Neosupervital
The third single from @neosupervitalmusic 's new album out now, Album due later this year.
Neosupervital, aka Dublin multi-instrumentalist and producer Tim O’Donovan, makes wonky electronic pop for the head and for the feet. He’s released 2 albums thus far, the eponymous Neosupervital (2006), and Battery Power (2010). After a bit of a break he’s releasing his 3rd in early 2026. It’s called Transporter and contains the singles Factory Presets, I.S.T.H.I.S.L.O.V.E., and the brand new double A-side single HAZY AFTERNOON / SIT IN THE SUNSHINE (WITH YOU).
HAZY AFTERNOON, a live favourite, is about chilling in the back garden with a mid-strength beer, trying to be a productive member of society but being distracted by the beautiful minutiae of the world, all set to a head-nodding synth funk groove.
SIT IN THE SUNSHINE (WITH YOU) is a woozy, dreamy, synthy almost-instrumental, the vocal refrain only appearing after the halfway mark, with shades of BOC, Air and Jan Hammer. One for horizontal listening in the back garden, preferably on a hammock, also with a mid-strength beer.
Both tunes are perfect additions to any sun-drenched Summertime playlist ☀️😎
In the past year Neosupervital has opened for acts such as Catching Flies, Stewart Copeland, Houseplants, Kazy Lambist and George Clanton. Previously he’s supported Money Mark (Beastie Boys), Thomas Dolby, Divine Comedy, ABC, St. Germain, Peter Bjorn and John, Hercules and Love Affair, Jaga Jazzist, Bob Log III, Moldy Peaches and has toured the UK and Europe as special guest of The Human League.
Fun fact: Tim is also drummer for Irish band BellX1 and a voice actor for ads and cartoons. Having just finished a co-headline tour of West Cork followed by Night + Day Festival, he’ll be playing Stendhal, Electric Picnic and Vantastival festivals throughout the Summer.
Edgar Winter Group - Frankenstein
First heard this epic tune on one of my uncle's 70's Hits compilation albums. It's got a filthy riff, synth solo, drum solo, acid breakdown, timbales, the lot. Sure what more could you want. Blew me away then, still does it for me now. Also, my funeral song. Fire my ashes off a mountain with this blasting please.
Pond - Sweep Me Off My Feet
Produced by Kevin Parker (you can just tell by the drum sound), this is so swooningly epic, with its stacked harmonies, filthy synth bass, ace fuzz solo. Plus Nick Allbrook is a top frontman. It always puzzles me how they're not bigger. Check out Gum too, Jay Watson's own Tame Impala / Pond offshoot. Talented bunch.
Booker Newberry III - Love Town
I defy you not to listen to this and not feel like everything's alright with the world, even if it's just for those five minutes twelve seconds. Now that I listen to the lyrics more closely however, it seems like Mr Newberry might be visiting a red-light district. But that synth solo! That funky synth bass! Sure look. Everyone's having a lovely time of it in Love Town.
Faith No More - Midlife Crisis
One of my favourite bands. I always come back to them. I taught myself to drum listening to Angel Dust, The Real Thing, King For A Day. Mike Bordin's tribal open-handed drumming was mesmerizing to me. I had the pleasure of meeting him backstage at the Olympia once. Such a gent. I love how the rhythm track is based on a sample from Simon and Garfunkel's 'Cecelia', while at the same time the song is crushingly heavy, yet also melodic with a great lurching groove, plus synth, which always made them stand out. I also discovered other bands through FNM's eclectic and always on-point covers, such as The Commodores, The Bee Gees and Black Sabbath. And I haven't even touched on Mike Patton's vocal abilities.
Boards Of Canada - Dayvan Cowboy
Could've picked anything by BOC, but this is the first time I noticed them using fuzzed out guitar, which they use so beautifully. Also love the heavy delay on the drums. It's achingly epic, aided by the hypnotic skydiving video. Their music is beamed in from another place. Often imitated, never equalled.
M/A/R/R/S/ - Pump Up The Volume
When I first heard this I couldn't figure out what the hell it was. It wasn't the pop music that I was used to but I loved it. The space footage of the video further intrigued me. It was the start of faceless, electronic music for me. I also loved discovering the samples they used (which they never cleared apparently, hence never making another tune, as far as I know). That breakdown in the middle is sooooooo good.
The Kinks - Autumn Almanac
My favourite ever opening line: "From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar". While I still love their bigger tunes like Lola, I'll always have a soft spot for this. I just love Ray Davies' observations of the minutiae of life. Also love the sad colliery brass when he sings "this is my street, and I'm never gonna leave it..." A song painting.
DJ Fresh ft. Ms. Dynamite - Gold Dust
My go-to run-to-the-dancefloor tune. I'm a sweaty mess at the end of it. The double dutch video really brought an already brilliant tune to another level. Pure joy. Also love the distant train horn he stuck in at the very end, not to mention Ms. Dynamite's ace vocals. Check out the BBC Live Lounge acoustic version.
Nikolai - Ready To Flow
This brings me back to tentatively buying my first dance records in long-gone Abbey Discs on Abbey Street, Dublin. I knew I loved dance music, but I also craved melody, and this jumped out at me when I tested it on the shop turntable. Love the popcorn synth melody, and the phasey synths pads. Always phase your synth pads.
Beastie Boys - Root Down (Free Zone Remix)
I had Ill Communication on cassette, loved the original, but fell in love with this remix when I heard it. The drums are so punchy, love the chord sequence, I always wondered why my drums never had the same whack. Their producer Mario Caldato could do no wrong.