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.

 

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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   ///

Some more examples of electronic experimentation from the wild frontier open this 8th instalment of our guide to new music. Firstly ELLES from Lisbon then Lyra Pramuk from Berlin and Okou & Casey MQ from Paris set the twilight reeling. 

The intriguing rapping style of South London Vietnamese artist Triad God is just one of the things that set him apart. He also invents sound worlds all of his own as do the South African band John Wizards, London producer Apiento and New York sonic adventurer Ana Roxanne.

Following on from our last episode we tune into Nicolas Jaar’s 2021 release from his collaborative project DARKSIDE and marvel at the skilful way Mala blended field recordings from his Peruvian travels into his electronic compositions.

To mark the welcome reopening of our dance floors the episode closes with four examples of tunes that have wrecked the gaff in recent weeks from KH, Overmono, Two Shell and Pangaea.

 

Support the music-makers on Bandcamp: 

 

ELLES

https://naivetytrax.bandcamp.com/track/elles-zero-hour-contrac

 

Triad God

https://prestorecords.bandcamp.com/album/triad

 

lyra Pramuk

https://lyrapramuk.bandcamp.com/track/tendril

 

Okou and Casey MQ

https://permalnk.bandcamp.com/album/for-the-beasts

 

DARKSIDE

https://darkside.bandcamp.com/album/spiral

 

John Wizards

https://johnwizards.bandcamp.com/album/john-wizards

 

Mala

https://mala-music.bandcamp.com/album/mirrors

 

Apiento

https://apiento.bandcamp.com/

 

Ana Roxanne

https://anaroxanne.bandcamp.com/album/-

 

Two Shell

https://twoshell.bandcamp.com/album/home-3

 

Overmono

https://overmono.bandcamp.com/

 

Pangaea

https://pangaeauk.bandcamp.com/album/like-this

 

The DIY bedroom-producer stars of this episode are Joseph Kamaru from Nairobi recording in Berlin under the name KMRU, Tristan Arp from Mexico City and CARM out of New York.

We celebrate the release of the wonderful new record from Inni-K which fashions a new sonic cloak for the ancient sean-nós form and re-visit the music of Nicolas Jaar and his deepest work yet, Cenizas.

In between, there’s time to marvel at the powerful sounds of resistance coming from the alto-saxophone of Matana Roberts and at the fruits of a unique collaboration between two uncrowned kings of the wild frontier, Pavel Milyakov and Bendik Giske.

 

Shabazz Palaces https://shabazzpalaces.bandcamp.com/album/quazarz-born-on-a-gangster-star John Glacier https://plzmakeitruins.bandcamp.com/album/shiloh-lost-for-words Tristan Arp https://tristanarp.bandcamp.com/album/sculpturegardening KMRU https://kmru.bandcamp.com/album/there-was-nothing-in-between Pavel Milyakov and Bendik Giske https://pavelmilyakovbendikgiske.bandcamp.com/ Nicolas Jaar https://nicolasjaar.bandcamp.com/album/cenizas CARM https://carmband.bandcamp.com/album/carm Matana Roberts https://matana-roberts.bandcamp.com/album/coin-coin-chapter-four-memphis Inni-K https://inni-k.bandcamp.com/album/in-on   ///

Episode Six starts off with some DIY magic from Budapest courtesy of Goshaven before relocating to the Parisian suburb of Montreuil to hear the freshest of Moroccan-Egyptian hybrid rap from TripleGo.

Homage is paid to the all-powerful street-fired Kinshasa collective Kasai Allstars and to the electronic pioneer and unique musical spirit Beverly Glenn Copeland.

Hats are tipped to perennial kings of the wild frontier The Bonk and introductions made to new sounds from Welsh electronic adventurer Kellie Lee Owens and Californian harpist extraordinaire Mary Lattimore.

