This four piece instrumental juggernaut from Belfast flying the flag for the Northern Irish music scene and setting the standard for the Do It Yourself (and for others) ethos. Their debut EP albeit lo-fi and limited to 500 copies received great critical acclaim.

ASIWYFA won accolades such as four K's in Kerrang!, 10/10 from Radio One, Band Of The Year from ATL, in the Top Ten Northern Irish Songs of our lifetime from Alternative Ulster, glowing reviews in the NME and Top 50 Albums of 08 and Ones To Watch 09 in Rock Sound. They incorporate influences from Hip Hop, Calypso, Irish Folk, Ethiopian Jazz, and Rune Metal. Their debut self-titled album is out now.

www.myspace.com/andsoiwatchyoufromafar

Neosupervital makes Neosuperpop for dancing and other related activities. The four-piece electro-pop band from Dublin have been described as Ireland's answer to Hot Chip or LCD Soundsystem.

Mid-2007 Neosupervital's debut album was released throughout Europe on French distribution label Le Maquis and in December 2007 the band was selected as part of the NYU Tisch/Hot Press music video program and released 'Alternative Day' directed by Alex Hilhorst. More exciting madness should emerge soon.

www.Neosupervital.com

Thomas Wesley Pentz a.k.a Diplo, is a Philadelphia-based DJ, producer and songwriter who, together with DJ Low Budget, runs Hollertronix, a club and music collective. Pentz's alias, short for Diplodocus, derives from his childhood fascination with dinosaurs.

Recorded by Radio France Le Mouv  at Transmusicales, Rennes, December 7, 2008  for the Eurosonic Partnership of the EBU

www.myspace.com/diplo

www.Eurosonic.net

Adebisi Shank are an instrumental rock band based in Wexford, Ireland, taking their cue from acts such as Battles, Oxes and Lite. Their debut LP 'This is the album of a band called Adebisi Shank' was recorded at the famous Magpie Cage Studios in Baltimore, MD and mastered at Inner Ear studios by Aloha guitarist, TJ Lipple.

Their music has been featured in two films: 'Danger High Voltage!' which has just won the Galway Film Fleadh, and also in 'Roll up your sleeves:The DIY counterculture'. Adebisi are touring UK & Ireland this month, then they're off to Japan in July.

www.myspace.com/adebisishank

Originally from Kildare and Meath this three piece consist of Conor Wilkins on vocals/guitar, Donal Fleming on drums and Kevin Brew on bass have been together since summer 2008.  Following a string of successful gigs around the country and with the help of free cds available at every show the band now have a wide band of eager fans. I Phoenix are currently writing, rehearsing, recording and perfecting a catalogue of tracks with the aim of a big release by the end of the year.

Live shows so far have drawn comparisons from bands as artful as The Cure to others as punchy as Biffy Clyro and Interpol. Three guys and a Roland SPD-S; I Phoenix make a big impression with their signature sound. A mix of melodic vocals, big rock riffs, killer synth sounds, backed by hard hitting drums and a steady bass beat. ((Guitar + Drums)/Bass)*Vocals = Music........................all you need is a calculator.

www.myspace.com/iphoenixmusic

Animal collective hail  from Baltimore, Maryland, and are a musical collective consisting of Avey Tare (David Portner), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), Deakin, or Deacon as spelled on Strawberry Jam (Josh Dibb), and Geologist (Brian Weitz).

Records released under the name Animal Collective may include contributions from any or all of these members; the lineup is not uniform. Although the band is often classified as freak folk or noise pop, it is hard to define the Animal Collective sound as they often experiment with diverse styles and ideas from album to album.

In early 2008, the collective entered the studio to record tracks for their eighth studio album. The album, entitled Merriweather Post Pavilion, was officially released in January  2009 to massive critical acclaim.

Recorded by Czech Radio (CR) at the Archa Theatre, Prague, on October 14, 2008 for the Eurosonic Partnership of the EBU

www.Eurosonic.net
www.myanimalhome.net

Analogue Mindfield are Snapper J and Gizzy D and Kitty B with contributions from a host of other musicians and vocalists.Work on their third studio album "Visions in Sonic Sense" has been completed and the record was released on Malicious Damage in November 2008. 

