Album Review: The Voluntary Butler Scheme – A Million Ways to Make Gold
Ever since Rob Jones, under the moniker of his primary creative outlet The Voluntary Butler Scheme, released his 2009 début ‘At Breakfast, Dinner And Tea’, the market for quirky, catchy one-man-bands has been pretty much cornered. Demonstrating what would become the multi-instrumentalist’s typical eye for detail and knack for a catchy brass hook, ‘At Breakfast…’ set the precedent for a string of collaborations – most notably with the fantastic Sweet Baboo – that... Read More
Album Review: The Hold Steady – Teeth Dreams
I love how Brooklyn’s The Hold Steady can be enjoyed on different levels. Essentially a party band, the live shows feel like gatherings of like-minded people in attendance to drink some beers and share a love of rock. There’s a real sense of community. Look deeper, though, and listeners can quickly lose themselves in the universe created by lyricist/singer/guitarist Craig Finn. The night life there is exciting, but it’s often a dark, druggy and dangerous place. Set against... Read More
22/03/2014 with Louis Barrabas (Bedlam Six/Debt Records) & Lisa Durrant (SXSW Blogger)
Guest on the show were Louis Barrabas (Bedlam Six and Debt Records) and Lisa Durrant (Silent Radio’s SXSW Blogger) TRACK LISTING Wild Beasts – Wanderlust / Jungle – Busy Earnin’ / Micah P. Hinson – I Keep Havin These Dreams / Last Lynx – Lacuna / Alabaster dePlume & Daniel Inzani – The Jester / Louis Barrabas and the Bedlam Six – Waiting For Bad News / Louis Barrabas and the Bedlam Six – You’re On Your Own Now... Read More
NEWS: TAME IMPALA – HEAR ‘BE ABOVE IT’ TAKEN FROM NEW LIVE EP
As part of this year’s Record Store Day, Tame Impala will be releasing an 8-track live recording, simply titled ‘Live Versions’. The limited edition vinyl will be available on Record Store Day, Saturday 19th April, at participating record stores across the world. Additionally, Tame Impala have announced their recent signing in the UK to Fiction Records, moving to Interscope in the US. Fiction MD Jim Chancellor had this to say about the band joining their roster:... Read More
NEWS: LIVERPOOL SOUND CITY ANNOUNCES THIRD WAVE OF ACTS
Sound City 2014 Liverpool Sound City has revealed a mighty third wave of artists featuring some of the hottest names in the industry such as Jagwar Ma, Public Service Broadcasting, East India Youth, Bipolar Sunshine, Blood Red Shoes, Pins, Glass Animals, Bird, Factory Floor, Ratking, Say Lou Lou and Sunshine Underground. The new wave includes an additional 75 bands bringing the total number of live acts announced to date to over 100 with a stunning array of talent from Jon Hopkins... Read More
LIVE: ELLEN & THE ESCAPADES – 15/03/2014
– THE CASTLE HOTEL, MANCHESTER – Described on their website as a “very exclusive intimate gig”, Ellen & The Escapades come to Manchester to road test some new songs. It feels like The Castle have tried to create a dual purpose gig venue and sauna this evening. I don’t think it works too well though, it is far too hot for live music. The first act on stage is Bells In The Birches, a duo from Manchester who look very comfortable being on stage.... Read More
LIVE: JOHNNY FOREIGNER – 16/03/14
– GULLIVERS, MANCHESTER – Gullivers is fast becoming one of my favourite Manchester venues. With its chandelier-esque light fixings, deep red walls and mustard coloured drapes, it feels like I’m in a David Lynch movie every time I go in. Today, it plays host to an all-dayer presented by Manchester based lo-fi label Cheesus Crust Records. I arrive at Gullivers later on in the evening as I’m mainly here to catch headliners Johnny Foreigner. Beforehand, I... Read More
Album Review: The War on Drugs – Lost in the Dream
It’s worth starting this review by quoting a fairly lengthy passage from the press release: “Lost In The Dream is the third album by The War on Drugs, but in some ways, it is the first album by the Philadelphia band The War on Drugs. Ahead of and after the release of the 2011 breakthrough Slave Ambient, Adam Granduciel spent the bulk of two years on the road, touring those dozen songs through progressively larger rock clubs, festival stages and TV slots. To... Read More
LIVE: LEE ‘SCRATCH’ PERRY – 15/03/2014
– BAND ON THE WALL, MANCHESTER – Read anything about Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and you will undoubtedly encounter the words ‘genius’ and ‘insanity’ and with good reason; Perry is credited as the catalyst of dub music, wrote and produced hits for The Wailers, The Congos and Max Romeo (amongst others) and has maintained a prominent figure in reggae for over fifty years. The insanity charge is a little murkier but walking onstage wearing a hat which, at the right... Read More
LIVE: THE NOTWIST – 15/03/2014
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – “Ve Are Notvist” are the first words from lead singer Markus Acher, who sports glasses along with a host of other members from the German veteran band. Expectations are diverse tonight , varying from those expecting skull-crashing drums often associated with German bands, to those expecting the glacial calm present on most recent album Close to The Glass, and of course the lush You, The Devil & Me. Opening with the... Read More