 

Support the music-makers on Bandcamp:

 

Gosheven https://opaltapes.com/album/leaper  

The Bonk 

https://thebonk.bandcamp.com/track/weird-tears-a-simple-exorcism   USNA https://usna.bandcamp.com/   Mose Sumney https://mosessumney.bandcamp.com/track/cut-me-2   Kasai Allstars https://kasaiallstars.bandcamp.com/album/black-ants-always-fly-together-one-bangle-makes-no-sound   Kelly Lee Owens https://kellyleeowens.bandcamp.com/album/inner-song   Stephen Mallinder https://stephenmallinder.bandcamp.com/track/um-dada   Beverly Glenn Copeland https://beverlyglenn-copeland.bandcamp.com/track/la-vita   Bitchin Bajas and Bonnie "Prince" Billy https://bitchinbajasandbonnieprincebilly.bandcamp.com/album/epic-jammers-and-fortunate-little-ditties   Mary Lattimore https://marylattimoreharpist.bandcamp.com/album/silver-ladders     ///

Dónal presents a fifth instalment to the rough guide to the year in new music 2021.   This leg of the journey starts with some instrumental wonders from Kuwait via Senegal before checking out some more DIY masterpieces from bedrooms in Brooklyn and Moscow. There's underground magic from the evergreen musical hotspots of Berlin and the East End of London as well as another slice of Canadian dance-floor heat from Eris Drew. There's also sublime lockdown music for strings made remotely by Kate Ellis and Laura Cannell across the Irish sea and sparkling new sounds to set the twilight reeling from Ghana and Florence Adooni.     ///    

Dónal presents a fourth instalment of the rough guide to the year in new music 2021.   This leg of the journey takes in more sounds of resistance from the streets of Philadelphia and Cleveland before celebrating some UK DIY masterpieces from Bristol, London and Glasgow. There's also another example of that particularly unique kind of magic coming from the Equiknoxx crew in Jamaica as well as a journey deep into Arabic soul courtesy of MSYLMA from Cairo and a reminder of the enduring power of Fish Go Deep productions out of Cork city.   Support the music makers on Bandcamp:    MSYLMA https://editionsappaerent.bandcamp.com/album/the-tenets-of-forgetting Time Cow/RTKal https://timecow.bandcamp.com/album/elephant-man Fish Go Deep https://fishgodeep.bandcamp.com/album/this-bit-of-earth Moor Mother and Billy Woods https://moormother.bandcamp.com/album/brass Mourning A[BLK}star https://mourningablkstar.bandcamp.com/album/the-cycle Ishmael Ensemble https://ishmaelensemble.bandcamp.com/track/visions-of-light R Aggs https://r4ggs.bandcamp.com/album/tape-1 SAULT https://saultglobal.bandcamp.com/track/i-just-want-to-dance LNS https://lnslaurasparrow.bandcamp.com/album/lns-id Beatrice Dillon https://beatricedillon.bandcamp.com/album/workaround Bendik Giske https://bendikgiske.bandcamp.com/album/cracks

Dónal presents a third instalment of the rough guide to the year in new music, 2021.   This leg of the journey includes some very modern takes on classical music from India and Guatemala via Mexico as well fresh rap sounds from Paris and Jamaica and an African percussion supergroup based in London. There's innovative electronic compositions from Peru, Belgium, Canada and South Africa as well as a whole bunch of more reasons why Chicago was on the edge of the new frontier once again in 2021.   Support the music-makers on Bandcamp:   Bitchin Bajas https://bitchinbajas.bandcamp.com/album/switched-on-ra   Gilb'R https://gilbr.bandcamp.com/   Ben LaMar Gay  https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/open-arms-to-open-us   JAMIRE WILLIAMS  https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/but-only-after-you-have-suffered   Mabe Fratti https://tinangelrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ser-que-ahora-podremos-entendernos   Arushi Jain https://arushijain.bandcamp.com/album/under-the-lilac-sky   Purelink, Millia Rage https://purelink.bandcamp.com/track/maintain-the-bliss   Equiknoxx https://equiknoxx.bandcamp.com/album/basic-tools-mixtape   serpentwithfeet https://serpentwithfeet.bandcamp.com/album/deacon   Native Soul https://nativesoulsa.bandcamp.com/album/teenage-dreams   Sofia Kourtesis https://sofiakourtesis.bandcamp.com/album/fresia-magdalena   ØlstrØm https://olstrom.bandcamp.com/album/udrydde-takeover-ep   LNS https://jaydag.bandcamp.com/track/bitumen   Balimaya project https://balimayaproject.bandcamp.com/album/wolo-so     ///    

