Irish no-wave provocateur Skinner releases his eagerly-awaited debut album ‘New Wave Vaudeville’ alongside the lively focus single "Sour Milk"
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THE IRISH TIMES – ALBUM OF THE WEEK 4****
"an album that roils with ferocity and is propelled by the belief that art’s first duty is to make the listener sit up and give their full attention."
CLASH – 8/10
"A brilliantly infectious oddball debut...”
*****
After making some serious noise with his widely-praised ‘Geek Love’ EP last year, Irish No-wave provocateur Skinner is now kicking off his 2025 with the release of his eagerly-awaited debut album ‘New Wave Vaudeville’, showcased by the lively focus single “Sour Milk”.
Skinner is the project of the Dublin-based multi-instrumentalist, singer and producer Aaron Corcoran who was inspired by the New York No Wave scene in the late ‘70s/early ‘80s for this debut record. ‘New Wave Vaudeville’ references the New Wave Vaudeville music variety freak show that took place at the 57 Club in New York from 1978 to 1983. The club was known for its free-form art shows, a debaucherous wild riposte to creeping commerciality of modern culture of the time, an era that perfectly reflects the rambunctious nature Skinner has brought to this new collection.
Speaking about the record, he said, "I've been working towards making an album all my life. Since I started playing music as a kid it's something I've always wanted to do because albums are where I can lose myself entirely and experience the world through the eyes of the artist that created them. I hope that this record can do the same for other people. This record is my attempt at creating a world for people who don't fit into this one."
While adding about “Sour Milk”, “The song is about feeling untethered from reality and sleep deprived. I was working a job where I had to do night shifts and my sleeping pattern was so messed up I'd often go days without sleeping. I never knew what day it was and I never got to see anyone cause I'd be going to sleep when they were all waking up so there's a lot of isolation and frustration in the lyrics. Then one day I was driving and I heard the song by The Beautiful South "A Little Time" and there's a part where they sing "it's funny how quick the milk turns sour, isn't it? Isn't it?". I just thought it was really funny and true so it inspired this. Life is full of ups and downs and the most hilarious part about it is how quickly things can change. Kind of makes you appreciate it that bit more when you realise that.”
Skinner’s debut album takes inspiration from the outsiders in alternative music who populate the greatest hits of No Wave, dance-punk, Latin disco and post-punk genres - Liquid Liquid, A Certain Ratio, Kid Creole And The Coconuts and James Chance And The Contortions to name a few.
“I like the idea of mixing genres that shouldn't go together,” Aaron adds. “That's probably why I like no wave music. It’s just total and utter free expression of music without any constraint or rules. And it's not constrained by any societal ideals like a lot of other music can be. It's pure raw human emotion and expression. “
Throughout the LP, Corcoran makes use of vocal training by Dara Kiely of Dublin noise-rock Gilla Band, who taught Aaron how to scream effectively while singing without losing your voice, as heard on the tracks ‘Calling In Sick, ‘Tell My Ma’’ and ‘When You Live In A Shoe’.
Percussion also plays a big part in the record, with Latin American music and disco cited as an influence on the 10 tracks on the LP
New Wave Vaudeville was recorded and produced by Aaron Corcoran at the Meadow and engineered alongside Rian Trench. The album was mixed by Sean Corcoran, and mastered by Tj Lipple.
‘New Wave Vaudeville’ Tracklist:
New Wave Vaudeville
Tell My Ma
Sour Milk
Jesus Wore Drag
Spiralling
Calling In Sick
Geek Love
Do Re Mi Fa
When You Live In A Shoe
Here Comes The Rain
The DNA of no wave and post-punk acts like The B52s, James Chance and the Contortions and ESG through to alt-rock touchstones Pixies and Morphine combined with an talent for grunge-nodding self-production and pockets of elevated instrumentation is oozing from Skinner’s music.
Previous singles ‘Dislocation’, ‘Sometimes My Brain is Goo’, ‘Slouch’ and ‘Headroom’, have received airplay from KCRW, BBC Across the Line, RTÈ 2FM and 98FM's John Barker. Skinner was one of Hot Press’ 20 acts to watch in 2020 and has had media support from The Independent, DIY Mag, Paste, Fred Perry Subculture, So Young, Nialler9, District Mag and more. He was also the poster boy for Spotify’s popular An Alternative Eire playlist and has featured tracks on their All New Rock, Fresh Finds IE, Alternative Ireland, Today's Punk - A Breath Of Fresh Eire. Post Punk 2K and Hot New Bands playlists.
Skinner and his five-piece band including saxophonist have played have performed at numerous festivals such as The Great Escape, Ireland Music Week, Beyond The Pale, All Together Now, Other Voices, the Galway Fringe Festival and Watt’en Schlick-festival to name a few and recently supported Lime Garden, Dope Lemon, Algiers, Bambara, The Wedding Present and Silverbacks.
See Skinner Live:
Feb 5 - Northern Ireland - Belfast Voodoo
Feb 6 - Ireland - Galway Roisin Dubh
Feb 7 - Ireland - Dublin Whelans (Upstairs)
Feb 8 - Ireland - Waterford Phil Grimes Pub
Feb 12 - UK - Liverpool Kazimier Stockroom
Feb 13 - UK - North Shields Three Tanners Bank
Feb 15 - UK - Glasgow Nice N Sleazy
Feb 16 - UK - Leeds Oporto
Feb 18 - UK - Manchester The Lodge at The Deaf Institute
Feb 19 - UK - London The Shacklewell Arms
Feb 20 - UK Brighton - The Hope & Ruin
Feb 21 - UK - Southampton Heartbreakers
Feb 22 - UK - Bristol The Lanes
Feb 27 - Ireland - Cork Winthrop Ave
Feb 28 - Ireland - Limerick Dolans Kasbah
Mar 1 - Ireland - Kilkenny Cleere's Bar & Theatre
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