We’re in for good music from anywhere, just as much as anyone. But lately, we couldn’t help but notice a flurry of really good bands coming out of Ireland and today we introduce you to the latest of these to catch our attention – meet Keeley, a band rising quickly from the Irish underground to the ears of millions across the Emerald Isle and now beyond thanks to the power of the net. This music can easily be described as dreamy and psychedelic, at times high energy and at times melancholic, but always pensive, always with a mission.
This week London label Dimple Discs announced that Keeley has signed on to its growing roster, which boasts Cathal Coughlan (The Fatima Mansions, Microdisney).The Undertones, Cathal Coughlan, Kev Hopper, Eileen Gogan, Dragon Welding, Nick Haeffner and Baby Shakes with forthcoming archive material from Microdisney and Fatima Mansions. Founded in 2018 by Damian O’Neill of The Undertones and Brian O’Neill, initially as a vehicle for Damian’s solo projects. It has now seriously blossomed.
“We are thrilled to have Keeley joining us as she is an exciting new talent – we were hooked from the opening bars of ‘The Glitter And The Glue’. Welcome to the family Keeley!” says Brian O’Neill.
Combining elements of Tamaryn, Lush, Ride, Medicine, Slowdive and Men I Trust, her debut ‘Brave Warrior’ EP will be on offer digitally as of June 18 with a physical release planned for autumn with a long-player scheduled for 2022. Already now lead track ‘Glitter and The Glue’ is being offered for immediate download with any order of the new EP via Bandcamp, which can be found easily enough at https://keeleysound.bandcamp.com/album/brave-warrior-ep
Hailing from Dublin and fronted by vocalist and guitarist Keeley, the band includes Marty Canavan on keyboards, Martin Fagan on bass and Pete Duff on drums. This four-track collection was produced and engineered by Alan Maguire, who mixed it together with Keeley, and mastered by Anthony Chapman (Franz Ferdinand, DEVO, Cathal Coughlan, Jesus Jones, Wolfhounds).
Right off the mark, ‘The Glitter and the Glue’ is a blistering buffet of psychedelic rock, post-punk and the fuzzier, more frantic end of the dreampop spectrum. The shortest, fastest and most ecstatic explosion of energy released by Keeley to date, this is a hook-laden, melodic monster of a song with very unusual lyrical content. It is already receiving Irish airplay from Newstalk FM, Radio Nova, 98FM and has now been added to the playlists of Dublin City FM, KCLR 96FM and 8Radio.
The ‘Brave Warrior’ EP demonstrates the multi-faceted songwriting smarts of one of Ireland’s most talked-about emerging bands, ranging from this upbeat lead track to more spacey, darkly-dreamy electronic offerings, drenched in drama and soaked in sadness. Keeley pursues an unusual conceptual thread, conceived several years ago, focusing on German tourist Inga Maria Hauser, whose murder in Northern Ireland in 1988 remains unsolved.
For the past five years, the band’s frontwoman and songwriter Keeley has been publishing a blog with a devoted global following – ‘The Keeley Chronicles’ – documenting the many facets of this unique, harrowing and mystifying case, correcting the falsely published details of Inga’s life and piecing together what really happened in the final days on her trip. By working in close quarters with Northern Irish police, senior politicians and Inga’s legal representatives in Northern Ireland in concerted efforts to advance and resolve this notorious case, she is keeping the memory of this beautiful and mysterious soul alive.
“Inga is the subject of everything I write. From the moment I first read about her exactly five years ago now, her cause became a burning obsession for me. Since that day I haven’t written a song about anyone or anything else… I consider myself a concept artist and my purpose is to give Inga a voice,” says Keeley.
In October 2020, Keeley released the debut single ‘Last Words’, topping Newstalk FM’s airplay chart, getting playlisted by RTE Radio 1 and 8Radio, and attracting support from radio in multiple countries. Picked by legendary broadcaster Tom Dunne as one of his ‘Top Tracks of 2020’, it was listed at #12 in Radio Nova’s ’Top 15 Irish Songs of 2020’ and, upon its release, she became the subject of full-page articles in the Belfast Telegraph and Derry Post newspapers, a frankly unheard-of feat for an indie artist on their debut single.
Looking towards her debut album, Keeley is already recording new works at Darklands Audio in Dublin, where Fontaines D.C. recorded their first album.
TRACK LIST
1. The Glitter and the Glue (2:30)
2. Last Words (3.10)
3. Never Here Always There (2.30)
4. You Never Made It That Far (3.30)
CREDITS
Keeley – Vocals & Guitars
Alan Maguire – Keyboards & Programming
All songs written by Keeley, except ‘You Never Made It That Far’ by Keeley/Kiang
All songs published by Copyright Control
Recorded, produced & engineered by Alan Maguire in Portobello, Dublin
Mixed by Alan Maguire & Keeley
Mastering by Anthony Chapman, London
Front & rear cover artwork by Maaike van Liempt
All photography & inner sleeve artwork by Keeley
Keeley logo – Design: Gav Icon Hodgins. Idea: Keeley
Layout by Bruce Brand at Arthole, London
This record is dedicated to the memory of Inga Maria Hauser – the bravest warrior (1969-1988)
Keep up with Keeley
Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify
Keep up with Dimple Discs
Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Discogs | Proper Music