Dónal presents a sound map of the year of 2021 in new music.   This second instalment delves into the work of future guest islanders, Karl Jonas Winqvist and Mario Batkovic. It also marks the glorious return of Colleen in 2021 before celebrating the latest wave of fresh magic from the musical hotspot of Chicago in the shape of Noname, Angel Bat Dawid and Kahil El'Zabar. Support the music-makers on Bandcamp:   Helado Negro https://heladonegro.bandcamp.com/album/sound-and-vision Ralph Heidel https://kryptox-music.bandcamp.com/album/relief Colleen https://colleencolleen.bandcamp.com/album/the-tunnel-and-the-clearing Mountain Man https://mountainman.bandcamp.com/ no name https://nonameraps.bandcamp.com/album/room-25 Sons of Kemet https://sonsofkemetmusic.bandcamp.com/album/black-to-the-future Wau Wau Collectif https://wauwaucollectif.bandcamp.com/album/yaral-sa-doom Etran De L'Air https://etrandelair.bandcamp.com/ David Walters https://davidwaltersplay.bandcamp.com/album/nocturne Mario Batkovic https://invada.bandcamp.com/track/quis-est-quis Angel Bat Dawid https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/transition-east Kahil el'Zabar https://kahilelzabar-is.bandcamp.com/album/kahil-el-zabar-s-america-the-beautiful Blood Music https://singasongfighter.bandcamp.com/track/today-and-tomorrow-dancing-dancing-dancing-feat-noi-and-friends-2          

In another singular twelve months for new sounds Dónal charts the year in tunes.

The stated criterion is that it's new names only but some diversions are taken to include essential releases from familiar artists like Shirley Collins, Dean Blunt and Oneohtrix Point Never.

Otherwise it's a voyage of discovery all the way from the frozen north in Norway to the beating heart of Niger. 

 

Support the music-makers on Bandcamp:   Lighight - https://lighghtmusic.bandcamp.com/album/holy-endings Dylan Henner - https://dylanhenner.bandcamp.com/album/the-invention-of-the-human Shirley Collins - https://www.dominomusic.com/releases/shirley-collins/crowlink/download Onehotrix Point Never - https://oneohtrixpointnever.bandcamp.com/ The Heart Pumps Kool-Aid - https://sethgraham.bandcamp.com/album/the-heart-pumps-kool-aid Sam Gendel - https://samgendel.bandcamp.com/album/fresh-bread Gabriels - https://gabriels.bandcamp.com/album/love-and-hate-in-a-different-time Georgia Anne Muldrow - https://georgiaannemuldrow.bandcamp.com/album/vweto-iii Gotts Street Park - https://gottsstreetpark.ochre.store/ Utheo Goerer - https://www.lyskestrekk.com/product/utheo-choerer-forste-gir-stiv-kuling-7/ Black Country, New Road - https://blackcountrynewroad.bandcamp.com/album/for-the-first-time Falle Nioke & Ghost Culture - https://fallenioke.bandcamp.com/album/badiare-ep Mdou Moctar - https://mdoumoctar.bandcamp.com/album/afrique-victime Space Afrika - https://space-afrika.bandcamp.com/album/honest-labour Aya - https://aya-yco.bandcamp.com/ Loraine James - https://lorainejames.bandcamp.com/album/reflection Joy Orbison - https://tossportal.bandcamp.com/album/still-slipping-vol-1 Marco Shuttle - https://marcoshuttle.bandcamp.com/album/cobalt-desert-oasis Tomaga - https://tomaga.bandcamp.com/album/intimate-immensity Yu Su - https://yusu.bandcamp.com/album/yellow-river-blue Audiobooks - https://audiobookshq.bandcamp.com/album/astro-tough-2 Ross From Friends - https://rossfromfriends.bandcamp.com/album/tread Overmono - https://overmono.bandcamp.com/album/bmw-track-so-u-kno Jehnova - https://jehnova.bandcamp.com/ Dean Blunt - https://roughtraderecords.bandcamp.com/album/black-metal-2 Leo Bhanji - https://www.amazon.com/Birth-Videos-Explicit-Leo-Bhanji/dp/B08NZFFJBT Celestial - https://celestialecstatic.bandcamp.com/album/i-had-too-much-to-dream-last-night     ///

An entirely incomprehensive review of another certifiably brilliant year for Irish music. Dónal guides us through a selection of this year's loves showcasing the extraordinary range of great sounds emerging from this island in 2021. 

