Music Reviews

Sarathy Korwar - Day To Day Album Review

It might all sound a bit Professor Brian Cox, but it's hard to escape the conclusion that music and musicians are being drawn to its increasingly heterogeneous middle, or catapulted by some dark creative matter far out into the darkest...

By Andy Peterson on 18 July 2016

Marissa Nadler - Strangers Album Review

There's something indescribably fascinating about staring through a window, a voyeurism that fills a need deep down in many people's souls. Marissa Nadler confesses to being something of a home bird, spending much of her time when at home in...

By Andy Peterson on 18 July 2016

Marissa Nadler

DJ Shadow - The Mountain Will Fall Album Review

The twenty years that have elapsed since Josh Davis released his début Entroducing make for neat symmetry when considering The Mountain Will Fall, but little else. Widely acknowledged as one of the most influential hip-hop records of all time -...

By Andy Peterson on 18 July 2016

DJ Shadow

Jack Whitehall - Live at Soho Theatre 9 July 2016

Jack Whitehall played at London's Soho Theatre, on Saturday, in preparation of his upcoming UK arena tour 'At Large' in February 2017. Making his own personal announcement and welcoming himself to the stage, Whitehall played to an intimate 140 seater...

By Chloe Dobinson on 11 July 2016

Jack Whitehall

Florence And The Machine - British Summer Time 2 July 2016 Live Review

Florence and the Machine marked a triumphant return to London with a sold out performance at British Summer Time, in Hyde Park on Saturday 2 July 2016. Upon making her entrance to the stage Florence promised a magical set with...

By Chloe Dobinson on 08 July 2016

Florence and the Machine

[PIAS] Alternative Spirit - Album Review

When you think of the words alternative spirit you think -upbeat, raucous indie-pop music and that's exactly what this new PIAS compilation album provides. The album consists of 39 tracks from artists such as Roisin Murphy, Basement Jaxx and Fleet...

By Chloe Dobinson on 08 July 2016

Alt-J Black Keys Bloc Party Two Door Cinema Club Various Artists

Morganway - No Tomorrows EP Review

With origins in the East Anglian county of Norfolk, Morganway are a quintet started by twins Callum and Kieran Morgan.  The outfit are currently on tour throughout the UK, including multiple hometown shows in Norwich, leading up the release of...

By Alex Lai on 08 July 2016

Paul Gilbert - I Can Destroy Album Review

American guitar virtuoso Paul Gilbert's latest studio album, the 13 track "I Can Destroy", was released in Japan in December, 2015. Fans of rock and roll in the rest of the world endured a seven month waiting period, but the...

By Iris North on 06 July 2016

Paul Gilbert

CC Dust - Wharf Chambers, Leeds 21.06.2016 Live Review

CC Dust are a brand new synth-pop duo emerging from Olympia, Washington. From the little amount of music they have out, the 'Never Wanted To Die' single as well as their 'Shinkansen No.1/New Ways' 7", CC Dust have established their...

By Max Cussons on 04 July 2016

Kamasi Washington - Manchester Academy- 28.06.2016 Live Review

Jazz isn't a genre of music that's had a ton of relevance in the musical landscape over the last decade or two. There's been notable acts and the genre's influence has been felt in other genres, in certain aspects of...

By Max Cussons on 30 June 2016

Manchester Academy

Metronomy - Summer 08 Album Review

Started by then Devon-inhabitant Joseph Mount, Metronomy are a quartet who have previously released four albums with ever-increasing chart success.  Their last long-player in 2014 underlined their upward trajectory by cracking the UK top ten and its campaign included a...

By Alex Lai on 30 June 2016

Metronomy

Anohni - Hopelessness Album Review

Anohni's (of Antony and the Johnson's fame) debut album as a solo artist, 'Hopelessness', is one of the most beautifully arresting albums of the year so far. It's unashamedly political, self-reflective, deliciously ironic and at points pessimistic to the point...

By Eoin Hanlon on 30 June 2016

The Kills - Ash & Ice Album Review

"Ash & Ice" is the fifth studio album by The Kills, a duo who got its start as a feral, garage punk rock act, riffing alongside a drum machine. This album, the band's first in five years, almost didn't happen...

