Reviews
Quando Quando Quando - New Rhodes EP Review- An indie-pop four-piece originally hailing from Bristol, New Rhodes are a wonderfully refreshing listen. Their cover of ‘Quando Quando Quando’, a track written in the early ‘60’s and since recorded by the likes of Englebert Humperdink and Michael Buble, is infectiously ...
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What Will We Be - Devendra Banhart Album Review- I first heard about Devendra Banhart from a friend who has always recommended superb new music for me, so the opportunity to hear this new album certainly captured my excitement a wee bit.Banhart was born in Texas and raised in Venezuela and his music has been coined as...
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End Season - The Rifle Volunteer Single Review- First a question. What happens when five musicians from various hardcore bands get together and release their first single? Well in the case of The Rifle Volunteer it’s definitely not what you would expect. Instead of creating a big old racket, this North London five pi...
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Your Lucky Numbers - Modern Cliches Single Review- The excitingly fresh Modern Clichés are a bouncing indie rock band whose new single "Your Lucky Numbers" incorporates their youthful energy with an apparent vibe of retro style pop.But these contrasting features are intertwined so confidently to create an original sound...
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Night Is The New Day - Katatonia Album Review- It’s “Katatonia”. Not “Catatonia”. Obviously. Jeez, surely no one would be that idiotic, that stupid, to request to review an album by Swedish Doom-Metalists “Katatonia”, thinking they would receive a slice of Welsh alternative-rock from “Catatonia”. Who, incidentally, ...
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Love - Boyz II Men Album Review- Grammy winners struggle…most of the time.Now that the boys (sorry boyz) really have become men, and you can’t get into the charts with your own songs, what do you do?
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Me Oh My - Cate Le Bon Album Review- Lo-fi second from… Welsh songbird.No relative of Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon, Cardiff’s very own bi-lingual Cate Le Bon first came to prominence supporting compatriot Gruff Rhys on his 2007 solo tour and has since played Glastonbury, Green Man and Latitude festivals.
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You Break Our Hearts, We’ll Tear Yours Out - The Gilded Palace Of Sin Album Review- Great start. The rest’s not so hot.The Gilded Palace Of Sin take their name from a 1969 album by the Flying Burrito Brothers. Featuring legend Gram Parsons, they specialised in fusing modern country music, which included rock’n’roll, folk, country, gospel, and soul.
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- Shred Yr Face III - The Cave Singers,Espers,Woods @ Brudenell Social - 16/11/2009 - Live Review
- Shred your face. An altogether threatening turn of phrase which conjures up distorted images from some slasher movie full of mutilation, ripped flesh, blood and gore, all the while underscored by a sinister, brooding soundtrack splattered by bursts of coruscating chains...
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- Where is The Love? - Dan Whitehouse Single Review
- What’s the difference between John Parkes (Whole Sky Monitor/solo performer) and Peter Gabriel? This is no joke, the answer is that probably 99% of you have heard of the latter, but not the former. This is the sheer conundrum that faces you when you are trying to figure...
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New Fang - Them Crooked Vultures Single Review- Formed of Foo Fighter’s Dave Grohl, Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme, and Led Zepplin’s John Paul, ‘Them Crooked Vultures’ are the newly formed super band rock fans have been waiting for. Released on 16th November, “New Fang” is their eagerly anticipated debut singl...
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Out Of Ashes - Dead By Sunrise Album Review- This is Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington’s side-project, born out of not having a home for certain songs composed during the ‘Midnight To Midnight’ sessions. According to Bennington, these tracks didn’t fit in with Linkin Park’s direction back in 2005, and so Dead By Su...
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Steve Conte & The Crazy Truth [2] - Steve Conte and The Crazy Truth Album Review- “New York Dolls current axe-slinger in decent album scenario!”. Who’d have thought it? An unlikely headline maybe, certainly would have been a few years back... but time is a great healer and the clock has been kind to a certain Mr Steve Conte. After playing, writing an...
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Steve Conte & The Crazy Truth [1] - Steve Conte and The Crazy Truth Album Review- Steve Conte’s credentials cannot for one second be questioned. As the lead guitarist and songwriter for New York Dolls the man could well live for the remainder of his life on the plaudits earned from that but the man is so consumed and in love with his life of music th...
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- Let It Snow - El Dog Single Review
- Scottish four piece El Dog have decided to follow up on their exciting debut album ‘The Lamps Of Terrahead’ with this curious re-working of Sammy Cahn’s famous song, ‘Let It Snow’ and the results are rather pleasant.First of all it is never going to match up to the orig...
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Evacuate - The Boxer Rebellion Single Review- The Boxer rebellion have had a year that even most well established bands would be envious of. They became the first unsigned band to enter the US Billboard Top 100 on the back of this track, which became the first ever global iTunes single of the week. So is it worth t...
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Havana Cultura - New Cuba Sound - Gilles Peterson Album Review- Imagine. Some sweet suburban sitting room on a Sunday afternoon where the living is easy. Music plays gently behind the conversation. “What’s this?” asks some middle aged man, his ears pricking up to the persistent cha-cha-cha piano; shuffling, percussive beats and bo...
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Rush - Black Gold Album Review- Brooklyn based duo “Black gold” formed in 2006.Current touring band members include Alister Paxton (guitar) and Shiben (bass) started touring with the likes of M Ward, Ambulance Ltd and Panic! At the disco.
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Poetry Of The Deed - Frank Turner Single Review- It’s been said by better people than me, but Frank Turner DOES sound like Billy Bragg. The vocal delivery, content and structure of his songs bear an uncanny resemblance to the Bard of Barking’s (not that I’m saying there is any plagiarism afoot) but unlike that other p...
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Muse @ National Indoor Arena [NIA] - 10/11/2009 - Live Review- This evening saw 13,000 avid music lovers excitedly cram into Birmingham’s National Indoor Arena filling it to almost complete capacity. The reason: Muse. Having recently received ‘Best Act In The World Today’ and ‘Best Live Band’ at the Q and NME awards respectively, a...
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I Am… Sasha Fierce - Beyoncé Platinum Album Review- ‘I Am… Sasha Fierce [Platinum Edition]’ is the CD/DVD re-release of the three times platinum (as of October 2009) selling third solo album from stunning American diva Beyoncé Knowles. The original release, described by amazon.co.uk as an ‘intentionally schizophrenic aff...
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Various Artists - Sweet Soul Music Album Review- Soul galore from ’68.Sub-titled ‘29 Scorching Hits From 1968’, this hits and misses bumper collection trawls the best of America’s soul divos and divas, and ground breaking bands.
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What Is Light? Where Is Laughter? - Twin Atlantic Single Review- It’s pretty hard to be a Scottish rock group without the obvious comparison to Biffy Clyro (who themselves are still trying to shed their Foo Fighters tag) so Twin Atlantic on the back of mini album ‘Vivarium’ release ‘What is Light? Where is laughter? ‘and will be putt...
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What Is Light? Where Is Laughter? - Twin Atlantic Single Review- It’s pretty hard to be a Scottish rock group without the obvious comparison to Biffy Clyro (who themselves are still trying to shed their Foo Fighters tag) so Twin Atlantic on the back of mini album ‘Vivarium’ release 'What is Light? Where is laughter?' and will be putt...
