www.dublinconcerts.ie/rachael-boyd-at-the-workmans-club-photos/

Codes Review: www.dublinconcerts.ie/codes-at-the-workmans-club-review-and-photos/

Pat

IM Blog

@illusionalmusic

The Weeks - Grand Social - 8/7/13

For the review of The Weeks (support from Leaders of Men) go to www.dublinconcerts.ie

Come on Live Long - Whelan's 6/7/13 (for DublinConcerts.ie)

Photo by Pat Byrne

For the review of Come On Live Long head over to www.dublinconcerts.ie

Gig Preview - Week Starting 8th July

The week starts off with 'The Weeks' live at The Grand Social tonight (Monday). I'm attending this myself and it should be a cracker. The Mississippi band signed to Kings of Leon record label are also supporting KoL on their world tour. Not one to miss. 

On Tuesday we have Rockabilly princess Imelda May live in the Marquee in Cork. She also plays in the Iveagh Gardens on Thursday. Tickets for both shows available at Ticketmaster.

Wednesday sees the return of Justin Timberlake to Irish shores. JT is currently touring his 'The 20/20 Experience' album released earlier this year. Phoenix Park is the venue and there are still some tickets left via Ticketmaster. 

Thursday sees former Roxy Music lead singer Brian Ferry to the National Concert Hall. This is a sold out show.

The weekend shows are all about the Phoenix Park gigs. The Killers headline on Saturday evening with support from Frank Ocean, Two Door Cinema Club and Haim. On Sunday it's the turn of English Folk band Mumford and Sons with support on the night from The Vaccines, Ben Howard, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros. Tickets available on Ticketmaster.

For more details on Gigs this week see http://www.dublinconcerts.ie/concerts/this-week/

Thanks for reading. You can contact me on twitter @illusionalmusic

Pat 

IM Blog

Album in the Car.....4

For this installment of Album in the Car (AITC), we have another Irish Folk act. I must be in some sort of 'folky' mood at the minute seeing as the last 2 AITC's have been folk artists. 

So this time around it's singer/songwriter Lisa Hannigan and her second studio album 'Passenger'. Released in 2011, the Choice Music Prize nominated album was preceded by the clever video for 'Knots' (which you can view below).

The album contains a duet with American artist Ray LaMontagne, 'O Sleep'. Their voices complimenting each other so well like Hannigan had previously with Damien Rice as a member of his band.

The stand out tracks for me on the album are 'Little Bird' which would bring a tear to a budgie's glass eye and the beautifully upbeat and lyrically clever 'What'll I Do'. Overall, this is a sensational album and one of my 'desert island discs' albums. 

Album can bought from Lisa Hannigan Official Store

Thanks for reading

Pat
IM Blog