{"id":10085,"date":"2024-01-24T06:55:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T06:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?p=10085"},"modified":"2024-02-05T22:37:34","modified_gmt":"2024-02-05T22:37:34","slug":"newdad-fly-the-flag-for-modern-wave-of-shoegaze-and-dreampop-with-debut-album-madra","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ipamusic.co.uk\/?p=10085","title":{"rendered":"NewDad fly the flag for modern wave of shoegaze and dreampop with debut album Madra"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ALBUM REVIEW: NewDad – Madra (Fair Youth\/Atlantic Records)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Ireland is producing a slew of fine guitar bands at the moment, and although they’re not exactly newcomers, you can add NewDad<\/strong> to that list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Formed in Galway in 2018 while three of the four original members were still at school, they have a nostalgic sound which harks all the way back to ’90s shoegaze and dreampop outfits like The Sundays and Lush.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s a tougher underlying edge to some of their songs too, bringing to mind illustrious forebears such as Pixies and The Breeders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a string of digital singles and two sold-out EPs (2021’s Waves <\/em>and 2022’s Banshee<\/em>), Madra <\/em>– which means dog in Irish – is their debut album, consisting of 11 new tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"NewDad.
NewDad photographed by Zyanya Lorenzo.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

It’s been something of a slow burner of a release, with In My Head<\/em> shared as the first taste of the album way back in May 2023. Four more singles have followed, culminating in the other-wordly White Ribbons<\/em> just prior to the album’s release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ethereal-voiced vocalist Julie Dawson, who also plays rhythm guitar, is the focal point, ably aided and abetted by Sean O\u2019Dowd (guitar), Cara Joshi (bass) and Fiachra Parslow (drums).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grunge-fuelled<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Brooding single Angel<\/em>, which opens proceedings, is a grunge-fuelled track with a hypnotic bassline, and it’s all about destructive relationships – a theme which appears more than once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of the songs are about dysfunction, depression and reflection, and you’d be right to think Madra <\/em>isn’t an uplifting listen. But it will slowly seep into your soul, and perhaps even provide some comfort in the fact you’re not alone with your own vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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