| MUSIC |
The Red Inspectors - Are We The Red Inspectors? Are We? (Album Review)
Digital Underground now make just a little more sense. There was never any doubt that they brought the funk, and an interesting and innovative...
more... |
 |
Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland - Whitehorse (Album Review)
The recipe for success, especially in debut album terms, is usually marked by years of hard grind apprenticeship of musicians new to the industry...
more... |
 |
Hate Gallery - Viva La Resistance (Album Review)
Oh, the troublesome second album…a common cry among reviewers contemplating the second efforts of many artists. Yet, Anglo-Scandinavian...
more... |
 |
The Feeling - The Feeling - Singles - 2006-2011 (Album Review)
Retrospection has been all the rage since the turn of The Millennium. Witness the success of BMW’s Mini, the Gaggia coffee machine and even fashion...
more... |
 |
The Final - Wham! (Album Review)
Something happened in the 1980s that, in some ways, revitalised the pop scene. Naturally, it all depends on your view but an immense ‘bubble-gum’ machine...
more... |
 |
Luke Ritchie - Water on Edge (Album Review)
‘Water on Edge’, the debut album by Luke Ritchie is the soundtrack of unspoken love and loss. A fusion of blues, folk with rich melodies the album is a testament to his song-writing...
more... |
 |
Blue October - Any Man In America (Album Review)
‘Parting is such sweet sorrow’, wrote Shakespeare in the tragic love story of Romeo & Juliet. Much the same could be construed from the...
more... |
 |
Sandy Denny - 19 Rupert Street (Album Review)
After last years huge 19 CD box set, it comes as a real surprise that yet more unreleased recordings of the late great Sandy Denny have come to light...
more... |
 |
The Skuzzies – The Skuzzies (Album Review)
By the time The Libertine’s had reached the levels of fame they were so desperately chasing, Pete Doherty had already embarked upon a drink and drugs odyssey that culminated...
more... |
 |
Cuba Cuba - Where Else Is Safe But The Road (Album Review)
‘Where Else Is Safe But The Road’ is the debut album by Cuba Cuba, a five piece band from Cardiff Wales consisting of; lead vocalist Morgan Isaac...
more... |
 |
No Joy (Gig Review)
The Social, Oxford Circus, London
Not knowing what to expect is what gives the two piece group 'No Joy' guitarist/vocalist Jasmine White-Glutz and Laura...
more... |
 |
Status Quo - Quid Pro Quo (Album Review)
From 1967’s single ‘Pictures Of Matchstick Men’, to its 30th studio album, Quid Pro Quo, set for release on May 30th (only through Tesco outlets), regardless of your opinion...
more... |
 |
Uriah Heep Into The Wild (Album Review)
‘Into The Wild’ is the 23rd album by the progressive rock band ‘Uriah Heep.’ Littered with impressive rifts, guitar solos and and remarkable drumming, the core talent laid out...
more... |
 |
The Computers (Gig Review)
Hailing from Exeter and in the midst of their UK tour, The Computers made a dynamic act for a modest-sized audience at The Scala. And rather apt openers too for the main...
more... |
 |
William Fitzsimmons – Gold in the Shadow (Album Review)
Being compared to Sufjan Stevens and the late Elliot Smith, William Fitzsimmons’ words draw you like a lone wolf baring its soul. In appearance, the artist...
more... |
 |
Kilto Take (Gig Review)
The first time I listened to Kilto Take's four track EP, I was taken aback by what I can only describe a raw unique talent. Their sound could be likened to an impressive combination...
more... |
 |
Asa - Beautiful Imperfection (Album Review)
The world is rated ‘X’. Liberty is threatened, there are phoney wars and economic imperialism, and injustice is prevalent as is bad governance. The world is rated X as it was when...
more... |
 |
Hyper - The Panic (Album Review)
It’s not panic but fluster as I try to avoid cliché in the aftermath of Hyper’s album ‘The Panic’. I am just an admonishing slap of the hand away from a calorie overload on empty carbs...
more... |
 |
Marillion - Live from Cadogan Hall (Album Review)
Eighties rockers Marillion would seem to be an unlikely fit for London’s 900 capacity Cadogan Hall in Chelsea, but that is exactly where they ended up on...