 

Support Irish music on Bandcamp:

 

https://countersunk.bandcamp.com/album/superstrate

https://strangeboytheweirdo.bandcamp.com/

https://bitflowerbb.bandcamp.com/album/dinnseanchas

https://hilarywoodsmusic.bandcamp.com/

https://thisshipargo.bandcamp.com/album/hum

https://ergodos.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-echo-field-recordings-from-earlsfort-terrace

https://fixity.bandcamp.com/album/fixity-7

https://scintillarecordings.bandcamp.com/album/field-work

https://jarjarjr.bandcamp.com/track/whoa

https://poxyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/bread-butter-2

https://gaptoof.bandcamp.com/album/looks-like-rain https://denisechaila.bandcamp.com/ https://soulemusic.bandcamp.com/

https://a92music.bandcamp.com/

https://telefis.bandcamp.com/track/we-need-jape-remix

https://daithi.bandcamp.com/

https://t-woc.bandcamp.com/album/pantangle

https://eomac.bandcamp.com/album/cracks

https://ellll.bandcamp.com/album/housebreaker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGv4Mcy6Y4g&list=RDDGv4Mcy6Y4g&start_radio=1

https://aoifenessafrances.bandcamp.com/track/watching-the-willows-burn

   

In association with the National Concert Hall, a Make Me An Island Live special edition with Martin Hayes.

To mark the release of his autobiography, Shared Notes, Martin gives Dónal an illustrated guide to the many twists and turns that have marked his singular journey into sound.

From his first steps with the Tulla Céilí Band in East Clare through his ground-breaking collaboration with Dennis Cahill to giant leaps undertaken on the world’s greatest concert stages with The Gloaming and all points in between and beyond, these fascinating stories from the voyage so far are brought to life with customary humour and peerless musical skill. 

http://www.martinhayes.com/

www.nch.ie

///

 

 

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   ///

The ground-breaking album Tá Go Maith is one of the year’s finest.

Recorded live at the Sugar Club on October 20th, Dónal gets a guided tour of the inspiration behind the record and the story of its creation from Rónán O’Snodaigh and producer Myles O’Reilly before listening to a selection of tunes played live in the room.

 

https://ronanosnodaigh.bandcamp.com/album/t-go-maith

 

///

 

Recorded live at the Sugar Club in Dublin on October 20th, 2021, this show is dedicated to the recently departed master box player and genius film-maker, Tony Mc Mahon.   Uilleann piper Louise Mulcahy leads the tribute with a stirring version of  Port na bPucaí before talking in-depth about her forthcomng film on Irish women pipers, Mná na bPíob.   Spoken word boss, Natalya O'Flaherty, gives her first live performance in over 18 months and talks about inspiration and the writing process. 

The last episode in our summer 2021 series was recorded at Mike and Gráinne O'Neill's Beach Cafe in the seaside village of Fenit in North Kerry.

 

We're conducting some more musical introductions in this edition as both Cathal Caufield and Killian O'Flanagan, recording as Kú, are at the beginning of their journeys into sound. We listen to their respective debut releases; Cathal's 'The Morning Trush' and 'Jack & Susan go for a drive' by Kú before enjoying a selection of tunes live from both their repertoires.

 

There's also an illustrated guide to some of their key influences from Neillidh Boyle to Barry Gleeson as well as a tribute to the trailblazing Greek violinist, Alexis Zoumbas. 

 

//

 

Donal travels to Ennistymon in County Clare to meet up with Anna-Mieke, Branwen and Zoe Basha who have taken their Rufous Nightjar project on the road for the first time.   We get to hear how they first got together and what's in store with their debut album which is nearing completion.   We also get to listen to some stunning live takes form their shows in the Oo La La creperie in Ennistymon and Levi's bar in Ballydehob County Cork.    

