GIRLS NAMES

Girls Names is the new buzz that's been exciting blogs everywhere (or rather mostly in the northern hemisphere really). They themselves describe their music as disposable noise pop songs,  It's a conglomerate of shoegaze and catchy surfer-rock hooks, so anticipate shadowy vocals echoing over a lo-fi guitar racket.  The songs "Blood River" and "Tear Me Down" are good examples of this. Some may compare them to the Crystal Stilts or perhaps even the Blank Dogs. What makes them stand out, you may ask. I can mention three things. Number one: They're from Belfast, which isn't the obvious choice for a lo-fi, surf rock band. Secondly, their cover of the Twin Peak's theme song, Falling is one of the best covers I've ever heard. And last, they make good music which is fun to listen and dance to.

Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Members: Cathal (vocals), Neil (drums) and Claire (bass)
Label: Unsigned
Website: myspace

Girls Names - Blood River [Download]
Girls Names -  Graveyard [Download]
Girls Names - Tear Me Down [Download]

Girls Names - When You Cry (Ad Hoc Version) from CASS/FLICK on Vimeo.

Falling (Twin Peaks Theme) by Girls Names from claire miskimmin on Vimeo.

BAND TO WATCH: NOT SQUARES

Northern Ireland has once again gifted us with sweet comfort for our ears. Before it was the dance pop trio Two Door Cinema Club and now there's a new buzz band in the village. They go by the name of Not Squares. This Irish punktronic trio makes beats that forces your body to move in-sync even if your head says no. Its rapid bursts of nervous energy intertwined with dirty synths, double beat drums and disco baselines in a non generic fashion. Music by the band Liars suddenly seem like bedtime lullabies.

Earlier this year they signed to The Richter Collective and released the single  Asylum under this label. Recently they released the video for the track "Release The Bees", which was directed by Andrew Woodby.

From: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Members: Michael Kinloch, Keith Winter, Ricki O'Rawe
Sound:  read the description above
Label: Richter Collective
Website:http://www.myspace.com/notsquares







Not Squares - Asylum [Download]
Not Squares - Release The Bees [Purchase]

Last fm | Myspace