Saturday, July 4
Fan-Fucking-Tastic!
Stolen from Thrillpier
I feel very very guilty that I've only rediscovered Michaels music since he died!
Thursday, July 2
David Bowie
Legend!
Friday, June 26
Michael Jackson
When i was a kid my room was covered in Michael Jackson posters. I used to spend hours in my room trying to learn how to dance like him and was a pretty annoying little git at family parties as a result. I absolutely worshipped him and it really was my first taste of music and the influence that it can have on you.
Although i hadn't had much time for him recently, his death has had a real impact on me, as probably is the case for most people of our generation. You forget how much certain artists have influenced you until they pass away, and how much they ment to you all those years ago when you were so impressionable.
A very sad day for music
Michael Jackson
King of Pop
RIP
Monday, June 22
Speech Debelle
What im really love about Speech Debelles debut Speech Therapy is her gentle rhyming over an acoustic guitar which is present through most of the album. Theres something in her music that conveys so much emotion - full of frustration, loss and heartache, yet equally full of hope and delight.
Potentially my album of the year!
State Review Here
Built to Spill
For the last couple of days ive been trying to figure out where i first heard of Built to Spill. Finally it dawned on me that it was a pasionate and fanboy interview with the band from Darragh for Analogue Magazine. I remember reading it and feeling his passion for the band and the music, and thinking that they were a band that i definately had to check out.
Im currently listening to their 1999 album 'Keep it Like a Secret' and it really is brilliant. It wouldnt be my usual cup of tea but its a great change of pace.
I adore 'Else'!
Sunday, June 21
Music That Inspires Me
Im currently listening to alot of new music that has just been released and also music that has been out a while but is new to me. All of this music inspires me in some way and makes me want to evolve my music to be as emotional and melodic. It never ceases to amaze me how much stunning music is out there and how inspiring it all can be.
Ive been listening to Plaid a lot recently and i have to thank Gardenhead for pointing me in that direction. Some of it reminds me a lot of Boards of Canada and thats definitely not a bad thing.
Adam kindly guided me towards Nathan Fake who im absolutely loving at the moment as well - beautiful stuff.
And finally im currently listening to is Yppahs 'They Know What Ghost Know album which is simply brilliant - One of my new favourite albums at the moment.
I dont pretend that this blog has any particular insight into any of the music posted about or that im in any way eloquent about how i write about it. I only know that this is music that affects me in a huge way and i hope that listening to these short samples affects you in a way that makes you want to find out more about them.
Enjoy
- oh, and i just realised that 'Yppah' backwards is 'Happy' - a perfect description of how his music makes me feel :)
Saturday, June 20
The Beatles Rock!
Friday, June 19
Thursday, June 11
Top 100 Best Irish Albums of All Time
Ronan over at Swear im not Paul has done a very brave thing and made a list of the Top 100 Best Irish Albums of All Time
Probably beat the Ticket too it by a week or so
The problem with lists like this is people focus too much on whats not on it instead of what is on it and should be celebrated. Im gonna take this opportunity to check out those albums on it that ive been meaning to get round to but has taken a great list like this to remind me
Thanks Ronan - but wheres Ritual? :)
Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bears new album Veckatimest has really grow on me over the last few weeks. Its so infectious
The stand out tracks in my opinion would 'Two Weeks' and 'While You Wait for the Others'
Sublime!
Theres a killer mashup of Two Weeks and Dead Prez goin round aswell. Class
Moby - Pale Horses
Mobys new album 'Wait or Me' will b out June 30th and if Pale Horses is a fair representation of it he could be back to his best
Sunday, June 7
Florence and the Machine
Florence and the Machines debut album Lungs looks like its gonna be a cracker. Released in july, if the promos anything to go by it could be one of the albums of the year.
Absolutely loving Cosmic Love (from the o2 ad) which, if i didnt know better, i would have thought was Marina and the Diamonds who im also a big fan of
Thursday, June 4
DJ Shadow/DJ Hero
Forget Guitar Hero - here comes DJ Hero!
This sounds very interesting and with DJ Shadow on board from the beginning giving his advice and input it should be pretty cool.
He's even given permission for his image/likeness and some of his tracks to be used in the game.
Theres a really good interview with the man himself here
Friday, May 29
Super Extra Bonus Party
Tuesday, May 5
Tuesday, April 7
Fake Dog Films - Kerbs
One of my favourite group of film makers at the moment are the lads at Fake Dog Films. They've got some great music videos and short films up on their page so go check them out.
My favourite at the moment is Episode 1 of 'A Dogs Life' which features one of my favourite childhood games (and teenage if im honest) Kerbs!
Its brilliant!
Sunday, April 5
Moon and Moon
I love Bat for Lashes' Mercury nominated 'Fur and Gold' but I adored Moon and Moon' when i saw it on the culture show ages back and its inclusion on her knew album has cemented my love for the new record. Its stunningly beautiful - Go get it!
