Blog: No Clarity

No longer blogging, clearly. Follow me on twitter.com/noclarity Ed Posted in Ed Says

An article I put together for Alternative Ulster on the Icelandic music scene is in this month's issue. Pick it up in decent newsagents in Ireland. Many thanks to all contributors; the bands Reykjavík! , FM Belfast who told me the reality of music making up there and also writer/photographer Paul Sullivan and blogger Mark Ollard for giving me the insider industry info about the scene they feel so passionately about. Posted in Ed Says

"I was wondering what was weighing my backpack down..." So, you've booked the flights and you've handed in your notice to your boss...no more shelf-stacking or filing for at least a year! The first thing you'll probably be wondering is what to take away with you in that backpack of yours round the world? Most travellers would say that a good rule of thumb is to pack your bag, then take half out and you're ready. I would say take what you need , not what you want - but people have [...]

AU mag this month release a compiled list of the top 50 Northern Irish songs of the magazine's lifetime (since 2003) as selected by local musos. The issue celebrates their 50th issue and indeed NI's recent talent with a sexy spot gold metallic ink cover with a CD featuring tracks from the top ten artists. At 100 pages thick, it's makes for a meaty read too. Anyway, here's my own top 10 list: No. Artist [...]

I produced a couple podcasts a while back for Channel 4's alternative careers site 4Talent that have just been published: First up is Phantom FM's Derek Byrne , enthusiastic host of sunday night gem, the Album Archive ...who even let me have a nosey round the studios . LISTEN TO DEREK BYRNE INTERVIEW : [ VIA 4TNI ] Next up is Declan Legge , who runs Big Space Studios in Newry (who by the way, is [...]

I don't know about you, but when I meet up with like minded individuals I come up with more ideas in ten minutes than I do in a week of sitting on my own, thinking. And often when I meet up with people that I'm not necessarily friends with, but still share a common interest such as local music (or just outstanding music), films, comics or whatever... connections are made and the ideas can start to flow. There's certainly a creative movement happening, or at least seems to want to happen, in Irish music. Some people have [...]

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Here's a new acoustic session by Sparks Fly featured on muzu.tv

Pop the kettle on will you Sloane? And bring out the chocolate digestives... Are you a disaffected corporate employee? An I.T. desk drone? Well have no fear because a weekend of watching my Top 5 list of Stick It To The Man Movies and you'll be a "fry cook on venus" in no time... 1. FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF (John Hughes, 1986) "What is so dangerous about a character like Ferris Bueller is that he gives good kids bad ideas..." [...]

Odeon Cinema Victoria Square Belfast is bringing back the classics ! I ain't got time to bleed. Anyone got time for some sweeeet films though? SEPT 22nd ALIENS OCT 6th PREDATOR OCT 20th DIE HARD NOV 3rd THE TERMINATOR NOV 17th BACK TO THE FUTURE DEC 1st PULP FICTION DEC 15th RESERVOIR DOGS Sept 22nd showing is free (first come first served) the rest [...]

This is a mashup video featuring the track 'Jean Is Planning An Escape' from the forthcoming MJEX album ; video clips taken from The Night Of The Hunter .

Oh Yeah Centre Belfast- can you see yourself here? Exciting news for entrepreneurs and new businesses from the Oh Yeah Centre , Belfast: Stuart and co. are currently taking submissions for a new experiment that would help new ideas that would aid the Northern Ireland music scene. It's called Scratch My Business and it welcomes artist managers, record companies, press officers, graphic designers, event promoters, podcasters, music publishers, booking agencies, music video producers and so on... Eight [...]

Newcomers on the scene Blackball Fighter have released a cracking video for their next atmospheric anthem Dragons Fire . The mindblowing short film Edgar has been edited by Philip Stanford and really does suit the song so well. The single, produced by Declan Legge at Big Space Studios is due for an October release.

During the summer in San Francisco, I met up with comic writer/animator Lev Yilmaz, who as it turns out...has absolutely no shame, which you can see if you watch any of his shorts . He said that one of the best ice-breakers he liked to use was asking people at parties what the most embarrassing record they owned was. (podcast forthcoming by the way) well...I've owned some stinkers in my time, but I think I can lay claim to owning the worst record of all time, stop me if you have something worse, but I fear this [...]

Nice to see a new music video popping onto the horizon from The Jane Bradfords Evening Angels Gather Here directed by Will McConnell & Michael Gibson of Bandwidth:

This morning I was down in Belfast's Titanic Quarter seeing the launch of Scally Rally Ireland. David 'Omar' Mullan and Jonny 'Sharif' Mullan's Alfa 164 pictured this morning at 7:30am... View more photos from Day One of the Irish Scally Rally. See pics of a tiger (with fur), ghostbusters, space shuttle and Polish police themed bangers! [...]

Do you remember the good old days Before the ghost town? We danced and sang, And the music played inna de boomtown Okay, I've been slacking. You caught me. This blog has seen less action in the last few months than my ironing board has since my first day at University in 2001. I've loads of great music to [...]

News of the Irish-Arabs has been published in Practical Performance Car Magazine: more info on the Scally Rally my two brothers are taking part in. Click the pic to see the story: To donate, please click to http://www.justgiving.com/thei risharabs and let's hope this one doesn't go on fire! All proceeds go to Marie Curie cancer care. [...]

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Forget The Dark Knight: I would watch this movie... Impressions by John Fitzsimons.