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The Singles Collection - Britney Spears Review- I feel like it was only yesterday that Britney had us all prancing around our bedrooms singing into the hairbrush along to 'Baby One More Time'. In the ten years since then, Britney has married (and divorced) a back-up dancer, cracked up and shaved her head, danced with...
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Maybe - Ingrid Michaelson Single Review- By now you’ve already heard this single. Already on BBC Radio 2’s A –Playlist, Maybe is destined to be one of 2009s biggest hits.Released on her own label – Cabin 24 Records – 29 year-old Ingrid Thelianne Michaelson has garnered a massive following since her 2007 Girls ...
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Secrets and Lies - Bertie Blackman Album Review- It was with some trepidation that I started listening to Bertie Blackman's new album 'Secrets and Lies'. Probably for the most part because of that stereotypical idea I (did) have of Australian musicians. Don't get me wrong I'm one of Nick Caves biggest fans and I have...
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A Lesser Of Two Evils - Fighting Fiction EP Review- 'A Lesser Of Two Evils' is the debut EP from Bristol based four-piece Fighting Fiction. I think it's safe to say that none of their tunes will be gracing a party political broadcast by the BNP any time soon. Whilst their social conscience, attitudes and sympathies may b...
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Heartaches and Wonders - Rodeo Massacre EP Review- To be honest when I read the name, Rodeo Massacre, the first thought in mind was that of a Wild West Death Metal Band (kind of like Slipknot meets John Wayne). Having seen their photo they reminded me more of a 1960’s psychedelic ensemble last seen marching along Heigh...
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A Week Away - Spearmint Album Review- The reissue of Spearmint’s debut album ‘A Week Away’ also happens on the tenth anniversary of the much heralded effort by the band. Despite being critically successful and being held in such high regard by many, it did not manage to recreate the hype into record sales. ...
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Gee Whiz But This Is A lonesome Town - Moriarty Album Review- Now this is an odd one for you. Modern bohemian gypsies?Critically acclaimed French-American folk roots five-pack Moriarty have gradually been building a cult following in the UK supporting Son Of Dave, Jane Birkin and The Do.
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- Kings & Queens - 30 Seconds to Mars Single Review
- 'Kings & Queens', the new single from Thirty Seconds To Mars, is their precursor, their teaser, their appetiser of choice for their forthcoming, eagerly awaited, new album 'This Is War'. An aptly titled album it would appear, as Jared Leto, the lead singer (who refuses ...
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The Glare - Michael Nyman,David McAlmont Album Review- Chalk and cheese come together …with interesting results.David McAlmont comes from the high end of soul.
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Yankee Reality - Hush Arbors Album Review- Hush Arbors is Keith Wood, sometime member Current 93 (David Tibet) and buddie of Six Organs Of Admittance and Sunburned Hand.Wood’s alt-folk credentials sit alongside the likes of Devendra Banhart and Connor Oberst (Bright Eyes), but now with Yankee Reality he’s trying...
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Balletesque - The Young Republic Album Review- Pomp-Pop at its best.Since their stunning 2007 debut 12 Tales From Winter City, Tennessee based The Young Republic appear to have down- sized from eight to six. Despite losing two members they’ve lost none of their quality.
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Chippy Tea/Carry You Home - The Lancashire Hotpots Single Review- If you are a lover of Peter Kay, Pitman, Phoenix Nights, Vic and Bob and Paddy McGuiness then you will get the Lancashire Hotpots. Pissing all over the Barron Knights and sounding less ‘Ows-yer-farver than Chas N Dave (RIP), the culinary comedians have been (ahem) knock...
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No Love Lost - This Beautiful Thief Single Review- Hailing from Birmingham This Beautiful Thief herald the new incarnation of British Indie rock, with melodic tunes and thumping riffs they follow their last E.P. ‘Say Something’ with ‘No Love Lost’. Having been compared to a hybrid of Placebo, Idlewild and the Editors I...
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Uam From Me - Julie Fowlis Album Review- More delights from Scottish songstress.As you’ve probably gathered from the tracklisting, this album, except for one song is sung in Gaelic.
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Four Classic Albums - Zoot Sims Album Review- While Miles Davis and Stan Getz were doing their cool things, there was another Yank chasing the pack – John Haley ‘Zoot’ Sims from California.From four 1950s albums – The Four Brothers…. Together Again, From A To Z, Zoot and Whooeeee, we get the chance to hear arguably...
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- Idlewild,Olympic Swimmers @ O2 Academy [1, 2 and 3] - 29/10/2009 - Live Review
- The new 02 Academy 3 in Birmingham was pretty full for this evening’s gig; five hundred odd people favoured a well-established, good solid guitar band over Calvin Harris who played the sold out main room. Support for the evening came from Olympic Swimmers; a female fron...
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Tits & Ass - Izzi Dunn Single Review- A multi-talented cellist, vocalist, writer and arranger, Izzi Dunn releases ‘Tits & Ass’ as the first single from her forthcoming second album ‘Cries and Smiles’. Interesting title? That’s what I thought.Drums and soaring REAL strings greet an unaccompanied harmonised v...
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Memoryhouse - Max Richter Album Review- 2002 re-issue of Richter’s post-classical masterpiece.Now this is some album - Breathtaking.
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The Sparrow and the Crow Rel - William Fitzsimmons Album Review- I went to see William Fitzsimmons play at the Barden Boudoir in Dalston, East London, in August this year. He was awesome. Fact! I had the album ‘Goodnight’, which is tremendous, begged a poster (a lovely drawing of said Fitzsimmons) and bought a t-shirt (it may be too...
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Fresh Since '88 - Saving Aimee Single Review- St Albans six-piece Saving Aimee return with the third single to be lifted off their forthcoming debut album ‘We’re The Good Guys’. Fresh Since ’88 sees the band edge ever closer to a more 80’s disco sound whilst still teetering on the edge of punk pop.Lyrically ‘Fresh ...
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Man From Another Time - Seasick Steve Album Review- It seems fitting that Steven Gene Wold worked on a track by alt-rockers Modest Mouse way back in 1994 – to look at the newly-monickered Seasick Steve and to hear him speak about his fast-tracked rise to fame, you might be forgiven for thinking he IS a modest mouse. Then...
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Your Decision - Alice in Chains Single Review- Yeah, the acoustic touches are accentuated and the vice like percussion grip of the past has been loosened, but essentially the bemusement, spirited and dusky touch of Alice in Chains of old, still lingers like a spirit. In latest single ‘Your Decision’ from Grunge’s un...
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Night In The Box - Cassidy Single Review- Glaswiegan four-piece Cassidy have recently been both XFM playlisted and invited to play the prestigious XFM Winter Wonderland gig alongside the likes of Razorlight this December. Their debut single ‘Night In The Box’ and it’s B-side has the both swagger of the likes of...
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Hatari - Tune-Yards Single Review- Bloody hell – 4AD have done it again. They really do have some hot talent scouts these days. This is a project spear-headed by New England’s Merill Garbus, a talented female vocalist and arranger who has brought the DIY ethic of jerky cut-and-paste shanty-anthems to you...