Crawdaddy with The Holy Roman Army
Ive been confirmed to support The Holy Roman Army for their album launch in Crawdaddy on May 15th with support on the night also coming from Storkboy Choons and Colours Move. Should be both a great night and a great album.
Really looking forward to it!
Ill be announcing more dates soon but if theres anyone out there looking for a support act id really appreciate it...
Saturday, April 4
Frightened Rabbit - Academy 2
Frightened Rabbit were brilliant at the academy on Wednesday, they absolutely blew me away once again.
The night was rounded off nicely when lead singer Scott Hutchison played an acoustic version of 'Poke' as an encore from within the audience and incidently right in front of my nose - brilliant!
Nialler9s Top 50 Best Irish Music Acts Right Now
In answer to the Top 50 list published in the Ticket this week nialler has created his own Top 50 Best Irish Acts Right Now and im quite chuffed to be in there. I'm alot chuffed actually!
Theres also a nice piece in this months excellent Limerick Entertainment Guide, you can find it here
Wednesday, April 1
Frightened Rabbit Acoustic
Really looking forward to Frightened Rabbit tonight/tomorrow/wednesday...
Big thanks to Ian at Thrill Pier for the tickets
Tuesday, March 31
Anyone know what a Giebelhouse is?
Absolutely baffled as to what this has to do with me...
"Because Ichiro! can hit HR’s whenever he wants, melt a box full of original Licorice Scottie Dogs into the shape of Giebelhouse, and force Ronan Carroll into making Tenaka a duo!"
Anyone?
Wednesday, March 25
The Girl and the Royksopp
Some great tracks on Royksopps new album 'Junior' but the stand out track for me at the moment is 'The Girl with the Robot' featuring Robyn.
Just found out as well that 2009 will also see the release of a second Royksopp album 'Senior' which will be a more chilled affair.
Something tell me itll be better than u2s second album of 2009
Tuesday, March 24
Live Performance
Saturday, March 21
Debut Gig in Bar 8 Wed 25th
Limerickman in hiding Tenaka brings his special brand of Classic 50’s Folk Rock to Bar 8 on Wednesday 25th of March. His debut EP ‘Eponymously Titled’ has been met with critical acclaim, with both the Irish Independent and Nialler9.com labelling it ‘Superb’.
If you like your Muriel Smiths, your Randy Belafonts or your Tom Mitchells Swinging Bands, then you might just like your Tenaka.
Support comes from the excellent Beatpoet with Brendan Finan later on decks. Show starts 8.30pm. Free in with this picture.
Monday, March 16
Podcasts
Tuesday, March 10
State Magazine
Monday, March 9
u2 360
Wednesday, March 4
Limerick Events Guide
Tenaka
EPonymously Titled
5/5
Ain’t Nobody is the first song on Tenaka’s a.k.a Ronan Carroll’s recently released EP and from the first strum of the first chord and the first note of his great voice I wanted to hope into my car and take this record for a drive. Road music. Great road music is hard to find. This Eponymoulsy Titled EP does exactly what a good ep is mean to do, tease the fuck out of you and leave you wanting an album and a drive to the beach. It’s a gentle and infectious low fi fusion of acoustic electronica. Highly recommended.
Choice Awards 2009
Heres a band i think should definately have been there tonight though
Ive a habit of keeping my head down so if you see me say hi - Im the guy with album art tatooed all over his face...
Sunday, March 1
Im Still Broke
Obsessions
Wednesday, February 25
Nuts
Frightened Rabbit
Dark was the Night
- "Knotty Pine" - Dirty Projectors + David Byrne
- "Cello Song" - The Books featuring Joses Gonzalez
- "Train Song" - Feist and Ben Gibbard
- "Brackett, WI" - Bon Iver
- "Deep Blue Sea" - Grizzly Bear
- "So Far Around The Bend" - The National
- "Tightrope" - Yeasayer
- "Feeling Good" - My Brightest Diamond
- "Dark Was The Night" - Kronos Quartet
- "I Was Young When I Left Home" - Antony with Bryce Dessner
- "Big Red Machine" - Justin Vernon + Aaron Dessner
- "Sleepless" - The Decemberists
- "Die" - Iron & Wine
- "Service Bell" - Grizzly Bear + Feist
- "You Are The Blood" - Sufjan Stevens
THAT DISC:
- "Well-Alright" - Spoon
- "Lenin" - Arcade Fire
- "Mimizan" - Beirut
- "El Caporal" - My Morning Jacket
- "Inspiration Information" - Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
- "With A Girl Like You" - Dave Sitek
- "Blood Pt. 2" - Buck 65 Remix (featuring Sufjan Stevens and Serengeti)
- "Hey, Snow White" - The New Pornographers
- "Gentle Hour" - Yo La Tengo
- "Amazing Grace" - Cat Power
- "Happiness" - Riceboy Sleeps
- "Another Saturday" - Stuart Murdoch
- "The Giant Of Illinois" - Andrew Bird
- "Lua" - Conor Oberst with Gillian Welch
- "When The Road Runs Out" - Blonde Redhead & Devastations
- "Love Vs. Porn" - Kevin Drew
Spotify
Monday, February 23
Elevator Fire
Bat for Lashes
Halogen - Recycled Broadcast EP/Baked LP
The Ambience Affair
Jon Richards
You can vote by text and online once each day until midnight March 11th
To Vote by text: text the following voterdj5 to 085-711 44 44.
