Irish alt-pop band HamsandwicH gear up to release their fourth studio album ‘Magnify’ on 30th September, out via their own label Route 109a Recordings

One of Ireland’s most enthralling live acts in recent times, HamsandwicH are well known for their incendiary live performances which has established them as one of the top touring acts in the country. Featuring their signature calling card of Niamh Farrell’s powerful yet sweet vocal, Podge McNamee’s juxtaposing baritone, and Brian Darcy’s soaring guitar riffs, if ever there was a band to feed off their audience it is HamsandwicH.

HamsandwicH: ‘“Magnify” is a new type of record for us. There’s a bit of indie electro dance on it but it also has lots of nods to our older stuff people will recognise, which we felt was important. The album deals with human connections and examining old and new relationships, making peace with the past while also reaching out to those needing to be heard more who might be a bit lost.’

The album opens with an infectious 80s synth-pop arrangement in ‘Electro Wave’, providing a perfect setting for the pairing of Farrell and McNamee’s vocals. ‘Do you still feel like your life’s a Saturday night?’ McNamee sings before the chorus euphorically bursts in. The band’s enthusiasm for writing and performing also shines through on latest single ‘All My Blood’. It serves as an open call to party as it gradually builds to a classic HamsandwicH climax. It is the perfect blend of theestablished HamsandwicH sound and the new direction the band are embarking on.

Meanwhile, ‘Le Soleil’ is a memorable mix of alt-pop and light dance that pairs really well with the call and responsesongwriting. With its bright rhythms and catchy hook in the chorus, its short length adds to the fun of the track as a bouncy middle-of-the-album snapshot. The fun is also present on ‘Julian’ in its choppy guitars and synths, a stark contrast with the lyrics of uncertainty in a relationship that works thanks to the band’s effortless songwriting skills. The hooks in ‘Run Run’ demonstrate their knack for creating a song that will work brilliantly live, complete with heightened vocals in the chorus and loud guitars to elevate them. ‘A Pact’ does the same, with its sprightly pop beat and addictive harmonies.