EP REVIEW – Cliffords – Salt of the Lee - Cork’s Indie Heroes Get Louder, Darker, and Way More Real
- Desh Kapur
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
WORDS HARRY K
CLIFFORDS - SALT OF THE LEE
Out Now
Cliffords have always felt like a band born out of their city — songs soaked in the sound of the River Lee, the late-night noise, the pull of home. But on Salt of the Lee, they turn all that hometown magic into something bolder, darker, and far more self-aware.
You can tell straight away that this isn’t the same wide-eyed band from their first EP. The guitars hit harder, the lyrics cut deeper, and frontwoman Iona Lynch sounds more commanding than ever — all fire and feeling. She’s said the record came from “real problems and dark moments,” and that honesty runs through every second of it.
“Bittersweet” is the obvious standout — the kind of song that deserves to echo across festival fields next summer — but “My Favourite Monster” is just as impressive, turning a Frankenstein reference into a haunting study of obsession and identity. Even the title Salt of the Lee feels symbolic: a nod to Cork, to roots, and to the strange beauty of staying connected to where you came from, even as you grow beyond it.
Musically, it’s their best work yet. The production’s cleaner, the hooks sharper, and the emotion feels real — never overdone, never forced. There’s a hint of Wolf Alice’s grit and The Cranberries’ melodic melancholy, but Cliffords sound increasingly like their own creation. Not every song hits quite as hard, but the EP’s short runtime works in its favour — every track counts.
It’s honest, loud, and full of heart. A band growing up, but not growing dull.
★★★★☆ 4/5
Tracklist — Salt of the Lee
R&H Hall
My Favourite Monster
Bittersweet
Dungarvan Bay
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