ALBUM REVIEW – MCKINLEY DIXON: MAGIC, ALIVE!

McKinley Dixon is one of the few rappers who can drop a bar like “my target audience is everyone with heart,” and have it feel honest, earned, and true. The music is just that spirited and joyous it would genuinely take someone heartless to find fault, and the slinky flows, compelling thematic depth and luscious […]
“He don’t get puss, he get the boot” When Wet Leg, the Isle Of Wight’s most sardonic artist, debuted in 2022 with their self-titled debut, they didn’t so much storm as motor, in a monotonal way, into the indie scene. Their rise seemed unlike anything else, with their debut single ‘Chaise Longue’ not only serving […]

ALBUM REVIEW – WET LEG: MOISTURIZER

ALBUM REVIEW – BARRY CAN’T SWIM: LONER

“There is nothing permanent. Except change.” How do you approach the unknown? I ask myself that question a lot given the nature of being a music writer. I feel like a wanderer, constantly stumbling into different dark forests that feel endless, and make me feel like an even smaller individual than what I already am. […]
I love people. That is an arresting title which builds up questions about its intent. (Read our interview with Cory for the answer – INTERVIEW – CORY HANSON : Silent Radio!) Cynics could read a level of irony into it, an interpretation that could be strengthened by considering the characters portrayed in the album’s eleven […]

ALBUM REVIEW – CORY HANSON: I LOVE PEOPLE

ALBUM REVIEW: MADE KUTI – CHAPTER 1: WHERE DOES HAPPINESS COME FROM?

It would be fair to call the Kutis the first family of Afrobeats. Fela Kuti developed and popularised the form, becoming such a powerful performer and spokesperson against corruption that he was frequently imprisoned by Nigerian leaders hellbent on silencing him. His sons, Seun and Femi, have continued in the tradition and now Femi’s son, […]
Natalie Bergman       My Home Is Not In This World         If you re-envisioned and rebuilt Motown somewhere in the California desert, it might sound something like My Home Is Not In This World. The record shimmers with gospel soul, country and western heartbreak and rock’n’roll grit. Swell Season               Forward           The first album in 16 years for […]

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 18 JULY 2025

ALBUM REVIEW – BUSH: I BEAT LONELINESS

Post grunge is a genre that has always seemed fascinating to me. It is not rock, it is not metal, and it most certainly is not punk. But just like how this grunge subgenre stands out, so does Bush. This band, with 30 years of experience to their name have become iconic for their version […]
Amy Macdonald has always been the sort of artist you can rely on, like a cup of tea after a long day or that friend who tells you the truth even when it stings. But with Is This What You’ve Been Waiting For, she’s cracked open something rawer, wiser, and braver than before. It’s less […]

ALBUM REVIEW – AMY MACDONALD: IS THIS WHAT YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR?

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 11 JULY 2025

Poor Creature              All Smiles Tonight     Group comprised of Ruth Clinton, Cormac MacDiarmada and John Dermody, all three are members of other bands (Landless and Lankum respectively) who have built a large following on re-interpreting songs from the past. Songs that have existed for centuries can seem immutable and anchored to time. A new generation of […]
“My dad was in charge, and my mum never wanted to cause any trouble and, you know, was quite depressed and unfulfilled.” Many women who came of age in 1970s England will nod along when reading this description that Gina Birch, bassist of legendary post-punk band The Raincoats, gave some years ago about growing up. […]

ALBUM REVIEW – GINA BIRCH: TROUBLE