To mark the release of his debut solo record I Would Not Live Always, John Francis Flynn joins Dónal Dineen to discuss the making of the album in the company of some key collaborators: Ultan O'Brien, Ross Chaney and producer Brendan Jenkinson.   We then journey to heart of a Dublin Saturday night for a selection of tunes at The Cobblestone before taking a deep dive into the world of traditional Irish music which has been pivotal in shaping John's unique sound.   Cathal Caufield makes an appearance to appraise the special kind of magic that the flute and fiddle produce together before playing a couple of parting duets with John in an episode brimful of both dazzling live music recorded on land and reoccurring gull sounds from the sky above.     'I Would Not Live Always' is released on Friday July 30th 2021 on River Lea Records.      Written & Presented by Dónal Dineen Produced & Edited by Ian Cudmore     Support the making of these Islands here.     ///        

The Summer installment of our sister series to the Islands, We Are The Makers, is out today.

Commissioned by Solas Nua in Washington D.C., episode #2 charts the arc of choreographer Liz Roche's journey to the top of the contemporary dance world.

 

Find the full episode here: https://pod.link/makers

 

From starting at ballet school in Dublin at aged of seven, through training in London Contemporary Dance School, to dancing across Europe, Dónal hears how Liz's education and experience onstage informs her finely wrought and beautifully choreographed productions. Together they talk about the act of making, the collision of sound, movement and image and the cross-disciplinary influences that have inspired her art and career.

 

We Are The Makers is written and presented by Irish broadcaster Dónal Dineen and produced and edited by Ian Cudmore. Original music by Ultan O’Brien. Commissioned by Solas Nua in Washington, D.C., bringing contemporary Irish art to U.S. audiences. Cover photo by Matthew Thompson.

 

Kindly supported by Culture Ireland.

 

https://solasnua.org/

https://cultureireland.ie/

https://lizrochecompany.com/

 

In Dublin to perform the album Ceol Ársa Cláirsí at the Tradition Now weekender in the National Concert Hall, Steve Cooney's interpretations of ancient Irish harp tunes for solo guitar has added something new to the canon. There’s ancient magic at work here as these tunes were either composed or collected from the beginning of the 1600s to the end of the 1700s.

As a taster for a forthcoming extended Make Me An Island special on his work Episode 48 takes a detailed look at this beautifully crafted and thoroughly researched piece of work with the master himself as our guide...   https://stevecooneymusic.com/siopa    

Reverend Utah Smith was an evangelist preacher based in New Orleans who from 1938 onwards added some electric guitar fire to his sermons as well a pair of two giant seraphim white wings to his back.

In this epsiode Donal listens to the incendiary records he released between 1944 and 1953 which puts him very close to the scene of the big bang birth of rock and roll.. 

With the help of some clips from the legendary BP Fallon Orchestra interview with the man himself from April 1987, Dónal Dineen goes on a personal journey to the heart of Ted Hawkins' masterpiece from the penitentiary, Watch Your Step. 

April 8th marks the first anniversary of the launch of Make Me Me An Island. To mark the occasion, talking is mostly suspended in Episode 46 and instead Dónal reverts to the original source of inspiration, the box of 7” singles that formed the foundation for many of the original investigations.     Peppering the melting pot is a bunch of incendiary new tunes from Ireland on fire.      PLAYLIST:   

Camille Doughty – Elijah Rock

Nairobi Sisters – Promised Land

Madlib – Hopprock

Civic Edits – With Happiness

Trá Pháidín – N’Fheadair tbh

Brien – Sundried

Narolane – Water

A92 – A9 Freestyle

Tirzah – Make It Up

Charlotte Adigéry – Paténpat

Four Tet – Baby

Andrea Benini – El Guerrero

Zotobré – Lagen

Soul of Angola – Zinha

Joutro Mundo – Não Force

Bro’ David- Dancin’

Eddy Grant’s Coach House Rhythm Section – Time Warp

Benny Cletin – Jungle Magic

Taliban Discotechue – (White Label)