By Iris North on 30 June 2016

The Kills

Swans - The Glowing Man Album Review

Where to begin when talking about Swans? This is the band with arguably the richest history in experimental music. For starters there's their significance to ugly no-wave and noise rock in the eighties, with their first run of albums, then...

By Max Cussons on 27 June 2016

Swans

Primavera Sound Festival - Live Review

Thursday: As you walk the steady incline up to the festival site, chatter sparks from all directions from your fellow festival-goers as you reach the first gate to pass through. Swallowed by the atmosphere, you briefly snap out of your daze...

By Eoin Hanlon on 22 June 2016

Primavera Sound Festival Tame Impala LCD Soundsystem Battles Savages Radiohead

Band of Horses - Why Are You OK Album Review

Five albums in a decade is a pretty good batting average, but I'm always a little cautious when an album is described as a "return to form". It's with that attitude that I approached Band of Horses' new record Why...

By Jim Pusey on 21 June 2016

Band Of Horses

The Invisible - Patience Album Review

Like many other musical byways, dance music tends to have a pervasive, almost fetishistic, obsession with its own past. Nailing down the reasons why is as difficult - and futile - as with most attempts to dredge popular culture, but...

By Andy Peterson on 20 June 2016

The Invisible

Jameszoo - Fool Album Review

Dutch producer Mitchel Van Dinther, aka Jameszoo, has spent the last couple of years honing his craft in creating wonky, loose, electronic music, through various EPs, but now he finally has a full length debut in the shape of 'Fool'....

By Max Cussons on 20 June 2016

Róisín Murphy - Take Her Up To Monto Album Review

It's safe to say that Róisín Murphy's given the odd record company exec a sleepless night or two. The woman who got her start in the music industry as the public half of Moloko after propositioning future co-producer Mark Brydon...

By Andy Peterson on 20 June 2016

Roisin Murphy

Download Festival - 2016 Review

This year's Download festival turned out to be a very wet weekend with constant downpours and thunderstorms throughout the three days, but what would 'Drownload' festival be without a little bit of rain? Thick with mud and soggy from the...

By Sophie Brannon on 17 June 2016

Download Festival Rammstein Black Sabbath Iron Maiden Babymetal Killswitch Engage

Less Win - Trust Album Review

A truly international affair, Less Win are a trio comprising a Spaniard, Australian and a Pole, billed as from Copenhagen, Denmark.  Signed to The Big Oil Recording Company, this album was recorded in analogue at the Black Tornado studio in...

By Alex Lai on 17 June 2016

Field Day - 2016 Live Review

Don't forget your wellies

By Harry Moore on 16 June 2016

Field Day

Pantha Du Prince - The Triad Album Review

Pantha Du Prince, aka German producer Hendrik Weber has established himself as a pro in minimal techno over the last decade or so. Across his three albums 'Diamond Daze', 'The Bliss' and 2010's 'Black Noise', Weber has delivered beats heavy,...

By Max Cussons on 16 June 2016

Pantha Du Prince

Wild Life Festival 2016 - Live Review

After winning the Best New Festival Award in 2015, Wild Life was back at Brighton City Airport to now showcase and cement its date in the festival calendar as a major player. To do this, it would need to go...

By Adam Holden on 16 June 2016

Ice Cube Skepta Rudimental Disclosure

The Hotelier - Goodness Album Review

Album number three finds Massachusetts Punk trio The Hotelier exploring a broader, more commercial, and grown up sound that takes them far beyond the emo-revival categorisation they had previously been pigeonholed with. Goodness is an ambitious and surprisingly subtle set...

By Jim Pusey on 14 June 2016

Phoria - Volition Album Review

Phoria are a UK, multi-instrumental, electronic heavy outfit who in recent years have established themselves as a key band when it comes to creating delicate, calming, meditative music through their impressive EPs and singles. Here they finally have a full...

By Max Cussons on 10 June 2016

The Mirror Trap - Simulations Album Review

Recorded at Karma Sound Studios in Thailand, 'Simulations' is the latest full length release from Dundee outfit The Mirror Trap.  With festival appearances spanning Derby to Tokyo scheduled, the band will then join regular touring partners Placebo for shows across...

