Back in August last year, Ireland’s Virgins burst into our consciousness with their epic debut single ‘Vows’. It was an instant hit with me, the perfect blend of dreamy rock and head-on gaze. The band is formed around the main man Michael Smyth with David Sloan on guitar, James Foy on drums, Rebecca Dow on vocals and Brendy McCann of Hand Models on bass. Since the release of ‘Vows’, the band have toured all over Ireland spreading the word. Now they’re back with the release of the debut EP Transmit A Little Heaven.
I asked Smyth who Virgins musical influences are. “So, my main influences would be Slow Crush, Nothing and Whirr. That kinda new wave of shoegaze, I still love the classics like MBV and Cocteau twins and Slowdive but I really gravitate towards that grungy mix of heavy and floaty.”
The EP kicks off with their last single ‘Signalling’. The track comes in slow and steady with atmospheric vocals and guitar. It soon explodes over the speakers really grabbing your attention. The songwriting is focused and on point here. The vocal melody is never compromised, only augmented and lifted by the killer riffs. There’s a glorious section of glide guitar about halfway in that I look forward to each time I play the song. What a way to kick things off!!
‘Yearn’ crashes in next with waves of fuzzed-out guitars. As the vocals come in, the dynamic shifts to a chiming reverb-soaked line, I love how sympathetic to the vocal melody the guitar is without aping it completely. The choruses are absolutely massive, just a wall of guitars which fans of Nothing are gonna go wild for.
Next up is our introduction to Virgins from way back in August last year. ‘Vows’ retains that wow factor even after a year. When she sings “Swaying, feeling surreal for days” as the song kicks off it still makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. This song distills everything I love about shoegaze. The hushed vocals, the dense haze created by the monumental guitars, and underneath it all a refined and catchy pop confection.
This then leads us nicely into the title track, a driving and more swoonsome number compared to what we’ve heard so far. The vocal performance here is nothing short of stunning. As always Smyth provides the perfect musical foil with a blend of cascading, shimmering guitars and more punchy, gritty tones for the instrumental breaks. This band know their strengths well and play to them to great effect.
The EP closes out on ‘Golden Tongues, Silver Lips’ a gloriously uplifting song which I can imagine being a live favourite. It’s foot-to-the-floor as they tear through frantically-strummed riffs and dynamic drumming. The chorus comes in on a big drumroll to great effect. The vocal melody soars over it all. What a way to leave us wanting more.
On that subject, I asked Smyth what we can expect from Virgins in the new year. “Next year we’re already looking at more touring, Irish dates and hopefully more English dates as well. We have so much material at the minute! I’m always writing so we’ve upwards of 12 to 13 new songs now. The plan would be maybe a single and then if the EP does well an album on vinyl again.”
Anyone who hears this EP is sure to be impressed and, if you’re anything like me, will be keen to hear more from this brilliant Belfast band.
Transmit A Little Heaven is out on October 14 and is available digitally and on pink vinyl from Virgins’ Bandcamp page. Make sure to follow the band on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Bandcamp.
You can catch the band on tour in the UK in the next couple of months here:
Oct 15th – HMV In Store, Belfast
Nov 16th Jacaranda Club, Liverpool
Nov 17th Sidney and Matilda, Sheffield
Nov 18th Santiagos, Leeds
Nov 19th Spinning Top, Manchester
Nov 20th Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh
Nov 21st 13th Note Glasgow.
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