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Bluebottles - Junkstar Single Review- Rolled-up news-papers at the ready – here comes a ‘Bluebottle’ as irritating as its winged cousins. Buzzy electro-synths squeal their way through a convoluted intro before cheesy Euro-beats usher in the kind of music that filled Goth-clubs 25 years ago. The promotional ...
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- Shake It Out - Manchester Orchestra Single Review
- From the revving guitar kick and sparse jolting percussion that opens this honest single ‘Shake It Out’, through to Andy Hull’s worrisome vocals. This, at times, austere Atlanta five piece builds up strikingly to a paranoia unravelling blues rock chorus. That is both st...
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Everything You Need - Steph Newton EP Review- This 5-track self-release from Steph Newton is a confident collection of catchy tunes. The 20-year-old from Lostwithiel in Cornwall is the latest in a long line of fresh British female crooners, such as Joss Stone, Duffy and Paloma Faith. This EP is steeped in 1960s sou...
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Heartbeats - Grum Single Review- Released last week, 'Heartbeats' is the latest single by Graeme Shepherd AKA Grum. There has been a lot of hype about the 23-year-old who has been dubbed the hottest new DJ on the electro dance music scene. There are even claims that 'Heartbeats' is 'the greatest song o...
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Thank You - Canterbury Album Review- Our very own Kirsty Wood got a bit jolly and accurate with her review of Canterbury’s recent 7” single, “Eleven, Twelve”. She went for the instrumental breakdowns with the lead track but got more heated with the riffs on the partner song, “Friends? We’re Almost A Gang”....
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Egyptland - Ted Hefko And The Thousandaires Album Review- Wondering from Wisconsin to New York, via a healthy stint in New Orleans, Ted Hefko, And The Thousandaires, bring you a Jazz infused, sometimes bluesy, sometimes folksy, mellow musical mixture. Ted has proficiently captured his individual laid-back style of, almost clic...
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Owning Up To Life - Ben Cooley Hall Album Review- If you have a troublesome gap in your CD collection because you've never been able to find that album 'about the invisible core of life', then fret no longer, the wait is finally over, the gaping chasm will bother you no more, if that is you concur with the musings of M...
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Eliza Doolittle - Eliza Doolittle EP Review- Lobbing folk-pop, spliced with low-key life musing trickles out of ‘Rollerblades’, demonstrating a common and catchy touch to start off a potentially ear catching four track EP. This opener especially, provides the impact of Kate Nash and Remi Nicole after a combined se...
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- People - Trashcan Sinatras Single Review
- Everywhere you look on the net, there are bands who ‘could have been’ or ‘should have been’ and most of them seem to come from the mid to late 80’s, a period when major labels swallowed talent and then puked it back up when the ‘market’ disagreed with them.Irvine’s gold...
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Happy Ending - The Phoenix Foundation Album Review- The Phoenix Foundation : New Zealand’s best kept secret.Comprising six members – Samuel Flynn Scott, Luke Buda both guitars, vocals, keys, Conrad Wedde (guitars, keys) Warner Emery (bass, vocals) Richie Singleton (drums) and Will Rickets (percussion ,keys) follow up th...
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When This Was The Future - Lisa O Piu Album Review- Swedish folk…yummy.When you think of nu-folk, Joanna Newsom immediately comes to mind.
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Aun Aprendo (I’m Still Learning) - The Blue Eyed Shark Experiment EP Review- According to the “kooky” Myspace About Me, The Blue Eyed Shark Experiment has dined with Radiohead. Now if ‘Generation’, the opening track to the Aun Aprendo EP, was on at the time I reckon Radiohead would have gagged into their lunch.Insistent piano over a drum machine...
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- Evacuate - The Boxer Rebellion Single Review
- In the build up to their second album ‘Union’, Nathan Nicholson continues to lead this rummaging indie quintet down the road of mid-tempo, melodic searching through the lead single, ‘Evacuate’. It is their UK base rather than the Tennessee connections that seems to con...
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As Seen Through Windows - Bell Orchestre Album Review- Sonic gem…from Canadian 6- pack.As the by-product of Arcade Fire, Bell Orchestre have gone for a very different sound altogether. In many ways it has a Beirut ‘chamber music’ feel to it.
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Old Valentine - Nic Dawson Kelly Album Review- Book, judge and cover. Re-configure these words and then put them into a sentence to make a very well known idiom. Having done so then apply liberally to Nic Dawson Kelly and his debut album “Old Valentine”. You will then have a picture of the artist as a tattooed you...
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Not Your Typical Rock Star... - Lethal Bizzle Interview- With three albums under his belt and a sound of his own, “East London’s finest” (as he once called himself), Lethal Bizzle, has gone a crazy long way, which has led him onto ‘Go Hard’, his latest effort. And in the face of adversity, he has constantly remained a promote...
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L.A. Turnaround - Bert Jansch Album Review- ECD Section – L.A. Turnaround…the movieMasterpiece from Scottish folk legend. His ninth album.
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Water And Flame Ft. Adele - Daniel Merriweather Single Review- Already on BBC Radio 2’s A-playlist, (that guarantees 20 plays a week) this masterful blend of soul sensations Daniel Merriweather and one of the best voices of 2008, Adele, Water And A Flame is his fourth UK single from number two UK album Love and War.Hot on the heel...
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Portico Quartet @ KOKO - 02/11/2009 - Live Review- Let me describe Koko to you. It’s a vaudevillian amphitheatre that seems more than just an average London venue yet keeps its aspirational chops in reality with tacky red decor, Mornington Crescent tube around the corner and a crap beer range (3 lagers, no ale). It also...
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The Catalogue - Kraftwerk Box Set Review- Originally planned for release in 2004, Mute have finally used their relationship with EMI to reissue Kraftwerk’s influential back catalogue, complete with expanded artwork and a few new covers. A fitting label methinks.The Dusseldorf quartet brought electronics, progre...
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Axe To Fall - Converge Album Review- Jarring percussion controlled opener, ‘Dark Horse’ races off into a melee of metal core, punk and post hardcore, polished off by the focused, animated and gnarly vocals of Jake Bannon. Now celebrating nineteen years of boundary pushing spleen venting, Boston’s bruising ...
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Various Artists - Pop Party 7 Album Review- With the festive season rapidly approaching, what better way to celebrate – with Universal’s Pop Party 7.Full of banging tunes it’s guaranteed to make any party swing, whatever your tastes.
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Crazy Love - Michael Buble Album Review- He says he doesn’t want to be compared to Frank Sinatra yet the delightful new album from crooner Michael Buble certainly leads to further comparisons between the Canadian and the former Rat Pack man.On a path barely touched since the days of Sinatra, with the exception...
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Man From Another Time - Seasick Steve Album Review- Hobo hero back where he belongs.When Steve Gene Wold aka Seasick Steve entered Broadcasting House for a short stint on Later…with Jools Holland Hootenanny on December 31 2006, little did he realise how it would change his life forever.
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Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club @ Venue Cymru - Theatre/ Arena/ Conference Centre - 01/11/2009 - Live Review- The brand plays on…with plenty of spirit.Had it not been for the bright sparks at World Circuit in 1996, and some help from Ry Cooder, this band wouldn’t have even played this gig.
