ALBUM REVIEW – AGRICULTURE: LIVING IS EASY/THE CIRCLE CHANT

Agriculture’s new EP Living is Easy sees the band carry through on the current of momentum established by last year’s self-titled LP, which saw them establish joyous, ecstatic black metal as their signature. This stood them alone as a streak of colour in what can be a sea of monochromatic doom. Living is Easy sees […]
 Here is our roundup of this week’s new releases. Poppycock       Magic Mothers               Founding member of both The Fall and Blue Orchids. The album has the emotional fierceness set against pop arrangements from acts like Look Blue Go Purple and Dead Famous People, or the spare pop jazziness found in songs by Marine Girls, Tracey Thorn’s […]

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 31 MAY 2024

ALBUM REVIEW – MARTHA ROSE: CLOSE TO CLOSE

There are albums that instantly grab the listener and ‘Close to Close’ is one of those. It is in part due to Martha Rose’s voice which is front and centre of the mix, given no hiding place and exuding vulnerability. The music is also beguiling. Working with producer E.T. to utilise sampled voices, water, flutes, […]
Ora Cogan’s latest album, ‘Formless’, is difficult to categorize. There are elements of gothic country, hazy folk, psych rock and traditional balladry to it. The roots of ‘Formless’ were developed during pandemic isolation on long walks with her dog and is full of ruminations on awkward love, pain, internal struggles and the effort of trying […]

ALBUM REVIEW – ORA COGAN: FORMLESS

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 24 MAY 2024

Here is this week’s roundup of new releases. Samana              Samana              Their self-titled third album recalls the otherworldly atmospherics of Nico, Mazzy Star, Keeley Forsyth, with a now bolstered (self) production canon that ranges from Ennio Morricone scores to Radiohead’s more experimental moments. Faux Real           Faux Ever A self-described “11-piece symphony for head-banging and longing” from […]
The Avett Brothers return to the music scene with their first record in five years, a self-titled album presenting a collection of nine raw new tracks, produced by the legendary Rick Rubin. Sonically, the record is wildly unique and blends the best elements of folk and rock to create a distinct sound that only The […]

ALBUM REVIEW – THE AVETT BROTHERS: THE AVETT BROTHERS

ALBUM REVIEW – LIP CRITIC: HEX DEALER

Let me preface this review, of NYC group Lip Critic’s debut album ‘Hex Dealer,’ with an admission: these guys are my favourite musicians of the moment – to me, they are the musicians of the moment, for reasons you’ll be exposed to throughout my hopefully slightly coherent ramblings to follow. As I just said, though, this is […]
Silent Radio presents this week’s tantalising selection of new releases. Beth Gibbons                 Lives Outgrown              Portishead singer’s debut solo album reflects on farewells to family, to friends, even to her former self. These are songs from the mid-course of life, when looking ahead no longer yields what it used to, and looking back has a […]

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 17 MAY 2024

ALBUM REVIEW – KINGS OF LEON: CAN WE PLEASE HAVE FUN

Being a staple in rock music since 2003, the three brothers and a cousin know how to create a tune that everyone loves from the indie lads in the field or ye nan. Influencing every guitar-based band ever since is not an easy feat yet critics pan them as they make good plain and simple […]
It is never easy to predict what is coming next from Laura J Martin. Her previous solo album, 2016’s ‘On the Never Never’ was recorded in Nashville with members of Lambchop, Silver Jews and Jesus Lizard. Most recently, in 2020 she collaborated with Lavania Blackwall, formerly of Trembling Bells, on the exquisite freak folk project, […]

ALBUM REVIEW – LAURA J MARTIN: PREPARED