SINGLE: The Strange Death of Liberal England – Lighthouse

Carefully written in a seamless fashion, ‘Lighthouse’ plays its colours dark grey colours well. It has a deeply brooding feel. The recorded space between the instruments gives it a chance to swell and reserve its layers, and allows the little charming snippets of its orchestration to chime through, giving an extra spangle to the song. […]
– ACADEMY 2, MANCHESTER – Waking up the next morning, all I can hear is a constant ringing in my left year, which reminds me of an article I read recently about a man committing suicide because of chronic tinnitus. Everything peripheral sounds like the dull roar of the sea, and I am pretty certain […]

LIVE: CRYSTAL CASTLES – 22/10/2010

LIVE: DIEGO – 22/10/2010

– ROSI’S, BERLIN – Hiding behind a sofa from the robotic horrors of Berlin’s Dalek of a techno-electronica obsessed club scene, Germany’s indie loving musicians too rarely peak out to make themselves seen. Rosi’s on Revaler Strasse then, is an ample opportunity for them to make themselves known. All cracked brick walls and marker pen […]
– THE RITZ BALLROOM, MANCHESTER – Monday nights at the Ritz used to be a festival of freaks and weirdos, set to a soundtrack of rock and metal. It was great for a youngster, and there’s nothing in Manchester nowadays that really draws the same crowd on a regular basis. I miss it, but fortunately […]

LIVE: BIZARRE BALL – 22/10/2010

LIVE: MYSTERY JETS – 22/10/2010

– MANCHESTER CATHEDRAL, MANCHESTER – I love the Mystery Jets. I’d currently put them in my top ten bands. However, this gig at Manchester Cathedral is let down by the venue. It’s not usual for groups to do gigs in churches but this one is too big, its huge, cavernous expanse sucking the life out […]
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – It’s not quite Halloween yet, but that’s not stopping the lighting crew at the Deaf Institute from making the stage look like London Fog, Jack the Ripper era. Warpaint casually take the stage engulfed by dry ice and sombre green ‘mood’ lighting, prompting singer Emily Kokal to rightfully ask […]

LIVE: Warpaint – 24/10/2010

LIVE: BADLY DRAWN BOY – 21/10/2010

– ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, MANCHESTER – ‘Silent Sigh’ is one of the most beautiful songs written in the last 20 years and I am giddy with excitement as Damon Gough, AKA Badly Drawn Boy, sits down at the piano to play those first celestial notes. The mood is tempered, somewhat, by the fact […]
– ACADEMY 2, MANCHESTER – How can you tell if a band is on the edge of commercial success? Have they been invited back to Later with Jools Holland? Check. Has BBC 6 Music played one or more of their songs to the point of exhaustion? Check. Has Drowned in Sound gone cold on them […]

LIVE: YEASAYER – 20/10/2010

LIVE: SUCKERS – 20/10/2010

– ACADEMY 2, MANCHESTER – Signed to the Frenchkiss record label and with their album ‘Wild Smile’ on release, Suckers have managed to join the pool of New York art pop bands that are currently enjoying much attention. Renowned for their psychedelic pop skirmishes, animated sounds and eccentric audibles, they have gained a reputation for […]
– ISLINGTON MILL, SALFORD – Tonight’s bill boasts a fine selection of avant-garde rock acts which has enticed a suitably weird and wonderful crowd to Islington Mill this evening. Underground multi-media act Jackdaw With Crowbar kick proceedings off. This current incarnation sees the band performing as a three piece, featuring dual vocalists and a heavily […]

LIVE: MELT BANANA/THE EX – 20/10/2010