Make Me An Island

This is the first in a short series of Make Me An Island episodes chronicling the best new music released worldwide in 2022. In this opening chapter there's an ode to fresh electronic sounds in the shape of debut releases from Naty Seres from Berlin, Surusinghe from London and Deekapz out of São Paolo. There's proof of why Shygirl has been one of the year's stand-out artists and more essential sounds from her American peers, 070 Shake and Ela Minus. We discover why Pusha T is a contender for best US rap album of 2022  and how Digga D is a shoo-in for the UK crown. There's room for some experimental noise from the new frontier courtesy of Dutch duo Ambassade and a very modern and brilliant take on the Fra Fra sound of Northern Ghana from Linda Ayupuka.   ///

On this third Fresh Éire installment, Dónal goes digging for fire among a plethora of new Irish releases. There's a written response to Anna Mieke's magnificent sophomore album Theatre and a tribute to the independent Dublin label Where The Time Goes with a couple of examples of dynamic recent releases from them in the shape of Jennifer Moore and Seán Being.  There's also the return of Meltybrains? to celebrate, a glorious Captain Beefheart cover from Niamh Regan to marvel over and fresh sounds to enjoy from young producers Kobina, Gaptoof and Brién. The last word goes to Ian Lynch whose debut solo album as One Leg, One Eye is one for the ages.   Support the Artists on Bandcamp:    Kobina - https://gaptoof.bandcamp.com/track/kobina-bb7   Brién - https://gaptoof.bandcamp.com/track/bri-n-island-boys-sample   Seán Being - https://wherethetimegoes.bandcamp.com/track/everything   Meltybrains? - https://meltybrains.bandcamp.com/album/you -    narolane - https://narolane.bandcamp.com/track/chikondi-feat-ailbhe-reddy   Jennifer Moore - https://wherethetimegoes.bandcamp.com/album/channels-of-time   Diamond Dagger - https://remotetown.bandcamp.com/album/being-jolene   Niamh Regan - https://niamhregan.bandcamp.com/track/her-eyes-are-a-blue-million-miles   Anna Mieke - https://annamieke.bandcamp.com/album/theatre   One Leg One Eye - https://nyahhrecords.bandcamp.com/album/and-take-the-black-worm-with-me   ///

On this episode, Dónal trawls through a significant bunch of homegrown releases in search of gold. Indicative of just how healthy a state Irish music is in 2022, he finds it aplenty. There's a wide range of styles to admire and enjoy from Lisa O'Neill's glorious return with Old Note to Eoghan O Ceannabháin's singular sound on his stunning solo debut to fresh and invigorating releases from a slew of artists whose careers are in their embryonic stage like CoEx, Trick Mist, LOSHH and Oliveyolive. There's also time to marvel at the latest instrumental offerings from Jape and Natalia Byelis as well as some lyrical magic from Elaine Howley and Aoife Nessa Frances.   Support the artists on Bandcamp:    Elaine Howley https://touchsensitiverecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-distance-between-heart-and-mouth   Lisa O'Neill https://lisa-oneill.bandcamp.com/album/all-of-this-is-chance   Aoife Nessa Frances https://aoifenessafrances.bandcamp.com/album/protector   Jape https://jape.bandcamp.com/album/9k-hi-vol-i   LOSHH https://dontsleep.bandcamp.com/track/k-feat-obongjayar   Oliveyolive https://soundcloud.com/oliveyolive/sets/life-of-colour-hyper-colour-pr?si=545717c351354716a5348d87ccdc1064&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing   Natalia Beylis https://nataliabeylis.bandcamp.com/album/love-in-a-mist-edible   Trick Mist https://trickmist.bandcamp.com/album/the-hedge-maze-and-the-spade   ///

Diving in at the deep end after a summer hiatus, Dónal Dineen presents a guide to the most essential new music and re-issues from around the world.   He strikes gold twice upon encounters with the enchanting song-world of Japanese artist Hatis Noit and the glorious amalgamation of sounds that comprises the compelling solo work of Californian violinist and vocalist Brittney Denis Parks who records as Sudan Archives.   There’s dispatches from the wild sonic frontier in the shape of the explosive vocalisations of They Hate Change from Florida as well as an example of why the high energy sound of Nigerian-born Obongjayar has been such a hit on the most discerning dance floors in 2022.   Further evidence of how fertile the American underground is right now comes in the shape of the meticulous electronic compositions of Altrice from Arizona and the strangely beguiling atmospherics of Baltimore’s Infinity Knives.   There’s time to hail a modern choral classic from the Emilia region of Italy by Silvia Tarozzi and Deborah Walker as well as pay homage to two lost classics from South African keyboard pioneer Rex Rabanye and Ukranian violinist and sonic innovator Valentina Goncharova.   Support the music-makers on Bandcamp:    Sudan Archives https://sudanarchives.bandcamp.com/track/wake-up   Altrice https://altrice.bandcamp.com/track/places-faces   They Hate Change https://theyhatechange.bandcamp.com/track/x-ray-spex   Obongjayar https://obongjayar.bandcamp.com/track/message-in-a-hammer   Drymbago https://mrscruff.bandcamp.com/track/chupacabra   Rax Rabanye https://africanclassics.bandcamp.com/track/o-nketsang   Infinity Knives & Brian Ennals https://phantomlimblabel.bandcamp.com/album/king-cobra   Hatis Noit https://hatisnoit.bandcamp.com/album/aura   Silvia Tarozzi & Deborah Walker https://silviatarozzideborahwalker.bandcamp.com/album/canti-di-guerra-di-lavoro-e-d-amore   Valentina Goncharova https://hidden-harmony.bandcamp.com/album/ocean-symphony-for-electric-violin-and-other-instruments-in-10-parts     ///

Recorded live on the All Curious Minds stage at the All Together Now festival in Waterford on July 31st, Dónal takes a deep dive into the music of Columbia with regular islander and all-round fount of knowledge, Brian Cross AKA B+.