ALBUM REVIEW: GNOOMES – NGAN!
GNOOMES – NGAN! This one is hot off the press – not much is known about Gnoomes. Google, inevitably, will insist that you actually want to search for ‘gnomes’, but persistence leads you to Facebook and Twitter pages that are yet to take off. This needs to be put to rights. Gnoomes are vocalist/bassist Alex Pyankov, drummer Pavel Fedoseev and guitarist Dmitriy Konyushevich. They come from a place in Russia called Perm, which translates as ‘Faraway... Read More
Album Review: Protomartyr – The Angel Intellect
It is evident that Protomartyr singer Joe Casey, ten years senior to the rest of the band, is on a mission to make the band stand out amongst the flotsam of modern music. In recent interviews Joe Casey explains that he “needed this, needed Protomartyr”. He states that he didn’t want to end up singing classic rock covers in dive bars one night a week. Therefore, at 35 with no musical background and crippling stage fright, he found friends who were young and hearty... Read More
Album Review: John Grant – Grey Tickles, Black Pressure
If you were to judge the new album from John Grant on the title alone, you may surmise that this was going to be heavy going. Especially when you find out that Grey Tickles… is the literal Icelandic translation for mid-life crisis, and that Black Pressure… is from the Turkish word for nightmare. Having listened to this album on repeat it is anything but a nightmare. There is playfulness and looseness to the music that makes the experience such a pleasure. The first... Read More
SHOPPING SHARE NEW VIDEO FOR ‘STRAIGHT LINES’ & ANNOUNCE UK LIVE DATES
Last week, post-punkers Shopping released their second album, Why Wait, via FatCat Records (reviewed here). Now, they’re sharing a brand new video for their single “Straight Lines”, setting the stage for their first-ever tour of the U.S. and Canada. Watch the new video below:Formed in East London in 2012 by members Rachel Aggs (guitar), Billy Easter (bass) and Andrew Milk (drums) Currently on tour in the US and Canada, Shopping will return to the UK for a tour this December,... Read More
SPECTRES ANNOUNCE POST WAR GLAMOUR GIRLS FOR MANCHESTER SHOW
Spectres Bristol noise rockers Spectres will play the Soup Kitchen, Manchester on Thursday November 19th.Tickets cost £7 and can be bought here Leeds post-punk provocateurs Post War Glamour Girls will play the support slot. Spectres were formed in Barnstaple, North Devon about four years ago, but after a few months of playing to people who wanted white reggae rather than white noise, they decided to move to Bristol. “Forming in Barnstaple was integral to what we are today,”... Read More
LIVE: JIM JONES AND THE RIGHTEOUS MIND – 01/10/2015
Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind – SOUND CONTROL, MANCHESTER – “Get involved!!!” screams Jim Jones to the audience who are just a few centimetres from the stage, asking us to get even closer. Yet, there are some fellows amongst the crowd with their shiny smartphones and cameras, trying to digitally grab the moment. I understand the temptation, souvenirs for the future. But as the Australian songwriter Suzie Stapleton* sings with her deep, whispering voice,... Read More
BLAK HAND RECORDS PRESENT ‘BLAK RAINBOW’ FOR CASSETTE STORE DAY
Blak Rainbow Cassette Store Day comes but once a year, and for its third installment on 17 October 2015 Blak Hand Records are delighted to present Blak Rainbow, a collection of the North-West’s best garage rackets and psych kaleidoscopic gems. Side A kicks off with the lo-fi pop-playfulness of Antelopes’ Oh Caroline. Rumbling bass bounces with choppy jangles of guitar and impossible-to-stay-still-to beats. Following on is Dreamin’ Blue, a surf-psych ditty from Liverpool’s... Read More
EP Review: Vertical Slump – Ruined Value
The latest offering from Manchester label Icecapades, who also have 7″s from the likes of Slowcoaches and Sex Hands, is by none other than London art punk quartet Vertical Slump (members of DIY cornerstones Shopping, Gloss Rejection, Omi Palone, and Circuit Breaker). Recorded back in Feb by Mark Jasper at Sound Savers, Ruined Value is a 4 song intro to the band. It was mastered by North London Bomb Factory – who specialise in punk and post-punk – with credits... Read More
The Silent Radio Show 03/10/2015
The audible version of the North’s best independent music website, SilentRadio.co.uk. Featuring the bands and acts gracing our hand-picked gig guide and hitting the Silent Radio headlines. This week most of team were out of the office for the weekend, which left Simon home alone in the studio for the first time. Everything went to plan and he managed to cram in 23 tracks throughout the show. There were also some extras in there to celebrate the coming week’s National... Read More
LIVE: NADINE SHAH – 30/09/2015
Nadine Shah – GORILLA, MANCHESTER – Despite having stuffed myself into oblivion more than once at Gorilla with vegetarian breakfasts and heavenly halloumi burgers, strangely enough it’s my first time at Gorilla as a venue, and I really like its size and the stage background studded with something that looks like thermometers but probably is not. Near the door, when I arrive, I immediately spot the unmistakable I Am Kloot bassist Pete Jobson and fellow band member... Read More