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4th & Independent - Lazy Preacher Album Review- Mmmm. This sounds really nice. Sort of drifting along effortlessly, as it does, with the singer’s voice and phrasing initially sound rather reminiscent of Lou Reed’s on New York. I have just slid the shiny compact disc into the car stereo and am looking forward to hea...
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Do The Job - Baddies Album Review- Hard driven, catchy guitar riffs are the base of this debut from the boys from Southend, Baddies.The sound, it’s very much a fusion of the energy of The Futureheads and Franz Ferdinand - pounding drumming, thumping bass lines and punchy quick tempo lyrics.
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In Conversation - Beverley Knight Interview- Ahead of her UK November tour, promoting her latest album, ‘100%’, Solange Moffi caught up with Beverley Knight to discuss Indie vs. Soul, taking ownership of her career and give a few tips to this year’s Mercury Prize winner, Speech Debelle.Q:Beverley, please tell us...
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Closer To The Sun - Robbie Rivera Album Review- Robbie Rivera’s hotly anticipated full-length studio album, is everything you would expect from the internationally acclaimed, crow-pleasing DJ/Producer. With the typical Rivera sounds, its progressive house covering a wide-range of styles of R&B, Dance and garage to na...
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- My Life As A Secret Agent - Shabby Rogue Single Review
- ‘My Life as a Secret Agent’ is a short, frantic, intense, bizarre and relentless blitz of old school pop rock but although it feels like the fun is over in too much of a hurry, you certainly won’t forget it.Instantly catchy, this first single to be taken from Shabby Rog...
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Broken Hearted Girl - Beyoncé Single Review- From the album that gave us the number one single ‘If I Were A Boy’ and big selling tracks ‘Halo’, ‘Sweet Dreams’ and ‘Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)’, Beyoncé releases a fifth single, ‘Broken Hearted Girl’, in support of the platinum release (bonus tracks plus DVD) o...
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We Are The Same - The Tragically Hip Album Review- Eclectic monster from …Canada.We Are The Same is The Tragically Hip’s 12th studio album since they began way back in 1984.
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Siempre Y Para Siempre - Serotonin Single Review- Serotonin are a progressive heavy rock band who have powerfully fused together their grungy influences, which stem from the likes of Nirvana and Metallica, with raw emotion to produce their latest single release ‘Siempre y para Siempre’.Some may question this Oxfordshir...
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Hook Me Up - The Veronicas Album Review- The Veronicas Australia’s latest pop sensations have finally caught on in the UK. The second album released in Australia went platinum and two years since then, the UK has finally released what talent the duo have to offer to the music scene and “Hook Me Up” has finally...
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We’re All In This Together - Gabby Young & Other Animals Single Review- Gabby Young and other Animals new single “We’re All in This Together” released October 26th 2009 is an original piece of slow, uplifting indie music.The song starts out really softly and slowly, with a beautiful simple rhythm. This melody continues throughout the whole ...
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Under The Weather But Over The Moon - OK Album Review- Maybe it’s dry humour after the example of The Average White Band that sees these Welsh indie guys call themselves, self deprecatingly, OK, when Alex Chilton’s 60s’ / 70s’ Big Star might be a more appropriate model.In the jingle morning, this is what The Smiths would ha...
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- You to me are Everything Everything - Everything Everything @ The Night and Day Cafe - 17/10/2009 - Live Review
- Sometimes something’s that good , that unique , that striking , you are compelled to take notice. Everything Everythings’ fascinating blend of catchy prog pop, lyrical surrealism and talented musicianship and is one of those things.Well known DJ and E.E admirer Dave Ha...
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In conversation October 2009 - Imogen Heap Interview- From sound decks to tweet decks, studios and status updates, Imogen Heap has had monumental success. Recently hailed as ‘The Download Queen’, her latest album ‘Ellipse’ has sent download into overload, making her one of the most successful independent artists in the UK....
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One Step Beyond (30th anniversary deluxe edition) - Madness Album Review- As a teenager I never understood the attraction of Madness and their vaudevillian-take on ska, blue-beat and pop, liberally laced with cockney knees-up bravado and ‘gaw-blimey’ braces, let alone their ‘nutty’ sound. But, y’know what? We all need a bit of Madness these d...
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Inwits @ 12 Bar Club - 17/10/2009 - Live/ Interview- It’s nice when bands invite you to gigs – this was an exception. It was great in the cheeky and spunky Inwits’ case because, not only does lead-singer James greet me with eager enthusiasm, he also interviews well and has a natural rapport with the audience here tonight....
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Wish I’d Been Here - Danielle Spencer Single Review- Despite being hyped as ‘Australia’s most imaginative and talented pianist/vocalist’ (admittedly by her PR Company), ‘Wish I’d Been Here’ very much meanders along, rolling two-chord verse into four-chord chorus without a great deal of interest. Unfortunately for someone ...
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Little Stings - Ragz Album Review- 20-something Norwegian sensation set to blast away the rest.Ragz Nordset, Ragz you and I, is a starlet set for great things.
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Get On Board - Eric Bibb Album Review- World bluesman's filter keeps on well, filtering.With every new recording Eric Bibb feels he's "getting closer" to the core of his mission as a troubadour. In addition, he revels in spreading the message of unity and "connected-ness".
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The Brute Chorus - The Brute Chorus Album Review- Four piece The Brute Chorus have been circulating the London scene for the past year, gradually collecting a ramble of hard core recruits. Most bands wait a few albums into their career before releasing a live album, a thank you to their parade of concert go getters and...
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Various Artists - Dance To The Radio 4X12 Volume 3 EP Review- Wooahhh – beware! The opening track is by utterly-thunderly Chickenhawk who have previously ripped my cochlea from their drums on a previous release of theirs, the “A Or Not” EP back in August (reviewed on this very site, noise fans). “Scorpieau” is not exactly a picnic...
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Zama Zama Try Your Luck - Battlefield band Album Review- Scotland’s alternative to Ireland’s Chieftains / Dubliners, has made a concept folk album. No wait – it’s really rather good...and it’s all about ‘gold’. Inspired by the magical colour and effect on the human psyche that this precious metal has, the Battlefield Band has...
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Closer To The Sun - Robbie Rivera Single Review- How in the hell can Ibiza fit so many DJ’s that are apparently wanted by every top producer and artist for remixes? I have yet another single from yet another DJ who has had an action packed Ibiza summer. So let’s see if it stands out from the crowd.You know what, it do...
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Wrong Direction - Copy Haho Single Review- Copy Haho come from the same town as the inventor of the fountain pen. Yes indeed, that guy. If that’s not enough to get you excited then here’s something. Even if they weren’t from fountain pen guy’s town they’d still stand well on their own because they are bloody goo...
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Henry Fabian Flynn - Crazy Arm EP Review- Crazy Arm are a fantastic band to listen to and their debut album, released earlier in the year was one of the most accomplished albums you could wish to hear in 2009, with song after song of passionate and intelligent punk rock with a country twist. So it’s great to se...