more... |
 |
New Thomas White Video
White’s interpretation of Warren Zevon’s tale of heartbreak, Accidentally Like a Matryr, leads a 5 track digital EP that features White’s take on artists as diverse as Louis Armstrong and...
more... |
 |
Whip It Soundtrack (Album Review)
Director Drew Barrymore’s likeable and well received Whip It has a great soundtrack and so the soundtrack album was always going to be a sure success with those that...
more... |
 |
It Might Get Loud (Music Documentary Review)
To start a film with a young chap nailing a Coca-Cola bottle, a single metal string and electric pickup to a two-feet long plank of wood, which he plays subsequently in...
more... |
 |
Never Been Gone - Carly Simon (Album Review)
Popular music ‘divas’ seem to proliferate these days in a fairly fertile environment that is over-populated by samey-sounding, samey-genre non-entities that...
more... |
 |
The Absolute Belters - Glorious Victorious (Album Review)
If you missed The Clash, wish you had seen The Buzzcocks in their prime or just hanker after some good old-fashioned (well, it is now, despite a reported...
more... |
 |
Silke Wilhelm I Audiovisual Couture Vol.1 by Kowesix (Album Review)
The realms of music and fashion often delve into each other worlds. Music blaring on catwalks, fashionistas taking to the decks, designers inspired...
more... |
 |
Anjunadeep: 02
Anjunabeats (Album Review)
Anjunadeep: 02 is a heart pumping good dance album. Mixing up trance, techno and house to good effect are Jaytech and James Grant producing a rousing and accomplished...
more... |
 |
Hed Kandi - Nu Disco The Future Sound of Disco (Album Review)
With 27 tracks on the latest offering from Hed Kandi you’d expect a few party pleasers and the album does deliver a nice bag of funky tunes with inevitably...
more... |
 |
Genesis Klassik - Ray Wilson Live in Berlin (Album Review)
A lot of water has passed beneath the bridge since Ray Wilson joined and then departed rock legend, Genesis, during which one low-key tour and solitary...
more... |
|
 |
 |
Crippled Black Phoenix – (Mankind) The Crafty Ape (Album Review)
Not since ‘Tarkus’ by rock legend ELP (Emerson, Lake and Palmer) have I felt so enthused about a ‘concept’ album, even though I am 100% certain that...
more... |
 |
Johnny Boy James - Mistakes ‘an All (Album Review)
The sound of the blues is fairly thin pickings, these days, and there is a need for some novelty to enter the scene. Blues fans fearing a dearth of...
more... |
 |
A Loss For Words - No Sanctuary (Album Review)
‘No Sanctuary’, the second album by ‘A Loss for Words’ a band from Boston, Massachusetts also known as ALFW, is an electric mix of old fashioned punk...
more... |
 |
Trentemoller - Reworked/ Remixed (Album Review)
The Remix is agent provocateur of Existential thought. A depressingly expressive seductive art. Bedfellow of ennui whose progeny both...
more... |
 |
The Miserable Rich - Miss you in the Days (Album Review)
Brighton five-piece The Miserable Rich are releasing their third album, a haunting mix of 11 tracks which is set for release on Halloween. The album was...
more... |
 |
Body Language – Social Studies (Album Review)
Ennui is ravishing. The doleful sigh of resignation is irresistible. ‘Body Language’, despite the vivacity of their seduction, is resistible; and much like...
more... |
 |
Zion Train – State of Mind (Album Review)
When I think of a dub-reggae cross over my mind can’t help but imagine an awkward Aswad cover version of Beat International’s “Dub Be Good to Me”. In reality, what you...
more... |
 |
ManRaze – punkfunkrootsrock (Album Review)
Featuring some of the biggest legends in punk music, ManRaze are back with their second album, which is described as a blend of rock, dub and soul. With a line-up consisting of former Def...
more... |
 |
TOTAL - From Joy Division to New Order (Album Review)
While it begs the question about how long it took for this pair of closely related, northern bands to be placed on a single album, rest assured that, in a messy...
more... |
 |
Mr Big -
Bitter Streets (Album Review)
Soft melodic rock doesn’t often get ticked in my music genre preferences. But all that could soon change after listening to UK 70’s band, Mr Big’s newest album release ‘Bitter Streets.’...