For this album the band returned to their roots enlisting the vocal talents of M.C Ishu (Step 13, Manasseh Soundsystem) who also contributed vocals to their debut album 'Digital Brainwave'.  Other guests featuring on the album include Suspira (Trancient Dreams), M.C Jaz (DJ Reeza, Scribble Orchestra) and Dr Das (Asian Dub Foundation) who returns on bass duties for two tracks. 

The album contains 17 tracks and in usual Analogue Mindfield style encompasses genres from dub to drum and bass and from trip hop to reggae...with a few others thrown in for good measure!

www.analoguemindfield.com

It's back by popular demand (I hate using that expression, but it happens to be true in this case!)

Dan will have an hour of Metal (with a few deviations) for your listening discomfort between 1am and 2am (technically Wednesday morning, but stay up late enough on Tuesday night, and you're almost there).

Suggestions/requests are welcome - Email Dan at dan@rte.ie, or get in touch through the Shoutbox on the Homepage.

On her debut album 'Slow Dynamo', Valerie Francis has managed to cross-stitch a work using old synths, harmoniums, bells, horns and drums. Produced collaboratively with Jimmy Eadie (Jape, David Kitt), Francis' album is one of delicate intricacy and an artist's attention to detail.

In case you hadn't noticed it, Valerie Francis' debut album is a masterful example of how keeping your voice down makes everybody want to listen to what you're saying. Slow Dynamo may indeed be a slow-burner, but it's one hell of a bonfire when the spark catches.

www.myspace.com/valeriefrancis

Calexico is a band from Tucson, Arizona comprised of two core members, Joey Burns and John Convertino, from the town of Calexico. Over time, Calexico has featured a revolving cast of musicians and instruments, with a core group that solidified around 'Feast of Wire', (Volker Zander, Martin Wenk, Jacob Valenuela and Paul Niehaus) The band's sonic growth can be traced through its varied releases.

Two years after "Garden Ruin", Calexico has returned and is offering up "Carried To Dust", the new full-length record due September 9, 2008. Along with extending the collaborative bridges with other artists, "Carried To Dust" also reflects Calexico's amazing live shows, as well as underscoring the band's restraint and beauty. A remarkably well-rounded album, "Carried To Dust" showcases every aspect of Calexico's exceptional talents.

Recorded by RAI at Colosseo Theatre, Torino (Turin) on  24 January 2009 for the Eurosonic Partnership of the EBU

www.eurosonic.net
www.myspace.com/casadecalexico

Just back from recording in Berlin, Dan talks to the Dubliners and hears them bash out a live set of new tunes. The controversial 4-piece released a new single 'Bass Balls' on last Friday on their own Kick In The Eye Records, and the band will also be returning to their homeland for a whistlestop tour to celebrate their first release for three years.

www.myspace.com/humanzi

They make Mogwai sound like McFly (well, not quite), but what we're trying to say is - And So I Watch You From Afar are excellent! The lads will be chatting to Dan on the show tonight. They released their debut eponymous album last month, and have just finished an Irish and UK tour.

http://www.myspace.com/andsoiwatchyoufromafar

Margaret Healy, Dublin singer-songwriter, released her second album 'Girls, Boys & Clockwork Toys' in April 2009. The ten-track album produced by Healy was recorded over three years (2005-2008) in a variety of locations with a number of well-known producer/engineers and is an all-together more orchestral affair than
her 2001 'folktronica' debut album 'And You Are...?' Dan presents us with a semi acoustic session from Margaret for your listening pleasure.

www.myspace.com/margarethealy

School of Language is currently the most pressing musical concern of Field Music's David Brewis. The first School of Language album 'Sea From Shore' was released in February 2008 via Memphis Industries in Ireland.

Recorded by 2fm on the Cosby Stage at Electric Picnic on 31st August 2008.

http://www.myspace.com/schooloflanguage