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Signs and Wonders - Animal Kingdom Album Review- Animal Kingdom seem to be generating a great amount of publicity for a band that has just released their solo album. The London quartet have been held up in comparison to Mercury Rev, The Flaming Lips and Granddaddy among other greats and have had the privilege of havin...
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Double Negative - Grammatics Single Review- I normally hate double negatives but seeing as these guys seem nice, and are about to re-release their debut album I’ll try to overlook that whilst listening to their new single, ‘Double Negative’.The song has a good verve, with some very intricate guitar work from the ...
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- East Jesus Nowhere - Green Day Single Review
- When 'Know Your Enemy' was littering the radio prior to the release of '21st Century Breakdown' I was fearing the album would be a direct copy of 'American Idiot' but thankfully I was proved very wrong and the album was another masterpiece of modern punk ideals and gran...
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Haven’t Met You Yet - Michael Buble Single Review- Michael Buble eh? Young Micky-B. The Bubble-Man. Bubby. All names I’m sure he’d smack me over the face for calling him but he can’t cos I like his new single. The lyrical structure is not too far from his comfort zone but is still engaging enough to pay attention to but...
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- The Wind Blows - All American Rejects Single Review
- Having suffered from Jennifer Capriati syndrome just a tad, by becoming too big a little too soon, resulting in headline performances at benchmark venues like the Manchester Apollo several years back. This saw All-American Rejects dealing out patchy and uninspiring thir...
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Control Me - Long Range EP Review- To the relief of electronica fans and many a raver, Orbital’s “split” in 2004 was a short-lived affair. The dance juggernauts’ reformation in 2009 saw them headlining seemingly every festival, in the world, ever. But that hasn’t stopped the Hartnoll brothers from contin...
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So Silent The Night - Spectrum 7 Album Review- Seriously, would you name your group after a once ailing oil company whose one time CEO and Chairman was none other than George W Bush? Would you? Maybe that's the irony. Anyway if you would, you can't 'cos this Surrey quintet beat you to it when they were only a fledgl...
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Various Artists - The Ballad Of Britain Album Review- No-frills, but plenty of thrills.In 1903, Victorian musicologist Cecil Sharp criss-crossed our nation documenting the traditional songs that were deemed ‘endangered species’.
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Purpose Built - Michael Janisch Album Review- Beefy modern jazz, from America.For those of you with a keen ear for contemporary jazz this CD is a must.
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Animal Nights - Arthur Walker Album Review- Arthur Walker is a band, not a solo artist.This Plymouth alt-rock outfit have been shaking up the local scene for some time now.
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Water Mark - The Boy Who Trapped The Sun EP Review- I first experienced the wonder of The Boy Who Trapped the Sun on a particularly enjoyable evening out in the Dr Martin’s room at the Camden Roundhouse waiting for Nerina Pallot. Normally on such occasions the support act is just that, support for the time taken by the ...
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I Wish You’d Met Her - Trashcan Sinatras Single Review- I have no idea how I know this band, a song here; a reference there (one of the best band names ever and apparently, according to an ever correct internet fact resource, derived from a ‘school music class, where students improvised on various 'instruments'!). Looking b...
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- El Presidente - Limozine Single Review
- A self confessed ‘punk rock ‘n’ roll four piece living in Hammersmith’ does not prepare you for the raw power and fury of new single ‘El Presidente’. Nor does the fact that singer Dean and Guitarist Johnny Zero come from the Midlands and met in Coventry (not that this ...
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Whatever Happened To Friday Night? - The Scratch Album Review- It is Easter 1977. The Queen’s Silver Jubilee is on the horizon and with the sound of Pink Floyd, apathy is king. Big Shay has just come back down home from college in Aberdeen and he has brought with him from the Granite City some seven inch singles with him. He puts...
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The Very Best Of Fleetwood Mac - Fleetwood Mac Album Review- Fleetwood Mac are, and have always been, a bit screwed up. Like a tawdry soap opera dynasty, their story is one of intrigue, hedonism, depression and addiction. And of music – this particular family’s golden, if schizophrenic, child.Formed more than thirty years ago and...
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Isla - Portico Quartet Album Review- The second album from ex-London buskers, The Portico Quartet, Isla follows on from their critically acclaimed album, Knee Deep in the North Sea, which was nominated for a Mercury Music Award in 2007.Their fusion of post-jazz ambience is spellbinding; this is a group of ...
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Bass Generation - Basshunter Album Review- I have to admit that I would never, out of choice, listen to Basshunter, one reason that I am on this cold, dark autumnal London morning pretty glad that I have been sent this album sampler of the bands fifth studio recording “Bass Generation”. Jonas Altberg (a Swedis...
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Conditions - The Temper Trap Album Review- Having had the opportunity to see the Temper Trap perform at the iTunes festival over the summer at the glorious Roundhouse in Camden I am now severely kicking myself that I chose not to attend. I first experienced the joy of the Temper Trap whilst viewing the amazing...
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We’re All In This Together - Gabby Young & Other Animals Album Review- You should never judge a book by its cover, but in this help you can’t help but – in the best possible way! The album cover is stunning (I know this doesn’t reflect upon the music - but it helps to have a great album with a great cover!), with Gabby Young as colourful ...
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Strarstrukk featuring Katy Perry - 3OH!3,Katy Perry Single Review- Wow! Make no mistake about it. This is already huge. From Boulder to Birmingham and more than five hundred and ninety nine thousand nine hundred and ninety eight locations in between, the dynamic duo of Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte have already shifted more units of...
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- Leaves - Ben TD Single Review
- I think Ben TD is probably a nice bloke. He looks as if he is if the pictures on his My Space website are anything to go by. He plays nice songs. He says so on his My Space website. Actually, looking at it again he doesn’t say that at all. He says he writes songs and th...
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Pays Sauvage - Emily L'Oizeau Album Review- Hippy…French style.With the benefit of a French father and English mother (her grandmother was acclaimed actress Peggy Ashcroft no less) bi-lingual Emily Loizeau can slip seamlessly from singing in French and English across her eclectic and often quirky take on contempo...
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Eleven,Twelve - Canterbury Single Review- Canterbury, the Hampshire quintet are set to release their debut album Thank You after an impressive touring schedule alongside Enter Shikari, You Me At Six, The Automatic, Billy Talent and Hundred Reasons; just to name a few. But first comes the limited edition 7” sing...
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- Skin And Bone - Laura Catlow EP Review
- Building on from May’s debut single ‘Gorgeous’, former Blackpool fairground attraction, Laura Catlow unleashes three more tracks that build from a spindling acoustic base and accentuate her streetwise and very slightly western vocal slant. ‘Skin And Bone’, has an urban ...
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Shaking That Brass - Volcanoes EP Review- Some bands just make you want to buy a guitar, get your mates together and do the same thing as them. Four piece Volcanoes are a classic example of this and their new EP shows it as it is saturated with energy and has a refreshing spark of creativity. The pleasant side ...
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Meet The Meatbats - Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats Album Review- Drummer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chad Smith is probably the least noticeable one of the group; we probably value his contribution a lot less than the others. You have Anthony Kiedis who is the voice, and the lyricist of the band, John Frusciante, and his face-shred...