Tim Maia - Sossego

The Beginning of the End – Funky Nassau

Dry Bread – Yamar

Barbatuques – Baião Destemerado

Mestre Galo Preto – Pitó: A Pinta

Coco Raizes De Arcoverde – Seu Maia

Gilberto Gil – Patuscada de Ghandi

Gato Barbieri – to be continued

Cormac Begley – Schottisches – Joe Bane’s

Tom Zé – Defekt 14 – Xiqexique

Cormac Begley – Live at Barróg Féile Padraig

Willie Clancy – An Phis Fliuch

Effisio Melis – Fiorassio

Dave Brubeck – Unsquare Dance

Bob Haggard, Ray Bauduc – Big Noise from Winnetka

Cozy Cole – Big Noise from Winnetka

Willis ‘Gator’ Jackson – Later for the Gator

Alemayehu Eshete – Mekeyershin Salawq

Arthur Lee – Eveybody’s Gotta Live

Tim Maia – Nobody Can Live Forever

For Those I Love – Birthday/The Pain

 

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

 

 

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For 20 years Jennifer Walshe has blazed a trail across the world of contemporary music, all the while making work that was far greater than the sum of its parts and much much more than simply music.

Far from being high brow or inaccessible, the most human of touches shapes everything she does in all sorts of magical ways. Jennifer joins Dónal to discuss the many tributaries that comprise her unique journey into sound as well as offering some insights into her singular vocal technique.

 

https://jenniferwalshe.bandcamp.com/music

https://www.cmc.ie/composers/jennifer-walshe

Photo by Blackie Bouffant. 

 

From the very first demos, the arc of the Villagers story has pointed inexorably upwards, always reaching for the higher ground, a climb like no other.

In this episode Conor O'Brien joins Dónal in The Sugar Club for a discussion on some of those lofty peaks and how he got there.

In-between there's a bunch of live songs as well as a run through some key points of influence from Pierro Umiliani to Dorotthy Ashby, Robert Wyatt and Linda Perhacs.

 

https://wearevillagers.bandcamp.com/music

 

https://www.patreon.com/user?u=32902440

 

An introduction to We Are The Makers, a new series of long-form audio documentaries on Irish artists and their practice. Released today across all the usual platforms, and commissioned by Solas Nua in Washington D.C., first up is photographer Eamonn Doyle who before making a series of groundbreaking photo books of his Dublin street-work, had already made his mark in music with his D1 techno label and the Dublin Electronic Arts Festival.

Find the full episode here: https://pod.link/1553840432

 

The latest in a series of stunning posthumous Arthur Russell releases, Iowa Dream plays to all of his many strengths. Recorded in The Sugar Club in December, Episode 42 features an illustrated guide to the album by an artist who had an integral role to play in its compilation, editing and mixing, Peter Broderick.   Peter explains how he came to be involved in the production as well as performing a few of his favourite Russell songs, Words of Love, Ely and You Can Make Me Feel Bad.   https://arthurrussell.bandcamp.com/album/iowa-dream   https://peterbroderickmusic.bandcamp.com/music      

Recorded live at The Sugar Club in December, the second in the Make Me an Island live series features Myles Manley on stage together with Solamh Kelly and Chris Barry.

They play their brilliant 'Cometh The Softies' record in its entirety from start to finish before retiring for a chat with Dónal about its making. 

https://mylesmanley.bandcamp.com/album/cometh-the-softies

 

Recorded at The Sugar Club in Dublin in December, the first in a series of Make Me An Island Live shows features the mighty John Francis Flynn.

Along with producer Brendan Jenkinson and fiddler Ultan O' Brien, John performs a selection of tunes from his forthcoming debut album I Would Not Live Always before chatting to Dónal about the recording process and the journey so far.

Recorded in The Kino in Cork in December 2020, singular film-maker Pat Collins joins Dónal to discuss three of his films: The definitive sea-nós movie Song of Granite, a forthcoming documentary about the American folklorist Henry Glassie and a work-in-progress documenting the ground-breaking Micheal Keegan-Dolan dance production, Mám.

Musical dream topping is provided by special guest Elaine Howley (The Altered Hours, Crevice, Howlbox)

https://harvestfilms.ie/

 

Fresh from her ground-breaking collaboration with Radie Peat on Nollaig na mBan, Katie Kim joins Dónal to tell the story behind their work together as well as to discuss the making of her new album with producer John ‘Spud’ Murphy.

