ALBUM REVIEW – GRIMA: NIGHTSIDE

The wilderness is a very common concept in alternative music. Every artist has a different approach to writing about the wilderness, and it is very hard to capture the true essence of a forest, or the weather that an artist experiences. This is where GRIMA enters. This Siberian black metal act has aimed to pay […]
With a timeless discography in a modern world, Sam Fender’s third studio album People Watching is welcomed with open arms. Delving into hope, grief and solidarity, a mosaic of emotions is skilfully pieced together. Like a mirror ball, every version of himself is reflected. Beneath a candid light, this array of songs evokes the conflicts […]

ALBUM REVIEW – SAM FENDER: PEOPLE WATCHING

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 21 FEBRUARY 2025

Here is our weekly roundup of new releases. Parastatic       Concrete Reborn       Trio that fuses motorik grooves with thumping synths and magical guitar sounds and have joined forces with Valencia-born, Newcastle-based spoken word artist Late Girl for an album that celebrates the monolithic power of brutalist architecture. Their groove-filled soundscapes bring to mind the excellence of […]
The artist name and album title neatly capture the conflicts and contradictions of this record. Sunny War is a variation on her birthname, Sydney Ward, while ‘Armageddon in a Summer Dress’ reflects the contrast between the darker and political nature of her subject matter with the tuneful, rootsy accessibility of her songs. Her biography points […]

ALBUM REVIEW – SUNNY WAR: ARMAGEDDON IN A SUMMER DRESS

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 14 FEBRUARY 2025

What better Valentine’s Day gift could there be than a new album! Here is Silent Radio’s weekly guide. Piers Faccinni & Ballaké Sissoko   Our Calling     An intimate, side-by-side dialogue that seamlessly melds Malian tradition with English folk songwriting, sung in the English language. It is a tribute to migration in all its forms: seeds carried on […]
While many singer-songwriters mine personal experience for subject matter, a glance at Richard Dawson’s discography makes it clear that he is not an autobiographical writer. 2017’s ‘Peasant’ was set in medieval times whilst his most recent album, 2022’s ‘The Ruby Chord’ took place in a troubled virtual reality future so it is safe to say […]

ALBUM REVIEW – RICHARD DAWSON: END OF THE MIDDLE

ALBUM REVIEW – THE ALTONS: HEARTACHE IN ROOM 14

The world is lacking many Motown inspired bands that are full of soul and character.  With bands like Thee Sacred Souls and Leon Bridges manning the lantern, The Altons are here to help fill that void, originating from Southeast LA and being grossly submerged in the growing soul scene.  From the sticky floors in local […]
I find myself on a train, witnessing the Welsh countryside pass me by as I head home. My soundtrack? A glistening acoustic folk album which reflects the setting and, at points, the thoughts entering my mind perfectly. The Ocelots’ Everything, When Said Slowly is remarkable in its divisive beauty, whether you find yourself focusing on […]

ALBUM REVIEW – THE OCELOTS: EVERYTHING, WHEN SAID SLOWLY

ALBUM REVIEW – BHAJAN BHOY: BHOY ON THE WIRE

On The Wire is a long-running radio show presented by Steve Barker which started broadcasting in 1984. Unlike anything else on BBC Radio Lancashire (or any other station) in its Sunday afternoon heyday, it introduced its listeners to a huge array of sounds. Among the delights being offered up in the 1980s were On-U-Sounds, cutting […]
Olly Alexander, the former frontman of Years and Years, makes a striking debut with his album Polari. The title itself is a nod to a coded slang historically used by minority groups, particularly within the gay community, symbolising themes of visibility and self-expression. This rich metaphor is intricately woven into the lyrics, as Alexander embarks […]

ALBUM REVIEW – OLLY ALEXANDER: POLARI