The Big Ones: Orla Gartland is the hero we need

The big releases you need to hear from the week ahead.

Orla Gartland’s next step up is an album to treasure.

Words: Dan Harrison.

On the ever-spinning indie-pop carousel of glittering delights, Orla Gartland has emerged as something of a quiet revolutionary. Her sophomore [Yes, she’s enough of an artiste for us to use the fancy wording – Ed] album ‘Everybody Needs A Hero’ lands this Friday (4th October), promising to be less ‘difficult second album’ and more ‘watch this space, suckers’. 

The Dublin-born, London-based singer-songwriter has been on a pretty damn remarkable trajectory since her debut ‘Woman On The Internet’ charted in the UK Top 10 and landed a more than deserved nomination for the RTÉ Choice Music Prize Irish Album of the Year 2021. Since then, our Orla’s been busy crafting a follow-up that’s set to cement her as Planet Pop’s sharpest pin cushion.

This new full-length, released on her own New Friends label (how’s that for independent spirit?), feels primed to push her into bolder territories. It’s an exploration of the shapeshifting nature of long-term relationships and the complexities of navigating a postfeminist world. Think less ‘girl power’ and more ‘woman, empowered’.

Recorded between her London bolthole and the bucolic bliss of Devon’s Middle Farm Studios, Gartland’s taken a hands-on approach to production. Working alongside long-time collaborators Tom Stafford and Peter Miles, she’s blended digital wizardry with analogue warmth, creating something that feels both shiny-new and comfortably worn-in – like your favourite pair of jeans after a bedazzling session.

The singles so far? Pure alchemy. ‘Little Chaos’ and ‘Mine’ set the stage, but it’s ‘The Hit’ that really twists the knife. Gartland describes it as “like a voodoo doll thing… you’re so connected it hurts,” which is frankly the most deliciously twisted way to describe empathy overload in the modern age. It’s the kind of track that makes you want to sway, smile and sob simultaneously – a proper pop paradox.

Most recently, ‘Late To The Party’ sees Orla getting a little help from her friends, with indie prince Declan McKenna showing up for a duet that’s more sparkling than a disco ball dipped in glitter. It’s the kind of collab that makes you wonder if there’s anything Orla can’t do.

This new material builds on the foundations laid by ‘Woman On The Internet’, an album we previously praised for its “sharp, witty lyricism and genre-hopping production.” Gartland’s ability to blend fizzy pop energy with indie sensibilities and razor-sharp lyrics has been a hallmark of her work, something ‘Everybody Needs A Hero’ looks to push to new extremes.

In a 2022 chat with Dork, Orla reflected on her creative process: “I think a lot about how to move through the world alongside a partner,” she mused. “For a long time I wanted to show up in relationships as easy-going and palatable, never taking up too much space – now I can’t think of anything worse.” It’s a sentiment that seems to have carried through to her new work, with ‘Everybody Needs A Hero’ promising a more assertive and unapologetic Gartland. Gone are the days of fitting in; our girl’s here to stand out.

Beyond her solo work, Gartland’s shown her collaborative spirit as part of FIZZ, a supergroup formed with pals dodie, Greta Isaac, and Martin Luke Brown. The project, which resulted in the album ‘The Secret To Life’, was a joyous celebration of friendship and creativity – a momentum she’s definitely carrying through to her second record.

‘Everybody Needs A Hero’ is set to be a record that stamps a marker down for an artist who’s already proved herself to be a formidable prospect. One of the most interesting, creative and productive talents currently active, Orla Gartland’s next step up is an album to treasure. Mark your calendars for Friday. A hero’s coming, and she’s bringing bangers.

BALANCE AND COMPOSURE – WITH YOU IN SPIRIT

Balance and Composure’s ‘With You In Spirit’ is less a comeback and more a resurrection, marking their first full-length in eight years. Produced by Grammy-nominated Will Yip (the man with the Midas touch for all things post-hardcore), this record signals a new chapter for the Pennsylvania outfit. Vocalist Jon Simmons tackles themes of preemptive grief, faith, and mortality with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer to the heart. Singles ‘Believe the Hype’ and ‘Cross to Bear’ hint at an evolution that’s less caterpillar-to-butterfly and more power-chord-to-power-ballad. It’s a return that suggests Balance and Composure have used their time away to refine their sound, expand their palette, and possibly discover the meaning of life. Or at least the meaning of a really good riff.

