LIVE: THE GOA EXPRESS / GARDENBACK / SAINTTS – 12/01/2019

-THE CASTLE HOTEL, MANCHESTER- Saintts: The evening opens with what sounds like a badly-maintained theme park ride (a selection of cymbals precariously strapped on in addition) acting as the beat, while its more subdued rhythm partner watches on in despair as the guitar repeatedly bashes their circuitry into increasingly questionable territory. And of course, the […]
A week ago, if you were to do a quick search for Tallies on either YouTube, Spotify, or Google Music, you’ll find a very limited supply of nothing longer than a single. But despite that, the small Toronto based quartet have been picking up speed and, on January 11th, released their first album, the self-titled […]

ALBUM: TALLIES – TALLIES

ALBUM: JOSHUA BURNSIDE – WEAR BLUEBELLS IN YOUR HAT IF YOU’RE GOIN THAT WAY

I don’t know much about music – I know that’s a strange way to start a review. But I don’t. I am an avid listener, a dedicated dancer and a shower singer. I will happily and indiscriminately switch from Taylor Swift to David Bowie to Bright Eyes. I like to think of my ears as […]
-SOUP KITCHEN, MANCHESTER- 2019 is upon us and it’s the first gig of the year for your reviewer, and there are genuinely not many better ways to kick off than with tonight’s line up. Opening we have Silver Vials, a psych-tinged electronic duo whose changing line up and set up keeps fans and novices guessing […]

LIVE: LORELLE MEETS THE OBSOLETE / SILVER VIALS – 10/01/2019

ALBUM: THE C.I.A. – THE C.I.A.

Not content with releasing just the five albums in the space of 2018 right at the end, Ty Segall unleashed album number six, which is a joint collaboration with his wife Denee Segall along with bandmates Emmett Kelly (bass) and R.E.Carlos (drums). As well as releasing his own solo stuff, Segall is famed for his […]
Selling is the new band formed by dance music pioneer Gold Panda and Jas from electro rockers Simian Mobile Disco, and as you’d expect it’s packed to the rafters with all manner of techno wizardry and huge beats. I’m not a massive techno or dance music aficionado, I just like certain albums or songs, yet […]

ALBUM: SELLING – ON REFLECTION

EP: THE DECEMBERISTS – TRAVELING ON

This E.P. contains songs recorded at the same time as their album ‘I’ll Be Your Girl’ released earlier this year, yet somehow these tunes didn’t fit properly on that album. The Decemberists have ways been a band full of folk infused indie tunes, brimming with a storytelling ambience, but for the last album they stepped […]
Let’s face it, everyone loves a good boxset! They’re a thing of gorgeous, geeky musical indulgence, and as the years go by, and anniversaries of cherished albums come and go, more and more of them are being remastered and repackaged in this stylish manner. Although some feel that it’s a slightly unnecessary move by their […]

MANIC STREET PREACHERS: THIS IS MY TRUTH TELL ME YOURS 20TH ANNIVERSARY BOXSET

LIVE: MGMT – 17/12/2018

-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- Back from late 2000s mega success, MGMT provide tonight the Albert Hall mandem a chance to relive honking hot summers of 08-09, FIFA soundtracks and Made In Chelsea “coming next” segments. Braving the Northern chill, I venture to Manchester full of excitement. Although back in the day I didn’t immediately latch on […]
I have known these guys since the day I moved to Manchester, living in Rusholme, Big Hands became my local. I was even at one point supposed to audition to be their drummer, as Big Hands owner Scott suggested! I got to know Pedro (bassist) and all the staff in Big Hands fairly well, and […]

SINGLE: LOUIE LOUIE – PLAY HOUSE