more... |
 |
Misfits – Original Soundtrack (Album Review)
Sony has released the soundtrack to the cult TV show Misfits, with a great assortment of indie, rock and alternative rock. With music playing a large part in the cult TV show, it must...
more... |
 |
The Charlie Rivers Band (Gig Review)
Until I was handed the five track ‘Crazy’ EP, I had never heard of The Charlie Rivers Band, a four piece from Tunbridge Wells with their fresh sound and catchy melodies. So when I heard...
more... |
 |
In Legend - Ballads ‘N’ Bullets (Album Review)
German band In Legend tries to challenge the traditional concepts of metal with their piano based sound on their debut album ‘Ballads ‘N’ Bullets’. Devoid of guitars, the piano drives the...
more... |
 |
Belle Phoenix - Nine Lives (Album Review)
The Antipodes has been responsible for sending us a decent variety of chanteuses in recent years, although few of them has been as avant-garde as Belle Phoenix. Her route...
more... |
 |
Younger Brother - Vaccine (Album Review)
Citing influences as diverse as Pink Floyd, Van Morrison and Bob Marley, you might fairly expect an album of misguided confusion from Younger Brother. Essentially a duo, Simon...
more... |
 |
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Belong (Album Review)
It is with their second album, Belong, that New York’s The Pains of Being Pure at Heart from are bearing the pains of being a lengthily-titled band, for their...
more... |
 |
Toy Horses - Toy Horses (Album Review)
One of the most talked about acts at 2010’s South By South West festival, Toy Horses have built up an impressive word of mouth following on both sides of the Atlantic. Toy Horses’ often...
more... |
 |
Avril Lavigne - Goodbye Lullaby (Album Review)
Having grown up listening to the likes of New Found Glory, Blink 182 and No Doubt, I must say I am pretty familiar with the pop-punk genre...
more... |
 |
Japanese Fighting Fish - Just Before We Go Mad (Album Review)
The problem with trying to make music in this day and age is that all the good band names are taken, and every possible fusion of genres has already won...
more... |
 |
Robert Plant - Band Of Joy (Album Review)
A triumphant Mr Plant, devoid of his Mr Page, fairly hot on the heels of his successes with T-Bone Burnett, the O2 Led Zep gigs and the elegant crooning with rootsy country...
more... |
 |
Martin Landsky – Werkschau (Album Review)
German producer and DJ Landsky mixes up the techno beats to good effect. ‘2000 Miles’ is the opener a nice reworking of Landsky’s best known track 100 miles, the trance synth...
more... |
 |
Angus & Julia Stone – Down the Way (Album Review)
Perfect for a lazy or rainy day the second album from siblings Angus and Julia Stone is a collection of elegant, simple yet softly reassuring songs...
more... |
 |
Thomas White - The Maximalist (Album Review)
Thomas White first came to prominence as a teenager when he and his brother Alex as Electric Soft Paradise were nominated for the 2002 Mercury...
more... |
 |
Hungry And The Hunted - Magic Bullets (Album Review)
Self-produced albums are to be expected in a market populated by the fearsome ‘new talent’ powers of Simon Cowell and his one-hit-wonder machine that...
more... |
 |
Cypher 16 - The Man Of The Black Abyss (Album Review) Calling themselves ‘organic rockers’ is not a justification for a fusion of the electronic rock and heavy metal influences that lie behind Cypher 16. Largely... more... |
 |
The Moons - Life on Earth (Album Review)
The debut album by The Moons seems to draw the listener back to the 60s with its rifts, melodies and optimistic yet sad knowing lyrics. The band includes frontman Andy Crofts, Paul...
more... |
 |
Kasper Bjorke - Standing on top of Utopia (Album Review)
Dane Kasper Bjorke’s follow up to his debut album Gumbo is a nice fusion of ten tracks that showcase some of what’s coming out of the Copenhagen...
more... |
 |
Freestylers - Past, Present & Future EP (Album Review)
Not much to shout about in the release of this distinctly below par EP.
The first track ‘Cracks’ has the ironic lyrics ‘about the cracks beginning to show’ and there...
more... |
|
|