Here is the wondeful video for Valerie Francis' new single Punches

Valerie Francis - Punches from Eoghan Kidney on Vimeo.

31 year old professional skydiver James Boole this week survived a 6000ft skydive without a parachute. It happened during a filming session in a remote area of Russia. Our Wall of Sound today is based around this amazing tale of survival!

Big Audio Dynamite – E=MC2

Fans of The Clash would have had some consolation in 1984 when their ex-singer and guitarist Mick Jones formed a new band called Big Audio Dynamite, or BAD. After the punk era, Big Audio Dynamite channelled a more dance, funk and hip hop sound and were together for 15 years. David Sheehan has recommended a track by the band.

David says, “I’m a bit too young to remember this Big Audio Dynamite song when it was originally out in 1986, but E=MC2 is my download suggestion. The song was inspired by the films of Nicholas Roeg and all the lyrics relate to scenes from the various movies. It’s really catchy and still sounds great today.” On a trivia note – the movie lines you hear in the song are all from the 1970 film Performance….check out the video below!

O Emperor – Po

It’s nice to see new Irish talent constantly emerging and Waterford based band O Emperor are set to release their wares into the world. Being a young band hasn’t affected their confidence and O Emperor have written, arranged and self-produced a brilliant debut single worthy of a daily download nomination.

Hot Press have described O Emperor as ‘sounding a little like the Beach Boys, The Band, and the Smiths being digested by a cannibalistic Lee Mavers from The La’s’. Their debut single will be released on iTunes on 9^th October, and if it’s anything to go by, the debut album should be promising. It’s simply called Po. Check out the lads below performing it live...

Susie Soho – Spinning Top
Despite the recession causing many things to grind to a halt, one thing that hasn’t been affected is the steady release of new Irish music. Indie 4-piece Susie Soho is centred on the songs of singer / songwriter Tony Fitzpatrick, who was once Damien Rice’s guitarist among other things. Their debut single is being released today.

Susie Soho describe themselves as ‘the kind of band you’d get if Gemma Hayes and Dave Grohl had some kind of musical lovechild.’ They played a set at Oxegen this year and will be performing in the Odessa Club in Dublin on 13th November. Released today, the single Spinning Top is from their debut album Where All the Ladders Start. Check out the video directed by Niall Campion below...

 

Here is the official video for Wallis Bird's single To My Bones...watch it and smile :)

Shinedown – Second Chance

Our download today is from one of America’s most successful rock bands of the last few years. Shinedown are only together since 2001, but they’ve already sold over 6 million albums worldwide and all of their singles have reached the top 5 in the Mainstream Rock Charts in America. Their latest single is now set to be released here in Ireland.

 

Shinedown will probably please those who are already fans of Nickelback, or even the Foo Fighters. The album is called the Sound of Madness and is out on 26^th June but with their new single, they’ve got that radio friendly rock sound down, and it will be available here this Friday. It’s called Second Chance. Check out the video below

Enya is set to appear on the Late Late Show tomorrow night performing her new single My!My!Time Flies....TV appearances are rare for Enya, so this may be a treat. Another surprise is the song itself - a little bit more pop orientated than her usual airy-faery stuff, and the video is actually quite good! Check it out below...

Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal

Originally going by the name Pineapple, Seattle band Fleet Foxes have gained cult status at home and abroad in a short space of time. Growing up listening to Bob Dylan, Neil Young and The Beach Boys, the band grew their fanbase through the likes of myspace and eventually signed a record deal only last year. Now Fleet Foxes are a hot favourite to go and see at this year’s Electric Picnic.

Since they released their self titled album last summer, the record has been receiving 4 and 5 star reviews, with The Guardian newspaper declaring it "a landmark in American music, an instant classic." Complete with Simon & Garfunkel-like harmonies, the first single from the album, White Winter Hymnal, is a beautiful song that is finally getting a release here. Check out the video below…

Florence and the Machine – Rabbit Heart

There’s been a lot of hype since the start of the year about Florence and the Machine. The band is fronted by singer Florence Welch and is described as soul-inspired indie rock. She’s been touted by the BBC as one to watch this year and we here should do the same – Florence’s mother is Irish author Evelyn Welch and she’s the granddaughter of former Irish Times deputy editor Colin Welch.

Florence and the Machine have all the music critics at their feet – they just played Glastonbury and won The Critic’s Choice Award at this year’s Brit Awards. John McDonagh has recommended one of her songs – Rabbit Heart – as a download today, from the new album Lungs, which is out this Friday!Check out the vid below...

Shola Ama – You Might Need Somebody

There’s been many a one-hit-wonder where someone releases one of the biggest singles of the year or the decade and then they never see that success again. English soul singer Shola Ama signed a record deal when she was just 16 and her second single became her biggest selling hit and one of the biggest singles of 1997. Joan Bell from Wicklow has recommended this Shola Ama hit.

 Joan says, “I know this will be a blast from the past but one of my fave songs from the ‘90s is Shola Ama’s You Might Need Somebody. It was one of those songs that we’d have on cassette singing on front of the mirror with the hairbrush!” You Might Need Somebody was a Turley Richards cover and the video for the song, if you remember, was like an advertisement for a chic penthouse apartment! (check it out below!)

