ALBUM REVIEW – COURTEENERS: PINK CACTUS CAFE

It has been four years since Courteeners released their last album ‘More. Again. Forever.’ Coming out just before the world shut down leaving many like me locked inside listening to music all day every day. The album was a more mature Courteeners as opposed to their “lad-ish” nature that many fans had come to know […]
Grunge pioneers, surf-rock legends and enduring icons Pixies have returned with their horror-themed ninth studio album The Night the Zombies Came, and the first effort containing new bassist and vocalist Emma Richardson, after a long-standing 11-year stint of bassist Paz Lenchantin, who departed from the group earlier this year. The album contains 13 songs and […]

ALBUM REVIEW – PIXIES: THE NIGHT THE ZOMBIES CAME

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 25 OCTOBER 2024

As the clocks go back this weekend, that allows an extra hour for catching up with new releases. Here is the Silent Radio guide. Khana Bierbood          Monolam         Thai band who share a love for the western psychedelic music of the 60’s-70’s. As they began writing songs they found a likeness in their sound and the […]
Although ‘O Avalanche’ consists of eleven separate songs, it overwhelmingly feels like a forty-minute mood piece, almost like a short arthouse film. The words are poetic and return to themes like landscape and environment as it evokes the place in which it was written, Mallorca. Sun-dappled energy shines through. It is very much a solo […]

ALBUM REVIEW – FIONN REGAN: O AVALANCHE

ALBUM REVIEW – TRUST FUND: HAS IT BEEN A WHILE?

The answer to the album’s title is ‘yes’. It has been six years since their previous album, ‘Bringing The Backline’. In the intervening period, Trust Fund has shrunk from being a group into primarily Ellis Jones’ project. From a full band indie rock sound, they have made a welcome diversion into classical guitar and string […]
Collecting the last kisses of the sun, Maybe There’s A Difference transports us back to a warmer season. With an ear pressed to nature’s headphone, the spiralled form of a conch concocts wave-like vibrations of a nautical buzz. With the first pinches of strings, the sound of The Painted Ceilings coats you with the salt […]

ALBUM REVIEW – THE PAINTED CEILINGS: MAYBE THERE’S A DIFFERENCE

LIVE REVIEW: BEYOND THE MUSIC FESTIVAL: VARIOUS VENUES ACROSS MANCHESTER – 9-12 OCTOBER 2024

With several of our writers having been part of our city’s previous music industry festival, In The City, which ran from 1992 – 2010, we were overjoyed when Beyond The Music picked up the baton and created what the music industry, and Manchester’s music scene has been missing – a festival devoted to honest discussions, […]
Running through the streets of Manchester isn’t an ideal way to get to a gig but nothing about today has been normal compared to my day-to-day life, starting my day sat listening to panels and like-minded people talk about issues the music industry faces. As I reach Off the Square I’m early, really early. Standing […]

LIVE REVIEW: BEYOND THE MUSIC: OFF THE SQUARE: HOLLOWBODY, MSIX, NESSA MAY, CHEIDU ORA, THE KAIROS – 10/10/24

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 18 OCTOBER 2024

Another busy week with plenty of releases that are worthy of more than a cursory listen. Here is the Silent Radio guide. Snowgoose                    Descendant   The album features a collaboration of some of Scotland’s most esteemed musicians, including Raymond McGinley (Teenage Fanclub), Chris Geddes (Belle and Sebastian), Stevie Jones (Arab Strap), Tim Davidson (Tracyanne & […]
What is immediately apparent listening to ‘Pomegranate’ is that while it oozes optimistic sentiments, the album comes from a place of fragility and trauma. It sees Tess Parks working with long-term band member and close collaborator, Ruari Meehan, on a record with a substantially expanded musical palette in comparison to her previous album, ‘And Those […]

ALBUM REVIEW – TESS PARKS: POMEGRANATE