ALBUM REVIEW – ARLO PARKS: AMBIGUOUS DESIRE

It’s hard to believe that it was only five years ago that Arlo Parks released her debut album Collapsed In Sunbeams. An ensemble of observation masked through melody; it was the perfect introduction to who Parks was as an artist. Fast forward, these qualities only greaten in Ambiguous Desire, her third studio album. By extracting […]
Jarboe’s ‘Sightings’ is a reminder of the beauty in the “strange”, the atmospheric and seemingly alien sounds of an artist devoted to a specific vision. One of self-reflection, psychedelic calmness and spirituality. That’s what I got anyway delving into this 7-track release. Frequent collaborator with seminal noise/no wave and experimental “rock” group Swans of New […]

ALBUM REVIEW – JARBOE: SIGHTINGS

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 3 APRIL 2026

Angine De Poitrine       Vol. II    Microtonal cardboard duo that has to be seen to be believed. Check out their recent KEXP performance. Vol. II stretches the boundaries of Angine de Poitrine’s sound with even bolder, more dynamic structures. Once again, three essential forces fuel the duo’s music: acid techno, disco, and rock. deary   Birding Their […]
Tom A Smith’s show this evening in Manchester’s best small venue felt like the end of something. Sunderland’s worst kept secret has been steadily honing his craft for over a decade, and those fortunate enough to have seen him play over the years will attest to the growing maturity in both his songwriting and stage […]

LIVE REVIEW – TOM A SMITH: DEAF INSTITUTE – 02/04/2026

ALBUM REVIEW – SCRITTI POLITTI: SONGS TO REMEMBER

On my first day at sixth form college, I was asked by a fellow student what was the most recent record I had bought. My answer, ‘Songs to Remember’ by Scritti Politti, brought laughter. His dismal was based on nothing more than not having heard of the record, therefore it must be rubbish. It proved […]
The Mutts never Heel tour. I had the pleasure of seeing Leon Thomas at the Manchester Academy and what a time was had, but let’s start off with the basics. Doors open at 7pm, I get there for 9pm, fashionably late as per usual. Technical difficulties I do apologise but Leon hasn’t hit the stage […]

LIVE REVIEW – LEON THOMAS: MANCHESTER ACADEMY – 27/03/2026

ALBUM REVIEW – THE ACADEMY IS… : ALMOST THERE

I know, I know you’re probably sick and tired of 2000s band doing 20th anniversary albums. However, rock band The Academy Is… has taken a fresh spin on their newest album in 18 years. From the first glance, especially if you’re a casual fan, I doubt you would pick up how self-referential this album is […]
Scouting For Girls. Now I can almost guarantee when you hear that name you think of many nights out singing ‘She’s So Lovely’ at the top of your lungs. Or hearing ‘Elvis Isn’t Dead’ blast from the car radio. Well they never went away after that, and they are back with their eighth long player, […]

ALBUM REVIEW – SCOUTING FOR GIRLS: THESE ARE THE GOOD DAYS

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 27 MARCH 2026

Wild Billy Childish & CTMF      House on Fire  The album features remixed versions of their covers of The Saints’ ‘Untitled’ and The Yardbirds’ ‘Shapes of Things’ (both previously only available on limited edition 7” singles) along with twelve original new recordings. AySay   Mal        Hypnotic Anatolian rock journey about returning home. Sung in Turkish, Kurdish, and […]
When reviewing new music from Ajay Saggar, it has become obligatory to remark upon the impossibility of guessing what he will do next. Since last he featured on this website, he has released ‘Summer In St Mary’s’ under the guise of Bhajan Bhoy, a double album of organ music recorded in a 15th Century church. […]

ALBUM REVIEW – BHAJAN BHOY: MEDITATIONS