The Eels – That Look You Give That Guy

Formed by singer/songwriter Mark Oliver Everett, American rock band The Eels have managed to gather a cult fan base for over a decade now. Fronted by Mark, otherwise better known as Mr. E, the band’s music has been featured in many a movie and they’re about to release their 7^th studio album. Our very own Ian Dempsey has recommend today’s download.

Ian is a fan of one of the Eels’ new tracks as he says it suits the summer weather perfectly! Hombre Lobo: 12 Songs of Desire is the new album from The Eels. Hombre Lobo is the Spanish for ‘Werewolf’ and apparently the album was inspired by E’s facial hair…the download today, however, recommend by Ian Dempsey, is That Look You Give That Guy. Check out the video below..

The good news is that due to our love for the song Show Me What I'm Looking   For by Carolina Liar, Warner Music have brought forward the download release to next Wednesday, 8th April! For Ireland only! You can also check out the video for the song HERE

Al Green – Let’s Stay Together

 A legend amongst men, singer Al Green has blazed a trail through the gospel, RnB and soul scene for 4 decades now. Album after album, Grammy after Grammy, the Reverend has remained true to his roots and Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him number 65 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of all Time. Martin Owens from Cork has asked for one of his best loved hits.

Martin says, “I hope my download suggestion makes it onto your list as although it’s a well known song, it’s just pure class. Let’s Stay Together by Al Green is one of those songs that I never tire of hearing and 4 weeks ago it was the first song at my wedding to my beautiful wife Arlene. It’s a definite classic and a perfect song for anyone’s playlist.” Couldn’t put it better myself…from 1972, Let’s Stay Together was a number one hit for the Reverend Green…here's the original music video for the song!

If you haven't seen this ad already on TV, check it out!! You know you make me wanna...

Friendly Fires – Kiss of Life

A band we featured on the daily download late last year was English pop-rockers Friendly Fires. They had released their album, which then went on to be nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and the song Paris was a favourite on this show. Listener Emmett in Galway has recommended a song from the deluxe edition of the Friendly Fires album.

Emmett says, “I’d like to make my suggestion for the daily download. It’s something funky and easy on the ear and I’ll guarantee you’ll love it. It’s called Kiss of Life by Friendly Fires.” Kiss of Life was available as a single this summer due to the re-release of the band’s debut album and it has a great video shot in Ibiza that you can watch below...

Stereophonics – Innocent
What made the Stereophonics so popular over the last decade or so? The combination of catchy rock songs and Kelly Jones’ whiskey tinged vocals was the basis for the Welsh band’s success since the early 1990s. Albums like Performance and Cocktails, Just Enough Education to Perform and Language, Sex, Violence, Other were chart hits and now Kelly and Co are set to release their seventh studio album.

There’s exactly 2 years between every Stereophonics album, from Word Gets Around right up to Pull the Pin 2 years ago. Keep Calm and Carry On is the title of Stereophonics new album. It’ll be out in November but ahead of that is their new single, which will be available to buy and download from 6th November. It’s called Innocent…check out the HD video below...

 

Bill Coleman – Welcome to the Breakdown
From Cobh in County Cork, we first heard from singer Bill Coleman 2 years ago when he released his debut album I’ll Tear My Own Walls Downs. Since then, Bill has been gigging and writing relentlessly and his critics and fans will be delighted to know that he has new material to release. A fan of his, Orla Kerbey, has recommended his brand new single.

Orla says, “I just thought I would nominate Bill Coleman’s new song for the Daily Download. Welcome to the Breakdown, along with its nifty video, arrived in my inbox the other day and it’s definitely a tap-your-feet-along-with-the-beat kind of song.” Indeed it is, and if you check out the video below, you’ll see it’s a cartoon of Brian Cowen desperately trying to save the economy after someone kidnaps the Celtic Tiger…

 

Nerina Pallot – Real Late Starter
Born to a French father and an Indian mother and raised on the island of Jersey, singer songwriter Nerina Pallot has used her gorgeous voice, piano playing and songwriting talents to become a Platinum selling, Brit Award and Ivor Novello nominated artist. This month sees the release of her third album and a busy time ahead for Nerina.

Nerina Pallot has a very strong work ethic – she re-mortgaged her house to finance her last album, as well as setting up her own record label. She has written and produced every song on her new album The Graduate and is currently writing and producing tracks for Kylie’s new album! Out this Friday, the first single from The Graduate is the catchy Real Late Starter. Check out the very strange video below...

30H!3 – Don’t Trust Me

Out of Boulder, Colorado, electronic group 3OH!3 (pronounced three-o-three) are hitting the big time across the rest of the United States. Named after their local area code, this band had a flop with their debut album in 2007, but their second album, Want, has slowly been creeping up the charts in America and our download today went to the top 10 earlier this year.

Essentially a pair of school friends who bonded over electronic music, 3OH!3 are very much going for the sound of the moment – punchy beats, catchy melodies and Iglu & Hartly-style vocals. Their album Starstruck will be released here on 4^th September, but the lead off single Don’t Trust Me looks set to be a grow-er. Check out the video below!