We are six months into the year, so time for a half-time report on the records that rocked my world in the year of our Lord 2005.

The Secret Migration ‘Mercury Rev’
Taking inspiration from their surroundings in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York, Mercury Rev have produced another superb collection of songs in The Secret Migration.

Jonathan Donahue possesses a singular unique voice, high pitched, almost ethereal in tone. He uses it to great effect to articulate on the greatest love of his life: nature. Couched in the language of lovers, almost every song is an ode to the subtleties and serenity of the natural environment.

Following on from 2001’s All is Dream, Mercury Rev are producing some of the best music to come out of America at the moment.

TSM will hopefully win them an army of new admirers.

Guero ‘Beck’
Beck is back. After the introspection of 2002’s Sea Change, Mr. Hansen has put his dancing shoes on again with Guero, an hour long odyssey of fast, funky cuts from the man with no musical boundaries.

Closer to the spirit of Midnight Vultures and Odelay, Guero finds Beck mix and matching music genres and rapping away like a spontaneous street preacher.

Re-united with his old sparring partners, the Dust Brothers, who co-wrote all the music on Guero- Beck has produced his most satisfying and joyous album in years. The opening track and single E-Pro sets the pace. There’s enough hooks, licks, samples and surprises thereafter to keep Beck devotes happy for many a day.

Hal ‘Hal’
If we are going to have a great summer in Dublin this year, let this self-titled album from Dalkey quartet, Hal be the soundtrack.

Gorgeous hooks and harmonies abound and you can almost hear the sunshine in singer Dave O Brien’s voice. If you are looking for reference points, the West coast of America in the late sixties and the Beach Boys might help you, but really, that’s just a starting point. There’s enough songwriting craft on evidence here, to suggest Hal can enter the big time. Definitely, one of the finest Irish debuts albums in recent times.

Funeral ‘Arcade Fire’
Canada rocks! It’s official. From Montreal, comes one of the year’s most audacious and compelling recordings. Partly inspired– if that’s the right word– by the death of so many close family relatives, Arcade Fire christened their debut album ‘Funeral’.

I don’t know if genius and grief are intertwined, but this is one album that quickly burns right through to your brain.

An ensemble effort by the six members of Arcade Fire plus 9 other musicians, this is raw, heartfelt emotion backed by a taut, beautifully controlled sound. Never will the words ‘funeral’ and ‘dirge’ go together again.

I am a bird now ‘Antony and the Johnsons’
Make room in your record collection for a torch-singing transvestite from NYC. Some records are so out there, so extraordinary, they defy classification. This is one of them.

Over the sparest backing track, sometimes just a piano accompaniment, a large white man sings songs of love, loss, friendship and redemption. He draws you immediately with the eloquence of his delivery and power of his voice

Close your eyes and you’ll think you’re hearing a black man singing baritone. Other times, the voice is soft, feminine, almost soprano. Stick this album on late at night, pour yourself a drink and listen to the drama unfold. Never has melancholia sounded so magnificent.

MUSIC NEWS

The next few month’s promises to the best-ever summer for Irish music fans, with a feast of festivals and major acts performing once- off shows. If you haven’t got tickets for U2, don’t worry, there plenty more music to keep us all standing in fields supping cool beer all summer long. Here’s just some of the musical treats coming to a park or stadium near you.

Elton John – RDS ARENA July 2
Tickets are still available going to press from €54 to €130.

Oxegen – Punchestown July 9/10
The biggest and best value music fest of the summer with
more than 80 acts performing over 2 days on 5 stages.
Tickets are €64.50 for the day or €120 for the weekend.
www.oxegen.ie will give you the full line-up.

The Chemical Brothers – Marlay Park, Dublin August 19.

Basement Jaxx – August 20
After R.E.M and Coldplay in June, it time for the dance meisters with the Brothers on the Friday and the Jaxx the following evening. Tickets €49.50 for both.

The Pixies – (Above) Lansdowne Road August 23.
Tickets €59.50 with support from the excellent Kings of Leon.

Scissors Sisters / Frank Ferdinand – Lansdowne Road August 24.
Two gigs in 2 days for Dublin 4. What will the neighbours say?
Tickets are same price as The Pixies. Take your moma!

Electric Picnic – Stradbally Estate, Co. Laois. September 3/4
Probably the best line-up for any festival this year.
Kraftwerk, Nick Cave, The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev,
Fatboy Slim, Public Enemy and Human League are just some
of the highlights along with top class comedians on a
comedy stage. electricpicnic.ie for full details
Tickets €64 for a day or €104 for two days.

Slane – Slane Castle September 17
The original and final festival of the season.
Not confirmed yet, but expect a certain Slim Shady to
headline supported by 50 Cent. Start saving now.

Solo album from O Snodaigh
On a completely different note, fans of Kila and traditional/folk
music in general, might be interested to know that singer Ronan
O Snodaigh has released his third solo album called
The Playdays. Take a listen and if you like what you hear, you
can pick it up at kila.ie.