Malojian strike Gold

In times of hardship we seek comfort in nostalgia – it’s why ad execs, stroking their little goatee beards in Shoreditch or Brick Lane or wherever it is in London now, recycle old classics during recessions. The Bisto Kids, Fairy Liquid’s hands that do dishes and the Finger Of Fudge song all got a runout in the years after the last big credit crunch.

Our current Cornflakes packet, with its vintage painting of Santa, looks like it was designed in the 1920s. When the world around us is troubling and uncertain we hark back to when it wasn’t.

Malojian’s latest single and its accompanying promo film is a case in point. Unlike what the the ad men do, The Golden Age is anything but a cynical attempt to shift units*, rather a reflection of how most of us are feeling right now. It’s an irresistible lo-fi chug through the best bits of childhood – complete with tremelo organ sounds that recall the loading screens of ZX Spectrums or Commodore 64s and Stevie Scullion’s equally-irresistible, imploring voice. He’s been working with Grandaddy’s Jason Lytle (“who just happens to be my favourite artist/ producer ever”) for his fifth album since going solo from his former Cat Malojian folk partnership and it shows. There are subtle shades of the 2000 album The Sophtware Slump in the Golden Age – and that’s great.

It’s the golden age,” he sings, in straining falsetto. “Way back when the world was good, way back way before we understood.”

If ever there was a time to hark back to a golden age it is now. Go for it.

*Hopefully it will shift lots of units!

A wee reminder then, that this week’s Take 2 broadcast from the Duncairn arts centre is on tomorrow and should be another stormer. They’re featuring

Galway singer songwriter Niamh Regan, tin-whistle-led tradders the Kevin Meehan Trio and Belfast youngsters The Alcoves performing in the American Bar.

There’s also an interview with Síofra Caherty of Jump the Hedges fashion designer creating bags from recycled sustainable materials and Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín / Minister for Communities NI - A conversation talking about the state of the arts...

Watch online at youtube.com/c/ duncairnarts this Saturday at 8pm