Along the way she makes the case for the genius of Mica Levi as well as discussing the merits of Tirzah, Ursula Bognor and more. Diversions there are many!

https://katiekim.bandcamp.com/music

   

For the first show of 2021 Dónal is joined by Branwen for an illustrated guide to some inspirational female artists the world over as well as to hear some songs from her masterful solo record Hunted and Haunted.   "As this is being released on Nollaig na mBan, I wanted to say that I think it's fantastic to take a moment to give the airspace to celebrating some amazing female artists and I'm delighted to contribute to it. I hope we can continue to move closer to a place of equality and equilibrium in the music industry for all genders and celebrate them in all genres. As my friend said when people kept telling her she was the best female banjo player they knew, "I'm actually the best banjo player you know". (Which is true!)" Branwen, January 6th 2021.   https://branwen.bandcamp.com/

Radie Peat is the special guest Islander on this Christmas episode.

 

She talks about her forthcoming collaboration with Katie Kim and Ellie Myler of Percolator as well as guiding us through a selection box of musical wonders.

 

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/katie-kim-and-radie-peat-tickets-131859488279

 

 

   

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+.

 

Sansbut is the first release on David Kitt's new Awayday label.   At the heart of the record are a series of powerful collaborations with Saxophonist Catherine Sikora that happened spontaneously at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris during lockdown this summer.   In this Episode #35 of Make Me An island, Dónal Dineen gets both sides of the story.   https://sansbut.bandcamp.com/album/vol-1   https://catherinesikora.bandcamp.com/   https://davidkitt.bandcamp.com/    

Recorded at The Kino in Washington Street, Cork, Donal Dineen presents an introduction to the fiddle-playing magic of Julia Clifford and a rough guide to the music of Sliabh Luachra.

Musician, soldier-on-the-ground and longtime advocate of the Sliabh Luachra sound, Eoin Stan O' Sullivan, is our guide and illustrator.

https://sliabhluachra.bandcamp.com/releases

http://kinocork.com/

 

Dónal Dineen takes a deep dive through all the new music released by Irish artists since the summer.

Patrick Kelleher joins him in the second half to talk about his comeback EP Stereolith forthcoming on Remote Town records.

https://patrick-kelleher.bandcamp.com/  

Dónal Dineen pays tribute to the Scottish maverick genius Ivor Cutler and his album Privilege.   Hilary Woods then joins Dónal for a deep dive into her last two records, Colt and Birthmarks, as well as a trip through some her favourite tunes from Sybille Baier to Eartha Kitt.   https://hilarywoodsmusic.bandcamp.com/

In an extended Lockdown Episode #31, Dónal introduces some new music from Loraine James and Star Feminine Band before checking in with two leading Irish lights stateside.   First up is acclaimed author and all-round total legend, Maeve Higgins, who discusses post-election relief on the ground in Brooklyn as well as her sterling work for the New York Times and other publications.   Then it's onto Los Angeles to check back in with B+. As well as making art and films and writing and lecturing, B+ remains a committed vinyl digger and here he puts together four short sets of 'Digs from the Floor' especially for us.   As well as being a significant player, he also talks a good game and the chats in-between sets are lengthy and strong. 

To celebrate the release of their debut album Solas An Lae and to mark the 30th episode of Make Me An Island, Eoghan and Ultan join Dónal for an extended birthday edition.

In between a feast of live music they discuss the provenance of the songs and the making of the record in Scotland.

https://eoghanultan.bandcamp.com/album/solas-an-lae-the-light-of-the-day

For the second show of the Lockdown #2 series, Dónal Dineen is joined by the concertina master from West Kerry, Cormac Begley.  There’s a handful of live tunes as well as discussions on subjects ranging from the origins of his sound, inspiration, and his role in the acclaimed dance production Mám by Michael Keegan-Dolan.

 

https://cormacbegley.bandcamp.com/    

Dónal Dineen takes a trip back in time to the High Andean city of Ayacucho in Peru to marvel at the field recordings made by David Lewiston in 1967 at the annual carnival. He explores the roots of Huayno music which evolved around ritual celebrations during the Inca Empire. 

The temperature drops in the second half with special guest Linda Buckley discussing how inspiration for her album From Ocean’s Floor emerged from the cold seas.

https://www.nmcrec.co.uk/composers/linda-buckley

 

 

 

   

In Episode #27 Dónal Dineen pays tribute to the legendary Simeon Cox whose band Silver Apples were responsible for electronic music’s Big Bang in 1969.