Online: log onto www.meteor.ie and click on the vote icon then click
Best Regional DJ and then click on "Jon Richards" and follow instructions to
register your vote
Sunday, February 22
DJ Shadow/RSAG
Playlist Mix #47
Egoeccentric Hangover Mixtape
http://egoeccentric.blogspot.com/2009/02/tenaka-picks-egoeccentic-hangover.html
Saturday, February 21
Here We Go Magic
Friday, February 20
Ratatat
Starfucker
Radio Play
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord/2009/01/28/the-far-side-playlist-for-tuesday-january-27/
Introducing - BBC 6Music
http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/tom_robinsons_introducing/tracklisting_20090119.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/tom_robinsons_introducing/tracklisting_20080714.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/trintro
An Taobh Tuathail - RTE RnaG
http://www.rte.ie/rnag/antaobhtuathail.html
Dan Hegarty - 2fm
http://www.rte.ie/2fm/danhegarty/1249945.html
Green and Live - Live95fm
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm? fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=62213395&blogID=466492366
Irish Nightlife - WLRFM
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=62949326&blogID=467558435
Irish Beats - Beat10210fm
http://www.irishbeats.net
The Pulse - Radio Kerry
Hot Press Pick of the Fortnight
MAP Irish Artist of the Month
Asleep on the Compost Heap
I thought a Tenaka was a type of shape-shifting raccoon ghost with huge testicles from Japan. I was wrong. It turns out that's a Tanuki. A Tenaka is a Limerick man (who may or may not have huge testicles) who lives in Galway and makes understated pastoral electronica in his spare time. Think the clockwork rhythms of Plaid, the folky sensibilities of Fridge, and some hushed singing. If Greg from Masterchef heard it he might say "emotive bedroom electronica DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS".
Galway Independent
Ronan Carroll's take on lo-fi electronic pop is far from perfect, in fact it's sometimes out of tune, but that's not the point… sorry that is the point. It's perfectly imperfect, it's human. And 'Someday' is quite possibly one of the most beautifully broken pieces of music I've heard in eons. Music you want to tell your friends about
TenaciousT Review
Oh there is a storm brewing in the west and what a sublime storm it is!
Tenaka is Ronan Carroll, a Galway based Limerick muscian who happens to be a Biomedical Engineer- not sure what part of the body he engineers for but he knows a thing or two about ears and what is good going into them.
He has created a 4 track ep called EPonymously Titled that you can download for free from his MySpace and they really are some great ambient tunes. Not only do they grab your attention but his writing to go along with them really puts you into the right frame of mind…
Tenaka awoke to hear the storm hissing and battering at the window.
He stretched and glanced at the fire - it had faded to glowing coals.
He had slept in the lady’s arms, taking comfort in the bugs, haven and
crawl, as she slept in the chair, her breathing deep. Tenaka rose to his
feet, slowly making his way from the room. The corridor was icy, the
wooden boards creaking under his boots. He moved to the tribes fire,
adding fresh wood and gently blowing the flames to life. He felt revitalized
as it flared from the first child through to the pause of the fourth.
Tenaka removed the red dagger from its sheth and stirred the broth with
the blade, scanning the room for ingredients. As he poured the broth into
a bowl, he cut the stitches from his cheek, emotions firing behind paper
eyes. Quietly he stowed his gear in the canvas pack, fastened his cloak
and pushed gently through the doorway.
The storm was inviting.
Just to make it even better there is some great artwork and the humorously entitled play all ‘Sure why not, it only takes 928 seconds and twas free.wpl’.
Of the tunes themselves- these aren’t the lull you off to sleep ambient tunes but the type that peak your interest and where your foot starts tapping on its own accord. Ain’t Nobody and Someday have some soft vocals to go along with the synths and building rythms, Open Up has more complex rythms with a more driving pace and Alaskan is more sampled with kids and kids toys and some gorgeous synth strings. Of them all I wish Alaskan was longer but you can always stick it on repeat!
He is not currently touring but hopefully soon- for the moment get the tunesand let their blissfullness wash over you.