By Alex Lai on 10 June 2016

Letlive - If I'm The Devil... Album Review

Letlive. are a band with something rare to defend in 2016, a perfect two-for-two with regards recorded output, and a flawless reputation in the live arena.Building their reputation on politically-charged songs served alongside an incendiary, razor-sharp live show led by...

By David Straw on 10 June 2016

Letlive

Yonaka - Brudenell Social Club 10 June 2016 Live Review

Yonaka are a new band hailing from Brighton, who refer to themselves as 'dark pop'. Their sound, as displayed on their 'Ignorance' single, consists of fuzzy riffs, firm rhythm as well as Theresa Jarvis's vocals that are soulful and confident...

By Max Cussons on 10 June 2016

The Staves - Sleeping In A Car EP Review

It's a pleasant surprise to hear new material from The Staves just fourteen months after their second full-length effort If I Was. That astonishing album informs the new three song EP Sleeping In A Car, but these songs certainly don't...

By Jim Pusey on 08 June 2016

The Staves

Classixx - Faraway Reach Album Review

LA production duo Michael David and Tyler Blake's début album as Classixx, 2013's Hanging Gardens, nestled comfortably between the tramlines of Vapour/Chill wave (Delete to taste): long on Miami Vice era 80's retro to just the right side of pastiche,...

By Andy Peterson on 08 June 2016

Classixx

Tom Odell - Wrong Crowd Album Review

To win a Brit Award before releasing your debut album brings a certain level of expectation, but Tom Odell managed it with aplomb.  Not only did he top the chart with his first long-player, it also went on to reach...

By Alex Lai on 07 June 2016

Tom Odell

Hesitation Wounds - Awake For Everything Album Review

Hesitation Wounds is an American hardcore punk supergroup consisting of Touché Amoré vocalist Jeremy Bolm, The Hope Conspiracy and Suicide File guitarist Neeraj Kane, newest Slipknot and former Against Me! drummer Jay Weinberg and True Cross bassist Stephen LaCour. They've...

By Max Cussons on 06 June 2016

Math And Physics Club - In This Together Album Review

Beginning as a project between friends in the late Nineties, Math And Physics Club have gone on to release three albums.  This collection pulls together EPs, B-sides, rarities and unreleased material for the decade period from 2005, which may well...

By Alex Lai on 06 June 2016

Garbage - Strange Little Birds Album Review

It's been over 20 years since the quartet who comprises Garbage released their eponymous debut, a record that got them noticed on both sides of the Atlantic.  They are imminently bringing out their sixth album and are heavily promoting it...

By Alex Lai on 06 June 2016

Garbage

Slam Dunk 2016 - Live Review

2016 looks set to be a sink or soar year for festivals. While the losses of Hevy Fest & Temples (RIP) and Hit The Deck - ducking quietly into the aether without ever being announced for this summer - are...

By David Straw on 06 June 2016

Slam Dunk Festival Cancer Bats Hacktivist Every Time I Die

Tourist - U Album Review

Break ups are pretty much the Lingua Franca of pop music: from Amy Winehouse to Sinead O' Connor, few things are more guaranteed to connect with an audience than spilling all the gory details about your past relationship's sad demise.Tourist...

By Andy Peterson on 03 June 2016

We Are Fstvl 2016 - Live Review

There can be no better way to spend your bank holiday weekend than being at a music festival. We Are Fstvl took place on 28 and 29 May 2016 at Upminster, London bringing a glimpse of British summertime to the...

By Chloe Dobinson on 02 June 2016

Fatboy Slim Craig David Steve Angello

Suzerain - Identity Album Review

Having spent the last two years working on this, London quintet Suzerain are releasing their second album, produced by The Cure and Depeche Mode cohort Steve Lyon.  Their debut arrived in 2011 and they have built their reputation with shows...

By Alex Lai on 31 May 2016

Tides From Nebula - Safehaven Album Review

Hailing from Warsaw, Poland, Tides From Nebula are a quartet who formed in 2008 and have released three albums prior to 'Safehaven'.  The instrumental outfit are currently on tour throughout mainland Europe, while two shows in their native land are...

By Alex Lai on 31 May 2016