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Where The Wild Things Are [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] - Karen O and the Kids Album Review- A fun game that will keep all of the family entertained whilst listening to this quaint, quirky and a little out there soundtrack. Can be had by trying to figure out which of the screams, yelps and incoherent murmurs belong to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (YYYs) leading lady, Ka...
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Twinkle Twinkle Little Scar - Razor Blade Kisses Album Review- You know, sometimes I despair – there are people dying of uncontrollable diseases in Surrey, flooding in Kent and lax refuse collections in Leeds. Now that Razor Blade Kisses have made an album called “Twinkle Twinkle Little Scar”, they have successfully relieved me of ...
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At The Cut - Vic Chesnutt Album Review- Le miserable…again.Things don’t seem to change in the world of paraplegic singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt.
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4Ever - The Veronicas Single Review- The Veronicas are set to continue their successful summer run with this latest release, which is as poppy and catchy as a catchy pop song could hope to be. The Australian group have a very good sound, tapping into the current trend for pop songs with a rock punch and al...
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The Globe - The Silent Years Album Review- There are many bands that have tried to make a grandiose album, full of ideas, imagery and intelligence with musical power to try and back it all up but have failed, either due to a lack of cohesion between imagination and execution or merely due to it being either too ...
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Doesn’t Matter Anyway/ Closure - The Kut Single Review- They’ve been described as the best all female group that the UK has ever produced but let’s compare them to the opposition. Yeah, exactly. There’s not much out there. If you are to compare them to all female groups like Girls Aloud then they come nowhere close (yet) but...
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Thug Poetry - Castrovalva Single Review- Castrolvalva have carved out a niche that could well be their own with this intriguing new release. It is a colossal mesh of ‘NWA’ inspired lyricism mixed with electro, heavy metal, bass heavy thrash and indie dance and it may take a few listens but it is certainly one ...
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- Fight Back - Strawberry Blondes Album Review
- For their second long player, Newport punk outfit ‘Strawberry Blondes’ have gathered inspiration from the 1984 miners strike, saying they were inspired by their memories of the effect the strike had on their own town, as well as the entire country and this album has tha...
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Beggar Joe - Beggar Joe Album Review- Hot, hot, hot.If you’re gonna do a debut album, it might as well be impressive. This is exactly that from Manchester quintet Beggar Joe.
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What Does It Take? - Nell Bryden Album Review- Stylistically, Brooklyn native Nell Bryden doesn’t want to be pigeon- holed. In a recent breakfast show she admitted to preferring to sing whatever suits her voice. That’s good news.This stylish and soulful singer straddles early jazz, country, gospel and blues, her inf...
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Be Somebody - The Enemy Single Review- “You know there’s no such thing as a free meal, and they’re ain’t no future in British steel.” The opening line of the latest single taken from the Enemy’s second album, ‘Music For The People’, does little to suggest that anything especially sophisticated is likely to f...
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Simple Times - Joshua Radin Album Review- Accessible folk with the raw emotion of a Damien Rice song, is just one of the many ways you can sum up Joshua Radin. Since having his demos given to Zach Braff, and his music being played on Scrubs in 2004, Joshua Radin has achieved both critical and commercial success...
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Go - Meleka Single Review- 21 year old, North-West Londoner, Meleka was the winner of the 'prestigious' Hugo Urban Rules award back in September 2008. The competition, devised by Hugo fragrances, to find the best in new 'urban talent' brought with it the chance to appear with Estelle at a headlin...
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All My Friends Are Funeral Singers - Califone Album Review- Idiosyncratic Folk……and a lot more.There isn’t another band quite like eccentric Chicago folkies Califone. They’ve also been dubbed a post-rock experimental rock band, so take your pick.
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- Maybe - Ingrid Michaelson Single Review
- Up and rising folk spirited, New York based starlet Ingrid Michaelson, has every reason to feel buoyant after the welcomed, but surprising stateside success of her independently released 4th album ‘Everybody’. In ‘Maybe’, Michaelson seems to choose the right single to m...
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Remains - White Belt Yellow Tag EP Review- Ex Yourcodenamieis:Milo mainstay, Justin Lockey and his co-conspirator for this new project Craig Pilbin. Must have been asked how Mogwai and Guillemots would sound if they combined forces and attempted krautrock, judging by the vibe given off in the title track? Soarin...
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Everybody - Ingrid Michaelson Album Review- Picture the scene – you are the musical director of the new Jennifer Aniston movie, “And Then The Right Man Did The Right Thing For Cash Until Some Other Bitch Came And Took Him Away” (or some other insipid moniker involving eye-lid fluttering and buying lots of bunches...
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- First Train Home - Imogen Heap Single Review
- It may be conjecture, but it is my uneducated assumption that most great singles were not written having returned from a party at 8am; and so it falls to Imogen Heap once more to assert her talent on a level above the ordinary. ‘First Train Home’, Heap’s first single fr...
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Roll Away - Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam Album Review- A crucial re-issue of Back Door Slam’s 2007 knock-‘em-dead album ‘Roll Away’. Davy Knowles - vocals, guitars, Adam Jones - bass, Ross Doyle – drums (the band has split since then, Knowles retaining the BDS name) epitomised what modern blues-rock should be. No ego-stroki...
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Leaving Everything Behind - Flood of Red Album Review- Airdrieonians Flood Of Red used to play for cheese sandwiches during their formative years so I guess they should be sick of a nice piece of Wensleydale by now. This album may however nudge them a bit nearer to a slice of the mainstream – I say nudge rather than propel ...
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Rain Machine - Rain Machine Album Review- Hare Krishna meets Jimi Hendrix to perform like an electrified Devendra Banhart on acid, with occasional percussion accompaniment from MicaChu. Ok, so it's not all like that (Actually only once!), but the best track on the album, ‘Give Blood’, is, and although the rest ...
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Signs And Wonders - Animal Kingdom Single Review- Animal Kingdom, if you didn't already know, are a four piece from London who have been hotly tipped to do big things this year. Having previously been compared to Coldplay, Radiohead, The Cure, Mercury Rev and Sigur Ros they have a formidable pedigree to aspire to. Thei...
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Creaturesque - Throw Me The Statue Album Review- This is Seattle-based Throw Me The Statue’s second album in two years.The brainchild of Scott Reitherman, TMTS are progressing nicely into a band with a whopping sound which is effervescently infectious. This is the sound of modern American pop that owes much to the gra...
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Espana - Putumayo Album Review- Putumayo’s at it again.This time its Spain’s turn to get the spotlight with this immaculately researched collection. It’s the first time Putumayo has focused on a compilation based entirely on the music of Spain. It can never be said that Spanish music is miserable – he...
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Fall - Zenyth EP Review- Zenyth have been known as one of Britain’s best unsigned bands for long enough – now the release of their new EP ‘Fall’ could well thrust them to another level.Since forming in 2004, this stirring Welsh five-piece have earned widespread acclaim largely on the live circu...
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Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down - Risque Album Review- An eleven-track kinky electro perv-fest appropriately on the Some Bizarre label, this heavy-breathing, corrective slaps abounding, squelchorama owes much to Alison Goldfrapp’s S & M adventures, echoing Soft Cell, Grace Jones and Donna Summer. Recorded in London’s Soho a...
