ALBUM: KILLING CARTISANO – VOLUME 1

Killing Cartisano is an ensemble project by Italian vocalist Roberta Cartisano, previously described as “emotional rock”. In a way, that sums it up – but for me, the description has a slightly dismissive, condescending air of “woman’s music” about it. Killing Cartisano is rock music – the best of which always has emotional content. Call […]

Only on their second album, this Liverpool lot create an electro pop stew with bits of disco, funk and catchy melodies which are capably of sticking around for days. Think Chemical Brothers meets Everything Everything with a sprinkling of New Order yet with their own distinguished electro ambience. Deep synth and dance rhythms overlaid with […]

ALBUM: TEA STREET BAND – FREQUENCY

LIVE: THE HOLYDRUG COUPLE / ECHO LADIES – 19/11/2018

-YES, MANCHESTER- Manchester’s YES is the hottest new venue in the North West, drawing attention with its unique 4 floor experience. It therefore comes as no surprise that its Basement room has been chosen by the promotion coalition of Band on the Wall x Grey Lantern x Manchester Psych Fest for tonight’s show. Opening are […]

-ACADEMY, MANCHESTER- A boxing ring full of black belts with the overpowering aroma of cigarettes and alcohol, it’s Saturday night and the anticipation of Slaves coming out on stage begins to spill over despite the ironic pre-gig soundtrack playing cheesy 90s pop hits. Laurie and Isaac stomp onto the stage with the intentions of making […]

LIVE: SLAVES – 17/11/2018

LIVE: OFF THE RECORD CONFERENCE – MASTERING WITH KEVIN TUFFY – 16/11/2018

-CENTRAL METHODIST HALL, MANCHESTER- Being an enthusiastic reader of the liner notes of my favourite CDs as a kid, I remember seeing the SPARS codes that some of them had. The three-letter code, where each letter is either an A for Analogue or D for Digital, would indicate the type of equipment used in i) […]

Hot on the heels of the recently released ‘Fudge Sandwich’ album, is the brilliant charity seven-inch vinyl single ‘Fanny’ named after his beloved dog. Although there’s basically three versions of the same tune on this single, they’re all different from the one found on the album ‘Freedom’s Goblin’ released earlier this year, plus single is […]

SINGLE: TY SEGALL – FANNY

ALBUM: TY SEGALL – FUDGE SANDWICH

A stereotypical day in Ty Segall’s life, must go something like this: wake up, have breakfast, record some new stuff with whoever you want, release it – such is his prodigious musical output, there seems to be a constant wave of Ty Segall records being unleashed into the world. That’s no bad thing either, although […]

-THE APOLLO, MANCHESTER- Last year, New York indie-punk mavericks Interpol embarked on a sold out world tour to celebrate 15 years of their vital debut album, Turn On The Bright Lights. The trio returned home feeling refreshed and inspired by their past which very much informed the making of their sixth album. Coming in like a […]

LIVE: INTERPOL – 16/11/2018

LIVE: THE DECEMBERISTS / HOP ALONG – 12/11/2018

-ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER- With their latest release, Bark Your Head Off, Dog, Hop Along have forged a more mature and glossy album compared to their earlier works. They have side-lined their previous DIY and low-fi sounding ethos for a tighter result. The interesting song structures and intertwining melodies have been brought forward in the mix […]

-BRIDGEWATER HALL, MANCHESTER- Billy Ocean is 68 years-old. 68. And he has the most ultra cool moves. Smooth. Slick. Effortless. If I could be as nimble as him even at the age I am now (29) I would be first on the dance floor every time, and that’s before I even talk about his voice. […]