Few Irish scenes excite us more than the under touted world of feisty instrumental post-rock.

And So I Watch You From Afar, God Is An Astronaut, Enemies, the fantastic (and sadly now defunct) Adebisi Shank… the list of outstanding acts Ireland has in this particular area is something too infrequently acknowledged.

Newcomers Leo Drezden aren’t quite up with their Wicklow counterparts just yet. God Is An Astronaut, despite being criminally underrated here in Ireland, often play huge shows globally, while Enemies are the very cliche of ‘big in Japan’ when it’s not intended as sarcasm.

This fellow Wicklow act interested us, though, as they’re gorgeously textured and nuanced, exploring seemingly disparate worlds of jazz and sharp, layered rock in a colourful melting pot.

Listen to GoldenPlec mag co-editor James Hendicott sing their praises on GoldenPlec Select on 2XM last Monday, here.

Leo Drezden play GoldenPlec’s monthly Workman’s Club gig GoldenBeck this Thursday.

Here are a few other acts that grabbed us over the last fortnight, but didn’t quite make the show:

RiZA – Kabembe

Featuring members of Loah and incredibly Congolese-born, Irish-based guitarist Niwel Tsumbu (who’s albums everyone should buy, they’re a perfect Sunday afternoon chill out), Kabembe explores Tsumbu’s heartwrenching recent personal life in his native Lingala. The lyrics are about Tsumbu’s recent discovery that his 14 year old son isn’t biologically his; the touching melodies amongst the best things we’ve heard this year. We’ll certainly be talking about the album, which is due in October.