ALBUM REVIEW – JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN: LEMONS, LIMES AND ORCHIDS
Sometimes, a voice can bubble away in the background, a pleasant enough accompaniment on the radio, gradually infiltrating the senses until eventually the realisation dawns that it is something special. Such a description could be applied to my appreciation of Joan Wasser who is about to release her tenth studio album under the moniker of Joan As Police Woman, ‘Lemons, Limes and Orchids’. So, what is it about the voice that has become so attractive? There is definitely a honeyed... Read More
GIG GUIDE – SEPTEMBER 2024
We have trawled through the forthcoming gigs in and around Manchester so you don’t have to. We believe that if we are going to recommend a gig to you, then it should be exactly that, a recommendation. There’s always plenty of great gigs going on in Manchester, too many to cover them all, but here’s the list of gigs we’re excited about in September 2024. 12 The Lemon Twigs: Academy 2 – Guitar pop perfection with glorious vocal harmonies, recalling The... Read More
ALBUM REVIEW – MIDWIFE: NO DEPRESSION IN HEAVEN
No Depression in Heaven, Madeline Johnston’s newest release under the Midwife moniker, is a steady trickle of dreamlike slowcore from the other side of an infinite expanse. The Denver, Colorado-based purveyor of self-described ‘Heaven Metal’ (described as emotional music about devastation) returns after last year’s excellent Orbweaving – a collaboration with Vyva Melinkolya – with seven new ethereal offerings. Having been written whilst on tour over the past... Read More
EP REVIEW – HOUSE OF PROTECTION: GALORE
When Stephen Harrison and Aric Importa left Fever333, it was very unclear if or when both of these top-notch musicians would return. It took a short while, but when House Of Protection was announced, the news took the alternative scene by storm. The hype was nearly overwhelming, and their debut EP proves to match this hype. With four of the six tracks on this EP already out, the short record starts out with the band’s most recent single ‘Pulling Teeth’. This electric track... Read More
ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 6 SEPTEMBER 2024
As Autumn begins, so commences the bombardment of great new releases. This week’s selection is as follows: Claude Fontaine La Mer A vibrant blend of 60s French yé-yé pop, Studio One reggae, and Brazilian tropicalia sung in English, French and Portuguese. The unexpected combination of styles makes this album stand out. Hinds Viva Hinds Their most accomplished, sonically adventurous, honest... Read More
ALBUM REVIEW – KUGELSCHREIBER: CHEERLEADERS
Throughout recording ‘Cheerleaders’, Kugelschreiber (which translates from German as ballpoint pen) had a Post-it note in sight that read “What would Prince do?” However, this album sounds nothing like the diminutive, purple-clad wonder. The other influences cited for the record are ABBA, Field Music, Broadcast and Pixies. Unsurprisingly, there is little in common with such disparate performers but it does point to Kugelschreiber’s exquisite taste. Perhaps the band have... Read More
ALBUM REVIEW – FOSTER THE PEOPLE: PARADISE STATE OF MIND
Foster the People have come a long way since their 2010 hit single ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ broke the charts, making it easy to look back on the band’s previous records with a sense of nostalgia. Torches was a decent indie pop debut that allowed the group to find a temporary style for the time being. By their third album, they had transitioned into a catchy electropop sound, which would result in a chunk of their old fanbase no longer supporting their music. Seven years later,... Read More
ALBUM REVIEW – TINDERSTICKS: SOFT TISSUE
When the first Tindersticks album emerged in 1993, immediately they stood out from other bands within the independent sector. Their lush, orchestrated sound, decorated with pianos and violins, was at odds with the prevailing zeitgeist. This was the post-grunge era that also saw the first glimmers of what would become Britpop, both highly conservative forms in which the four-piece guitar, bass and drums format held sway. Sartorially, Tindersticks were notable too for their choice... Read More
ALBUM REVIEW – GOOSEBERRY: ALL MY FRIENDS ARE CATTLE
Photo credit: Alex SK Brown Many things have come from Brooklyn; Jay Z, most of Wu Tang and a bridge. Gooseberry are tipped to be next. Picking a band name isn’t everyone’s forte I suppose. The trio consists of vocalist/guitarist Asa Daniels, drummer Evin Rossington and Will Hammond on bass who blend blues and alt rock to create their sound. Gaining hundreds of thousands of fans and streams through the release of their debut EP ‘Broken Dance’ which was soon followed by... Read More
ALBUM REVIEW – THE DAVID TATTERSALL GROUP: THE DAVID TATTERSALL GROUP
The debut album from The David Tattersall Group ought to have a nocturnal title. Of the eleven original compositions which start with ‘Bright Moon’. three songtitles reference the night (‘Night Owls’, ‘Drive All Night’ and ‘Since the Night’) and another the evening (‘Fresh Evening Rain’). It is a record that marks a departure from the garage rock sound Tattersall is associated with through his groups, The Wave Pictures and Surfing Magazines. It began as a set... Read More
