ALBUM: Boogybytes Vol. 5 – Mixed by Seth Troxler
For those of you that didn’t know, Seth Troxler started out DJing at 16 years old in Detroit (alongside working in a local record store) when he developed what he now likes to coin as, “A preternatural understanding of rave, and dance music history, that now allows him to conjures up mixes and tracks like Botticelli conjured his Venus.” As you can tell Seth’s a very modest guy. After making the inevitable move to Berlin (The be all and end all of Dance music), he now... Read More
ALBUM: The Smoking Hearts – Pride of Nowhere
This first full release by the Smoking Hearts is bad, it is very bad, and it is quite possibly the worst music I have ever heard. It is so bad it even fails to be laughable. Its only possible use is as an aide to interrogators of terror suspects, but it is most likely forbidden by international law. In fact, if it lasted longer than 29 minutes, its composers would be placed on trial in The Hague for crimes against humanity. Fortunately for overworked international law lawyers... Read More
SINGLE: Goldfrapp – Rocket
After being widely maligned since its beheading, the 80s is now back. 2008 saw Neon Neon release their blinding album Stainless Style. It allowed us to revel in 80s power pop once again, with the added incentive that you could like it without shame because of its semi-ironic nature. If challenged you could shrug it off as a bit of a joke. Now Goldfrapp demands that we take it a little more seriously. The front sleeve, where Allison is pictured firing a laser out of her hand against... Read More
SINGLE: Noisia – Machine Gun
Upon hearing Machine Gun my initial reaction was one of mirth. I looked at my friend, he looked at me, and we both laughed. A few listens later and I’m less certain. Is this ridiculously good or just ridiculous? The dirty drum and bass intro I like, but the drop into a sort of electro-metal riff is amusing and lame. I end up liking this track partly for its originality, but mainly because it’s both so shit that it’s good, and genuinely good simultaneously. Confused? I certainly... Read More
LIVE: THE PHENOMENAL HANDCLAP BAND – 03/03/2010
– DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – It’s great to see The Deaf Institute almost full to capacity. Most are probably here to listen to the song with lots of numbers in it, but there’s much more to The Phenomenal Handclap Band than their Tings Tings-style smash hit. It’s worth mentioning the support band to put things in perspective. Sophie’s Pigeons are a singer/keys player (Sophie), a female saxophonist and a bloke with a drum. Their songs have a wry sarcasm about... Read More
LIVE: GROOVE ARMADA – 02/03/2010
– THE RITZ BALLROOM, MANCHESTER – When it was rumoured that Groove Armada’s latest album, Black Light, was a homage to the 80s, I feared the worst. As one of Thatcher’s children, born in 1975, I hated the 80s and I’m finding it pretty hard to stomach all this nostalgia, especially from bands that I love. The decade was bleak and brash. Dole queues, bloodied minors and riots gave way to arrogant Yuppies, flaunting their wads of cash and silly shoulder pads. This... Read More
LIVE: GIRLS – 02/03/2010
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – 2009 was a good year for California based act, Girls. The tragic story of main man Christopher Owens’ upbringing in a cult, and his subsequent change of fortune when he was taken under the wing of a rich benefactor and moved to San Francisco where he formed Girls in a reported haze of drugs and partying, instantly caught the attention of the music press. However, having an interesting back story isn’t enough to be successful,... Read More
LIVE: NOISETTES – 02/03/2010
– ACADEMY 1, MANCHESTER – “If you like yoghurt then you might know this one”, announces Shingai Shoniwa before the second song of the evening, ‘Wild Young Hearts’, and judging by the reaction of the crowd, a lot of people like yoghurt. Two of the Noisettes songs have been used in adverts, most notably the uplifting and joyous ‘Don’t Upset The Rhythm’, one of the greatest pop songs of recent times. Their label as a rock group seemed much more suitable... Read More
INTERVIEW: OWEN STRATHERN OF GENERAL FIASCO
Imagine the scenario – you are barely out of your teens and you find yourself in an indie band that is tipped for greatness. Within a year of playing your first gig you are invited onto the line-up at the Leeds and Reading Festival and a few months later make your bow at the BBC Electric Proms. The NME picks you as one of the ‘ten hopes for the near future’ and your first single is given airtime by the likes of Zane Low, Steve Lamacq and John Kennedy. With the PR machine... Read More
Venue Review – The Roadhouse
Whenever I venture through the Roadhouse’s doors I always seem to get a twinge of excitement, similar to that feeling you get before meeting a first date. A bit over the top some might say, but there’s something about the place that just works perfectly with me. As soon as you step through its enclosed corner side entrance, it’s like the world takes a step down in size. Down the flight of stairs and past the till booth, through its double doors and you’re in the basement... Read More