CARIBOU – HONEY

Dan Snaith, the mad scientist behind Caribou, returns with ‘Honey’, a follow-up to 2020’s ‘Suddenly’ that’s been anything but sudden in its arrival. The album includes previously shared singles ‘Honey’, ‘Broke My Heart’, and ‘Volume’, alongside the recently released ‘Come Find Me’ – a track Snaith describes as having a ‘French touch type of vibe’. One imagines less Daft Punk and more Petits Filous, but who are we to judge? ‘Honey’ appears to continue Caribou’s exploration of intricate, genre-blending compositions, further cementing Snaith’s reputation as electronic music’s favourite boundary-pusher. Expect the unexpected, and possibly a sudden urge to visit Paris.

COLDPLAY – MOON MUSIC

Coldplay’s tenth studio album, ‘Moon Music’, arrives as the band continues to explore both cosmic themes and how to save the planet while selling millions of records. Produced by Max Martin (because apparently one Martin wasn’t enough), this new offering will be available in various eco-friendly formats, including a 140g EcoRecord rPET LP made from recycled plastic bottles. It’s music to save the world by, assuming the world can be saved by stadium anthems and recycled vinyl. As with previous albums, Coldplay appear to be focusing their progress more on pushing forward in terms of sustainability than revolutionising their latter-era sound. One small step for Coldplay, one giant leap for eco-conscious stadium rock.

DRUG CHURCH – PRUDE

Post-hardcore outfit Drug Church return with ‘PRUDE’, promising another dose of their signature blend of caustic riffs and sardonic lyricism. It’s less an album and more a sonic middle finger to polite society. Tracks like ‘Myopic’ and ‘Demolition Man’ offer a glimpse of the album’s direction, as frontman Patrick Kindlon’s lyrics continue to tackle themes of disillusionment and societal critique with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer to a china shop. ‘PRUDE’ looks set to further establish Drug Church’s reputation for crafting hard-hitting, thought-provoking punk that’ll make you want to start a revolution, or at least seriously reconsider your life choices.

FEVER 333 – DARKER WHITE

FEVER 333’s ‘Darker White’ is positioned as both a sonic and social experience, exploring themes of morality and cultural conditioning. It’s less an album and more a multi-track TED talk with a really good beat. Frontman Jason Aalon delves into complex societal issues like an angry yet informed bull in a sociology class. Singles ‘No Hostages’, ‘New West Order’, and ‘Higher Power’ showcase the band’s evolving sound, which seems to have both evolved from ‘loud and angry’ to ‘understandably really loud and really angry’, but also drawn in new, diverse and fascinating influences too. With a new lineup featuring drummer Thomas Pridgen, bassist April Kae, and guitarist Brandon Davis, ‘Darker White’ represents a new era for FEVER 333 – one where the volume goes up to 12 and the societal commentary cuts deeper than a particularly sharp cheese wire.

FINNEAS – FOR CRYIN’ OUT LOUD!

Grammy-winning producer and artist FINNEAS shifts gears with his sophomore album, ‘For Cryin’ Out Loud!’. Moving away from solo production (because apparently being a one-man band is so 2022), FINNEAS has embraced a more collaborative approach, recording live studio sessions in Los Angeles. The lead single and title track hints at this new direction, while tracks like ‘Starfucker’ and ‘What’s It Gonna Take to Break Your Heart?’ suggest an album that may be both introspective and expansive. It’s a potential new chapter for the other O’Connell sibling, one where he steps out of his sister’s shadow and into the spotlight. Just don’t expect any ‘bad guy’ remixes.

THE SMILE – CUTOUTS

The Smile, Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood’s side project (with drummer Tom Skinner along for the rhythmic ride), present ‘Cutouts’, their third studio album in quick succession. This collection features tracks from previous album sessions that didn’t make the final cut – think of it as Radiohead’s other band’s leftovers, but make it art. Singles ‘Foreign Spies’ and ‘Zero Sum’ offer a glimpse into the band’s ongoing exploration of experimental rock soundscapes, which is to say, it’s weird and wonderful in equal measure. ‘Cutouts’ stands as another intriguing chapter in The Smile’s rapidly expanding discography, proving that even Yorke and Greenwood’s cast-offs are better than most bands’ greatest hits.