SINGLE REVIEW – TOM A SMITH: I DON’T WANT YOU TO HAVE TO REMEMBER ME FOR LONGER THAN YOU EVER KNEW ME

When Tom A Smith played Deaf Institute earlier this year, he introduced two new songs into the set.  The closer – a cover of LCD Soundsystems “All My Friends” – was incredible, a fine example of a band reinterpreting and making someone else’s song their own. But the most intriguing song of the night was his new single,  “I don’t want you to have to remember me for longer than you ever knew me”. When Tom introduced it as the best song he had written,... Read More

ALBUM REVIEW – OASIS: DEFINITELY MAYBE

Oasis are back…but could they have faded into non-existence before it had even started? The 29th of August 1994, Oasis’ ‘Definitely Maybe’ was released. 30 years later, this album made by five working class Mancuniun lads is still regarded as one of the best debut’s and began the story, culture and community of Oasis. Unbeknownst to them, this album would change the scope of British music and result in generations of teenagers personifying these tunes by walking with... Read More

INTERVIEW – WUNDERHORSE

C. Polocho 2024 “I think we just wanted to make a record like the ones we love.” Jamie Staples, drummer in the solo project turned band, shares just how Wunderhorse went from Cub finding its feet to beast with eight legs and a thirst for the good old days of grunge. Midas represents the second album under the moniker of Wunderhorse although, as Staples cements, “I think for us it would probably be an exception really as far as second albums go ‘cause I think we as a unit... Read More

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 30 AUGUST 2024

There are some absolute crackers among this week’s releases. Dorothy Carter            Troubadour     A reissue of her 1976 debut on which, in addition to hammered dulcimer and psaltery, Dorothy played the flute and sang. She chose songs from all over: Appalachian folk tunes, old and ancient psalms and hymns, Scottish, Irish, French and Israeli melodies, with a few of her own songs for good measure. Even though it was recorded nearly 50 years ago, it is by far... Read More

ALBUM REVIEW – LEE ‘SCRATCH’ PERRY & YOUTH: SPACESHIP TO MARS

With a contested discography that is thought to be in the region of 2,000 releases, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry indisputably had a prodigious musical output. His own releases together with his production and other work for the likes of Bob Marley and the Wailers, The Clash, The Beastie Boys and Junior Murvin mark him out as incredibly influential. Work on ‘Spaceship to Mars’ with Youth who has seen the album through to its completion began four years before Scratch’s 2021death.... Read More

FEATURE – WHO ARE YA? JANA MILA

‘Chameleon’, the debut album from Jana Mila (pronounced Yah-nuh Mee-law) will be released by New West Records on 30 August 2024. It is an impressive collection that draws from an array of influences, including Nashville country, Laurel Canyon folk and 70’s rock. The songcraft is particularly notable and prompted her inclusion in the Who Are Ya? section. Who are you?  I am a Dutch singer songwriter from Amsterdam, I’ve been writing songs ever since I was 15 and had a guitar... Read More

ALBUM REVIEW – SABRINA CARPENTER: SHORT N’ SWEET

Actress turned pop sensation, Sabrina Carpenter, has released her sixth studio album ‘Short n’ Sweet’. Carpenter has struck both commercial and pop culture gold with her first two releases from the record, ‘Espresso’ and ‘Please Please Please‘, with both tracks hitting the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 and the latter peaking at Number 1. The landscape of pop culture as a whole has seen a drastic revamp in recent months, with artists... Read More

ALBUM REVIEW – NEW STARTS: MORE BREAK UP SONGS

If you’re looking for a break-up album this shouldn’t be your first choice. More Break-up Songs is the debut album from Darren Hayman’s newly led band New Starts and feels like an immediate misstep. The influences of The Breeders and The Velvet Underground, among others, can be felt throughout the project; however, I think they do quite miss the mark in some areas. This concept album’s themes include love, heartbreak, disappointment, and sadness. I felt this really hurt... Read More

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 23 AUGUST 2024

Here is our roundup of the week’s new releases. Melt Banana                  3+5       A record that synthesizes elements of a variety of Extreme Musics, Hyper-Pop, classic Punk, vintage Metal, and Noise. It partakes of Japanese culture overall, especially the subcultures of gaming, anime and underground music. Kato Hideki & Kramer             The Walk          A record that explores the intersection of 21st century musical artistry... Read More

ALBUM REVIEW – BHAJAN BHOY: PEACE FREQUENCIES / HEALING FREQUENCIES

The latest manifestation of Ajay Saggar’s prodigious workload sees the release of two sessions recorded for American radio stations, WFMU and WGXC, for his solo project, Bhajan Bhoy. These were recorded in the summer of 2023, prior to his US tour in the Autumn. Unlike most radio sessions, rather than promote the current album, he chose to produce nine all new tracks which also offer his widest range of sounds and styles yet. From lysergic guitar excursions to new age minimalism,... Read More