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How To Do Battle - Senser Album Review- Blimey, the last time I saw and heard Senser was when they played as part of a trio of like-minded attitude bands in the mid 90s in Norwich (at The Waterfront I think) – God they were good. And here they are again, thrusting their angry groins and fingers right in your ...
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The Captain - Biffy Clyro Single Review- “The Captain” is the third single to be taken from Biffy Clyro’s upcoming album; “Only Revolutions” (released 9th November). It offers a different sound to previous singles, “Mountains” and “That Golden Rule”. “The Captain” has a more melodic sound compared to Biffy Cly...
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- The Last Time - Kizzy Star Single Review
- Now this is not a bad wee tune – an epic stomper that builds up to a memorable chorus and displays considerably more depth than just one listen would suggest. Kizzy Star hail from Glasgow and have previously released a limited edition single called ‘Out Of Control’ – it...
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- A Paean To Wilson - The Durutti Column Album Review
- This is Durutti Column’s umpteenth album for Northampton’s Kookydisc label and represents a landmark release. Apart from being a fantastic package designed by Trevor Johnson, it highlights the sole wish of one friend who just wanted to stop another friend from singing.....
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- The Durutti Column @ King's Place - 09/10/2009 - Live Review
- This performance had many special meanings.Firstly, it formed part of the excellent Beyond The Loop series curated by New Zealander musician and Duke Quartet guide, John Metcalfe.
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No Smoke No Mirrors - The Holloways Album Review- When I was a little kid (yeah, last week? Ha ha funny...now **** off), I used to love watching programmes like Mr Benn, Magic Roundabout and Roobarb & Custard. The 3 programmes may have had differing plots and characters but the intro themes all had one thing in common ...
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Richard Hawley @ Shepherds Bush Empire - 08/10/2009 - Live Review- Sheffield’s patron saint of balladeers returned to London last night in sensational style and confirmed his unerring attention to detail and passion for musical excellence. The support act “The Smoke Faeries” did their level best to be heard above the gabbling chatter o...
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- Joshua Radin Interview
- In five years, singer-songwriter Joshua Radin has gone from writing screenplays and relative obscurity to having two critically acclaimed albums ‘We Were Here’ and ‘ Simple Things’, as well as songs played on some of America’s biggest shows, such as Scrubs, American Ido...
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Burn The Whole Place Down - Hey Negrita Album Review- Want a feelgood album? This is it. Want a brilliant album? This is it.With the devil in their shoes, Hey Negrita took time off from their hectic schedule to do an off-the-cuff acoustic album, their first.
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A Modern Art - Claire Martin Album Review- Album 13 from Wimbledon jazz-bird.This reviewer isn’t a jazz aficionado by any means, but as a singer Claire Martin doesn’t press my button, despite being a multiple award winner.
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Street Talking - Meretto Album Review- Amaretto / , ame'reteu/ n. a brown almond-flavoured liqueur produced in Italy, great for cocktails or coffees.Meretto, at best, a white rock-opera flavoured bitter shandy produced in London, great for parody or ridicule.
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Tell Me - The Echo Session Single Review- Lovely day, a round of golf, a luxury lunch on our behalf.Tell me what you’ve done with all the money that I’ve saved?Is it all safe and sound just like you said?‘Tell Me’ has been hailed as ‘the credit crunch anthem’ by some. It tells stories about the MP’s expenses sc...
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Speed Caravan @ Dingwalls - Lock 17 - 07/10/2009 - Live Review- Speed Caravan hail from Paris and have just released an excellent new album called “Kalashnik Love” on Peter Gabriel’s Realworld label (see review on this site) and so I was really keen to see the real thing in the flesh, so to speak. In summary, their music is a taste ...
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Don’t Look Down - Cerys Matthews Album Review- Cerys has well and truly left behind the excesses and successes achieved with Catatonia and opted for a more human and no less-commercial sound on this landmark 4th album. Landmark because it is the first dual-language release, versions available in Welsh and English. H...
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Sea Of Regrets - iLiKETRAiNS [i liKE TRAiNS] Single Review- With this beautiful track, the Leeds-based four-piece iLiKETRAiNS prove themselves as a divine, under-championed group of musicians. Their previous offerings have tentatively hinted at beauty through the means of morose, gloomy lyrics underpinned by well-orchestrated, c...
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I Got Soul - War Child Single Review- If, like Mr Rowland, you've been searching, searching everywhere, for the Young Soul Rebels, but just couldn't find them anywhere, well, the wait is finally over 'cos they're here. The Young Soul Rebels are a collective of some of Britain's best contemporary, young, of ...
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- All Walks Of Life - Middle Class Rut Single Review
- Almost a year since it first saw the light of day as one half of a limited edition, UK only release seven incher, and one sixth of the more recent “25 Years” EP, “All Walks of Life” is now unleashed as a single in its very own right. Straight out of Sacramento, Californ...
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Don't Have Far To Go - The A Train Single Review- Positioned on a spectrum somewhere between early 70’s Strawbs and early noughties Grand Drive, the second single from The ‘A’ Train isn’t going to be punching great big holes in what was once known as the hit parade, pop pickers. Nor is it necessarily going to fire-star...
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Manic Anti-Depressive - Popgun Album Review- From the turgid drumming, amateur guitar and tuneless vocals of opening song “Fucked Up”, it’s difficult not to rain down scorn on Manic Anti-Depressive, the second album from Norwegian rockers Popgun. Along with the laughable reviews featured with the press release, (...
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Truth and Love - Brian Ledford Album Review- Cool country rock from North West America.There are plenty of albums out there with ‘grower’ written all over them – this is one. Given time, you’ll find all kinds of interesting bits.
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Modern Mediaeval - David Garside Album Review- Excellent songs..dodgy singer.If David Garside could deliver consistent singing performances, it would drastically improve is work. As it stands, much of his singing isn’t up to scratch. Some might compare his voice with Nick Drake and at a push Elliott Smith.
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Get Wild - Sharam Album Review- If the name Sharam sounds vaguely familiar to you then it’s no surprise, especially if your musical preference is or has been club-orientated over the past 10 years. He is one-half of US-based tribal-house duo, Deep Dish and on this expansive double CD set revisits his ...
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Leaving Everything Behind - Flood of Red Album Review- Just when you think the debate about music distribution and downloading couldn’t get any cloudier. Thoughtful Scottish upstarts, Flood Of Red elects to shun the standard £9.99 in HMV and Amazon format for the release of their debut album. Choosing a path usually only tr...
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Wrought Iron - Nancy Elizabeth Album Review- Enchanting minimalism...from Lancashire and other places.Solitude can work wonders for your art and career. The Beatles wrote much of The White album in India and more recently Bon Iver did the same in the woods of northern Wisconsin.
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Jackie - Is It My Birthday? ft. Sinead O'Connor - The Wolfmen Single Review- You won’t hear a more fascinating single this year.The combination of Wolfmen’s Chris Constantinou, Marco Pirroni and Irish chanteuse Sinead O’Connor is a master stroke.
