INTERVIEW (OF THE VERY AD-HOC NATURE): CHUPA CABRA

While standing outside of Solomans in Withington on a fairly unremarkable evening within the 10th month of the Gregorian Calendar (4th day to be precise), I suddenly found myself cast into a situation resembling that of an interview with the West Britain-orientated 3-piece known typically as ‘Chupa Cabra’. Unprepared, devoid of notes and slowly succumbing […]
Congregated on a table following their set at the Peer Hat (09/10/2019), I ask the members of Furrowed Brow (barring their absent drummer Cristy) a series of questions relating to their band, with a few off-topic ventures thrown in. Angus: Your gig is about to start, what sandwich would you like to eat beforehand? Ryan: […]

INTERVIEW: FURROWED BROW

INTERVIEW: FRANCIS LUNG

There’s epic sounding records out there, and then there’s the kind of Brian Wilson meets Phil Spector mountain of sound that Francis Lung has emerged with on his debut album. Meet the former Wu Lyf member who has released one of the most melodic and lush sounding records you’ll ever hear. When hotly tipped Mancunians […]
Rejoice! Moon Duo have a new album out, ‘Stars Are The Light’ and it’s an absolute masterpiece of hypnotic melodies mixed with electronica and pulsating beats. I first fell in love with their sounds after hearing ‘Circles’ back in 2012, with its fuzzed psych guitars and entrancing melodies, many bands try to do a similar […]

INTERVIEW – MOON DUO

INTERVIEW: SPRINGFIELD ELEMENTARY

Pleasantly amused by the Battenberg-like decorum on the inside of the Brunswick Mill as well as the fact that the outside resembles an industrialised castle, I sit down with Springfield Elementary in their allocated rehearsal space to discuss what they’ve been up to. Angus: What are your names and what instruments do you play? Chris: […]
One ratio is certain. ACR are 40 years old. And to celebrate, the band – via their latest record label Mute – have released ACR:BOX – an absolutely engorged collection of 50-odd B-sides, alternative takes, remixes and new recordings, overseen by ACR’s Martin Moscrop at Abbey Road studios. For real completists, there is also a […]

INTERVIEW: DONALD JOHNSON (A CERTAIN RATIO)

INTERVIEW – IDLES (Joe & Bowen)

The Idles boys were back in town, so we (Max & Simon) though it best to have a quick catch up with them, our last meeting was the December of 2016 ahead of their Night and Day Cafe show. Almost 18 months later we’re back stage at Gorilla before they entertain Manchester on a much […]
Four minutes in a chippy with The Charlatans? Well, two of them anyway. We sat down for a “speed-interviewing” session with bassist Martin Blunt (MB) and keyboardist Tony Rogers (TR) to discuss (very quickly!) the great North by Northwich Exhibition they’ve curated and the new EP. What’s been the highlight of curating your own festival […]

INTERVIEW (IN A CHIPPY): THE CHARLATANS

PIRATE STUDIOS LAUNCH INCREDIBLE NEW TALENT COMPETITION

We chat to the studio’s co-founder to find out more. The clever swashbucklers over at Pirate Studios have recently launched a new talent competition Pirate Prodigies Programme, designed to kick-start the careers of three lucky acts. On top of the incredible prize of promising to ‘break’ each winner (in a purely music industry way of […]
Some questions are easy to answer, some not so, but some are so easy to answer they are referred to as a no brainer, and this was the case when I was asked if I’d be interested in talking to Russell Mael, one half the sibling duo Sparks ahead of their first album in eight […]

BIT OF A CHAT: RUSSELL MAEL OF SPARKS