INTERVIEW – BCUC

Soweto ensemble BCUC (which stands for Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness) make politically conscious, rhythm-heavy, life-affirming music which exudes positivity. Their fifth album, ‘The Road Is Never Easy’, is set to be released on 3 April 2026 via Outhere Records and will be followed by extensive touring. Within 24 hours of emailing some questions to the […]
On ‘Sibitsa sa mmino’, BCUC sing words that translate as “we want progress and to succeed / the purpose of music.” These lyrics sum up their rare ability to produce music with such a clearly defined sense of its own power and what it aims to achieve, mixing a punk attitude with gospel spirituality. Hailing […]

ALBUM REVIEW – BCUC: THE ROAD IS NEVER EASY

ALBUM REVIEW – KILLERSTAR: THE AFTERGLOW

Killerstar are a band fronted by Rob Fleming (vocals, guitar, synths), paired with James Sedge (drums) and a plethora of David Bowie’s longtime collaborators: Mike Garson (piano), Earl Slick and Mark Plati (guitars), Gail Ann Dorsey and Tim Lefebvre (Bass) and Emm Gryner (backing vocals). They released their self-titled debut album back in 2024 and […]
The Leaf Library             After The Rain, Strange Seeds              A luminous collection of pastoral indiepop, drawing inspiration from suburban isolation, unreliable memories and the surreality of the weather. Damaged Bug                 ZUZAX It was recorded over a period of seven years, from 2018 to 2025, by John Dwyer himself. The record is an 11-track rollercoaster ride […]

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 20 MARCH 2026

ALBUM REVIEW – LUXJURY: GIVING UP

“The biggest undercurrent on this album is letting go of societal pressure.” With that statement, singer/guitarist Nicole ‘Lux’ Fermie provides a handy hook line for describing the debut album she has recorded as LuxJury with drummer, Howey Gill. It charts her experiences of love, sexuality and gender after coming out as queer. Over the course […]
A little under a year ago, embarking from the quaint city of Chester to the contrastingly eccentric Manchester, I went to see Michael Kiwanuka at the Apollo. It was not only a fantastic gig, but it was the first time I got to write for Silent Radio, the very publication which you find yourself reading […]

LIVE REVIEW – KEO: MANCHESTER RITZ – 07/03/2026

ALBUM REVIEW – NUBIYAN TWIST: CHASING SHADOWS

As AI becomes an increasing threat to humans trying to make a living from creative activities, Nubiyan Twist’s latest album is a defiant riposte. It is a celebration of the joyful energy and chaos that comes from musicians getting together in a room to play. While that could imply a scrappy sound, it would be […]
There are two main approaches for listeners to ‘Mother Pearl’. Sit back and let it gently wash over you or listen attentively, tightly coiled to pick out tiny details. Both ways work because it is a record that manages to be simultaneously intimate and expansive, finding full expression of the qualities Gyda Valtysdottir has developed […]

ALBUM REVIEW – GYDA VALTYSDOTTIR: MOTHER PEARL

ALBUM REVIEW – THE SCRATCH: PULL LIKE A DOG

Way back in the summer of 2025, I was stood on the Pier Head waiting for The Wolfe Tones to take the stage. However, a band I hadn’t listened to before was first up and it left a lasting impression as they combined a rock and roll attitude with traditional Irish folk, which had me […]
Ora Cogan         Hard Hearted Woman                She mixes haunted folk, psych rock, and a shadowy strain of country, building a realm where catharsis feels lush, mysterious and vital. Tinariwen          Hoggar On ‘Hoggar,’ they now stake their claim as elders of the Tuareg musical tradition, going back to their early years of songwriting with acoustic guitars and […]

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 13 MARCH 2026