Since the advent of Thin Lizzy, U2, Clannad, My Bloody Valentine, The Boomtown Rats, Enya and The Pogues and the proliferation of other artists on the worldwide music scene, such as The Cranberries, Snow Patrol, Sultans of Ping, The Divine Comedy, Ash and more recent artists like Fontaines D.C. and Keeley, Ireland has developed a certain reputation of excellence abroad. After all, there are an awful lot of artists there and not everyone makes it off the island, so to speak.
Today we’re pleased to introduce you to a band that nearly didn’t make it off the island – after all, they had several strikes against them – geography, time and Covid lockdowns. Nevertheless, Irish post-punk / electrified indie rock clash outfit Sons of Southern Ulster have teamed up with Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats) to put out their new‘Turf Accountant Schemes’ EP and we have the pleasure of premieringthe rather lively track ‘Live In The Past’. This one recalls, first and foremost, Sleaford Mods but with fun sound elements of Wall of Voodoo and LCD Soundsystem mixed in. What a potent sonic cocktail! Please pour us another, rather soon thank you.
This new offeringfeatures four tracks from the band’s second album ‘Sinners and Lost Souls’ (2020), all of which have been re-envisioned and re-mixed by Briquette. The other three acerbic classics are ‘Fear My Scorn’,‘Stubby Yellow Fingers’ and ‘Polaris’, the video for which (produced byNicky Fennell) can be found below.
Mixed / engineered by David Minehan(The Replacements, Buffalo Tom, Dropkick Murphys), produced by Daragh Dukes, and mastered by Richard Dowling at WavMastering(David Bowie, Brian Eno, Sinead O’Connor, Primal Scream, Suede, Interpol, Foo Fighters), this EP features striking artwork by acclaimed Danish artist Claus Castenskiold.
Formed around songwriters Justin Kelly and David Meagher, Sons of Southern Ulster released their debut album ‘Foundry Folk Songs’ in 2016. Many of their songs reflect the experience of growing up in a small southern border town (Bailieborough, County Cavan, Ireland) long before the internet and the country’s “Celtic Tiger” rapid growth period. They explore themes of regret and disappointment, interspersed with moments of light and insight.
Pete Briquette is an Irish bassist, record producer and composer. A member of The Boomtown Rats, he has also played in Bob Geldof‘s band. Things have come first circle, so to speak, with Pete originally from Ballyjamesduff in County Cavan and the Sons from such a nearby community.
“In Sons of Southern Ulster, we took a very conscious decision to sing songs about Cavan as it was always a bit underserved, not just in music but in infrastructure and resources. In many ways, the Irish government ignored us and left us to our own devices – for better or worse. I think Pete picked up on that,” says David Meagher.
As of August 27, the ‘Turf Accountant Schemes’ EP will be available across online platforms, including Apple Music andSpotify, as well as on vinyl. It can be ordered via Bandcampat https://sonsofsouthernulster.bandcamp.com/album/turf-accountant-schemes-ep
TRACK LIST
1. Polaris (Pete Briquette Remix)
2. Live In The Past (Pete Briquette Remix)
3. Stubby Yellow Fingers (Pete Briquette Remix)
4. Fear My Scorn (Pete Briquette Remix)
CREDITS
Written by Justin Kelly and David Meagher
Remix by Pete Briquette
Produced by Daragh Dukes of Dukes Productions, Limerick
Engineered / mixed by David Minehan at Wooly Mammoth, Daragh Dukes, The Slimmer Twins at Bog Road Studio
Mastered by Richard Dowling at WavMastering, Limerick
Justin Kelly – vocals
David Meagher – guitars
Paddy Glackin – bass
Noel Larkin – drums
Cover artwork by Claus Castenskiold
Video production by Nicky Fennell
All photos taken by P. Merchant
