Kill Krinkle Club, Dublin’s “child-Japanese-electro-pop-with-Russian influences” act (their words not ours) has a back-story fit for idols. The two-piece consist of Swede Elina and Dubliner Justin, who share swirling co-ed vocals. They met in a Dublin bar after Justin got a night off work by winning a coin toss. ‘Krinkle’, according to the band, is…

Having managed a mere 2 EPs prior to Fields… in their five year life span, Junip – yet to make much of a name for themselves – have had to get used to the focus remaining firmly on front man José González. The mellow songwriter and vocalist, in truth, seems to use the band as

Weighed down by histrionics. Vocally tense. A little arty and a little indie, in the ‘lazy description for offbeat soft rock’ sense, and enigmatic to the point of pompous. Paul Smith as a member of Maximo Park was nothing if not divisive. He never could quite shake that slightly portentous air that came with reading…

Hither Tither…’s been a long time coming. Originally scheduled for release back in October 2009, O Emperor decided to hold off and go for the major label jackpot. A year and a hard-won deal at Universal later, the album’s been partially re-recorded, and the Waterford four-piece has taken the very vaguest hint of a

Scottish starlets The View – due to play Arthur’s Day this coming Thursday – cemented themselves in the consciousness of indie-rock fans with 2007’s debut Hats Off to the Buskers…, a record that spawned hits like the infectious ‘Same Jeans’ and ‘Wasted Little DJs’ before the bulk of the group had edged out of

Nine months after announcing The Killers hiatus – and having joined the legions of frontmen heading their own way – Brandon Flowers has emerged from the studio with Flamingo…, a record that will be more than a touch familiar to fans of his old band. Opening with an ode to his hometown, ‘Welcome To

When State took our first trip down to Blessington Lakes for Knockanstockan earlier this summer, it was the quirky, laid-back atmosphere and sheer variety of less-than-famous music on offer that impressed the most. Like the festival, this album passes up on some of the biggest names in the local scene (you won’t find anything by…

Two Door Cinema Club
Ah, to be local heroes. Sure, they might come from a small corner of Northern Ireland, but the homecoming Kings is exactly what Two Door Cinema Club feel like today, wheeling out their brand of infectious, playful pop-rock in the midst of an Electric Arena love in. From opener ‘Cigarettes In…

And So I Watch You From Afar
Early afternoon and lyric-less noise oiks And So I Watch You From Afar are not a natural combination. In fact, giving Belfast’s most boisterous band a slot that early is an affront to our hangovers (and no doubt theirs, too), but the four-piece attack the stage with every…

Cloud Castle Lake
Cloud Castle Lake are the first of the Irish draws on the Friday. The Dubliners produced a spacey performance that welcomed the Crawdaddy Stage effectively to the sheer range of music on offer at Electric Picnic. Their live show is all about atmospherics, a laid back, mellow-electronic vibe accompanied by the occasional…

“We love Jedward,” Blink 182 announce to a chorus of boos, “you would too if you’d ever had them sit on your face and slowly spread their ass cheeks…” Clearly, after all these years, if there’s one thing you can still expect from Blink 182, it’s downright immaturity. They might have taken a slight right turn…

Zero 7’s fortunes have changed dramatically in the past few months. When State caught up with beatsmith Sam Hardaker after the release of 2009’s Yeah Ghost…, there was a sense of pride in the new record, a resounding ‘life after Sia’ optimism dampened only by the conviction that the new album lacked much of

In late summer 2002, State watched an emotional and triumphant Feeder emerge from the devastating ashes of the suicide of drummer John Lee, taking Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms by storm in what still stands as one of the most moving and epic nights of music we’ve ever experienced. Performing to no more than 500 people, the…

As one of the bands at the heart of one of Dublin’s most impressive new alternative labels, Popical Island, Groom’s third album (and Popical’s fifth) is probably their best chance yet to invade the mainstream with their offbeat, poetic take on life. Marriage… is a vocally focused piece of guitar pop, lyrically witty and splattered