Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
IN WITH THE NEW
As renowned producer and owner of Start Together studios, Rocky O’reilly has worked alongside an impressive list of breakthrough acts in the last decade - and we also know him as half of the much missed synth pop dup Oppenheimer. For this project he’s teamed up with Rory Friars of And So I Watch You From Afar and - incredibly - it’s more than the some of its parts.
LISTEN TO - All we have so have so far is ‘The Blinding’ - an endlessly epic future-ballad featuring vocals from Ryan Mcgroarty of Beauty Sleep. Five piece from Dundalk with searing, textured guitars and the uncommon notes of KT Ball. Blessed with an artfully warped album ‘Wednesday’ and earnest comparisons to the likes of My Bloody Valentine, their progress is a sure thing.
LISTEN TO - ‘Tainted’ is eerie and slanted, like Julee Cruise on a malevolent iceberg. (SB) played Glastonbury, performed alongside the Ulster Orchestra and won the ‘best new act’ gong at the NI Music Prize. Her 2019 starts in arenas playing alongside Snow Patrol.
LISTEN TO - ‘Wasted. Patient. Thinking’ gives you a flavour of her quirky, left of centre synth pop. Ryan’s rise has been nothing shy of astonishing - and totally without precedent - this young, earnest Portaferry singer songwriter selling out first The
Limelight - then The
Ulster Hall - all before a debut record.
Unbelievably, he’ll now headline his own outdoor show at Custom House Square this August. Friends in high places - Foy Vance, Ed Sheeran, Gary Lightbody et all - may have helped - but the music speaks for itself.
LISTEN TO - ‘Bowie on the Radio’ is a great place to start - though pretty much everything he’s put out to date has huge, broad appeal.