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Don’t Look Down - Cerys Matthews Album Review- Welsh songbird Cerys Matthews, once voted the Sexiest Female in Rock (Melody Maker 1999) must be cockahoop with her new album.Don’t Look Down is a drastic shift from her debut solo, Cockahoop and its follow-up Never Said Goodbye.
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- Cut Me - Kick to Kill Single Review
- “Come on, come on, come on and cut me / come on, come on, come on and watch me bleed” – this definitely is NOT the latest single by Lady GaGa and thank the Lord it isn’t. This is (now) an autobiographical account of lead singer Dave Cook’s reward for working on several ...
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Nothing Out Loud - Alejandra O'leary Album Review- Alejandra O’ Leary has produced a frustrating little album with ‘Nothing Out Loud.’ Parts of it have great musicianship whilst other parts are just a little too contrived to convince me of her potential as a great singer.Most of her songs have certainly got a great pop ...
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Let’s Get Lit With…The Mojo Guru’s - Mojo Gurus Album Review- With previous album title including ‘Drinkin’ TNT and Smokin’ Dynamite’ and ‘Hot Damn’ I slipped this CD from The Mojo Guru’s with a slight sense of trepidation (to put it nicely). Sadly it did not surprise me in the slightest as from start to finish there is not much o...
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Onion - Mike McClure Band Album Review- Although this is an album full of songs that sound quite similar in music I can’t help but love ‘Onion’, the latest album from Red Dirt veterans ‘Mike McClure Band.’It starts inconspicuously with ‘Crash Land’ but then ‘Perfect Night’ kicks in and call me a sucker but I ...
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Woodstock Two - Various Artists Album Review- More fun in the sun..and the rain.This CD follows on from CD1 where Jimi Hendrix played the last leg of Woodstock on Monday 18 August 1969.
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Coming Up For Air - Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam Album Review- I will have to make a confession – Blues albums make me run for the proverbial bus on some occasions, normally when Robert Johnson and Little Walter are NOT present on the sleeve – instead the image or presence of a pony-tailed oik squawking his way through Muddy Waters...
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- Do you know Ou Est Le Swimming Pool? - Ou Est Le Swimming Pool Interview
- Interviewing a young new band can prove quite a challenging task, and Ou Est Le Swimming Pool didn’t prove an exception. No bitterness intended here, just a fact, though we still managed to grab their attention for a wee-while and to distract them from what looked like ...
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Rising Up - Honey Ryder Single Review- If you’re a fan or not of their music you have to admire Honey Ryder for their single minded attitude to their music and its direction. Releasing all their music independently they gather word of mouth by constant performing and get funds they need for recording and rel...
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- Stalemate - Ben's Brother Single Review
- The last single I reviewed from Jamie Hartman aka Ben’s Brother was ‘Apologize’ which I felt was a bit flat and slapdash for a man of such great potential. So now after favourable reviews, a summer of festival performances and the approval (and vocal) of superstar Anast...
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Wired OK - Paw Paw Single Review- Great, yet another 80’s electro inspired group. Can there really be any blood left to drag from this poor, overused stone? The short answer is yeah. The long answer is Hell’s yeah!Wired Ok is just pure joy from start to finish. It may offer nothing much in the name of o...
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- Weather Song - Richard Walters Single Review
- Richard Walters’s debut album is a melancholic masterpiece and 'Weather Song' is one of its highlights. The atmosphere of the song evokes the spirit of Nick Drake with its sparse but polished production levels and the vocal is a stunningly bare falsetto that blends beau...
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None Of The Above - William Gray Album Review- If you like your sweet treats without variation or surprise this may not be for you. If however you are occasionally inclined to take the consequences of dipping your hand in a packet of Revels, rather than persevere with say, a slab of Diary Milk, then this maybe of in...
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Woodstock [Live] – Various Artists Album Review- Billed as ‘Three Days Of Music And Peace, Woodstock (or Woodstock Music and Art Fair as it was officially plugged) remains the most famous outdoor festival ever.Rhino now releases the music from the original soundtrack and more – the more is presumably rainstorm, crowd ...
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Nightschool - The Xcerts Single Review- The Xcerts are fantastic. The entirety of their album ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’ is filled with track after track that would make fantastic singles and here is yet another one of them.‘Nightschool’ again ticks every single box you could look for. It’s a perfect indie c...
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Sea Of Regrets - iLiKETRAiNS [i liKE TRAiNS] Single Review- I like trains have crafted on of the finest songs of the year with their epic new single ‘Sea Of Regrets.’It may not seem like the best choice for a single as it runs at a lengthy six minutes but as soon as the gentle vocal broke in I was mesmerized right until the last...
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Love And Terror - The Cinematics Album Review- Since bursting onto the music scene in 2007 with their debut album ‘A Strange Education’, Glasgow band The Cinematics have enjoyed moderate success in America and Europe, but still remain small in Britain unlike their contemporaries, such as Editors and Interpol, who Th...
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Rush - Black Gold Album Review- New York duo singer Eric Ronick and instrumentalist Than Luu make up Black Gold; armed with the best records of British pop they deliver a debut album that sparks melody and commercial desire. Having already gained a small fan base over the last three years including to...
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- Touch & Feel/ It Came As No Surprise - Vegas Nights [UK] Single Review
- Vegas Nights is not a compilation of songs from Celine Dion's recent stint playing to packed, no doubt tasteless, crowds on the strip. (Thank heavens to Betsy I hear you cry!). Nor are they a collection of dubious clips from some over exuberant frat party. They are in f...
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Various Artists - Where The Action Is! Los Angeles Nuggets 1965 – 1968 Album Review- LA’s mid-60s explosion. Groovy, man.On Monday 16 February I cruised along Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles for the first time. This was a teenage dream come true.
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11-11 - Rodrigo y Gabriela Album Review- Many people will know Rodrigo y Gabriela from their UK festival billings over the last few years. If your only contact with them to date is hearing flamenco influenced metal tearing out of a circus tent then this album might warrant a more detailed listen. Their tag lin...
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The Hacienda - How Not to Run a Club - Peter Hook Book Review- Now you may think “What was so special or difficult about running a business in the 80s – it’s a doddle innit?” – you would be a fool for even entertaining such a thought, especially when you read this book (and you should). Upon reaching the end chapter of this highly-...
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Imelda May @ Central Station & Yales - 28/09/2009 - Live Review- Bom boom shake the room!According to Jools Holland Irish chanteuse Imelda May has ‘it’.
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The Resistance - Muse Album Review- They’re back. Better than ever.Matt Bellamy’s grand vision continues for Devonian trio Muse.
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Live - Tina Turner Album Review- Acid Queen, What’s Love Got To Do With It, Private Dancers, Let’s Stay Together, I Can’t Stand The Rain, Golden Eye, Addicted To Love,Proud Mary, Nutbsush City Limits.
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A French Kiss In The Chaos - Reverend and the Makers Album Review- A chum of Arctic Monkeys’s Alex Turner, the Reverend’s Jon McClure has learnt much from his buddy about expanding his musical soundscapes.French Kiss…is a heady brew of out -and -out -Brit Pop nostalgia and occasional quaint folkiness, with a keen attention to detail in...
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