Special guest is Jonny Dillon. He plays a selection of tunes from the LP ‘Songs for a One-String Guitar’ and introduces tracks from the Automatic Tasty record A Farewell to Reason, as well as discussing some influences and his work at the National Folklore Collection.

On this episode, Dónal Dineen talks seasonal anthems and the magic of Johnathan Richman’s ‘That Summer Feeling’ before heading back to the Georgia Sea Islands for another look at the Get In Union collection of songs from Bessie Jones and friends.

Niwel Tsumbu is the special guest and he presents an illustrated guide to the roots of Congolese dance music as well as an alternative theory on the origin of the blues.

Dónal’s search for the perfect summer dancing soundtrack takes him to the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe where he takes a deep-dive into the ancient Gwo Ka sound. The journey begins and ends in land-locked Zimbabwe however where we tune into the emotional sound of The Movers who are just about to have a comprehensive retrospective released by the ever-brilliant Analog Africa label. 

 

We stop-over for another blast of Cape Verdean magic from Manuel Gomes before making land on Guadeloupe and immersing ourselves in the percussive trance-like sound of Gaoulé Mizig. We bed in to hear a raft of other examples of what is essentially participatory music born out of a spirit of resistance to French colonial rule from renowned exponents like Michel Laurent, Béloka and Jocelyn Virapin.  

 

There’s also a couple of crossover classics to contend with from local heroes Les Vikings de Guadeloupe and Ti Céleste who brought their take on the Gwo Ka sound to a wider audience across the Caribbean. 

 

This episode signs off with a quick trip to the mainland of Columbia for a taste of more summer heat to come from the regal Toto la Momposina. 

 

 

Support the music-makers on Bandcamp:

 

 

The Movers

https://analogafrica.bandcamp.com/album/the-movers-vol-1-1970-1976-analog-africa-nr-35

 

Manuel Gomes

https://ostinatorecords.bandcamp.com/track/jelivr-bo-situa-on

 

Eric Virgal

https://disques-debs-international-strut.bandcamp.com/track/stanislas

 

Les Vikings de Guadeloupe

https://antillesseries.bandcamp.com/album/best-of-enko-on-ti-tou

 

Gaoulé Mizig 

https://beautyandthebeat1.bandcamp.com/album/excursions-in-gwoka-vol-1-batb-005

 

Michel Laurent

https://beautyandthebeat1.bandcamp.com/album/excursions-in-gwoka-vol-1-batb-005

 

Toto la Momposina

https://totolamomposina.bandcamp.com/track/la-verdolaga

 

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For this Bank Holiday special edition Dónal Dineen returns to the theme of the singer and the song, beginning this stretch of the journey in the Georgia Sea Islands off the southeastern United States. We encounter Bessie Jones and hear the magical Margret Barry courtesy of Alan Lomax.

 

Eithne Ní Catháin (Inni-K) joins Dónal for an illustrated guide to the Sean-nós singing traditions in Connemara and Cúil Aodha in the second half of the show.

Made in conjunction with Cairde Festival, this Make Me An Island Special comes from Sligo. It's destination Model Niland Gallery for an in-depth look at fiddle music in the company of Steve Wickham. Donal also pays a visit en route to Kevin Barry's Ballinafad writing shed.

https://cairdefestival.com/

https://www.themodel.ie/

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/143091/kevin-barry

This extended episode starts with a visit to Armenia to hear the singular sound that Djivan Gaspryan achieves on the duduk. It's wind-based instruments all the way as Ian Lynch of Lankum joins Donal to discuss the history of piping and singing in Ireland after a couple blasts of tin-whistle magic from Paddy Moloney and Sean Potts.   Ian's Fire Draw Near radio show on DDR is essential listening. Two worlds collide.  https://listen.dublindigitalradio.com/resident?id=5de90fcdd06fc4001420e176   (picture: Malcolm McGettigan)

In this extended episode Dónal Dineen goes deep into the musical revolution that followed Guinean independence in 1958. He explores the legacy of Bembeya Jazz National and discusses the importance of their guitarist, Diamond Fingers, with musician and producer Brendan Jenkinson.

A conversation with composer Linda Buckley closes the show.