SINGLE: Paloma Faith – Do You Want The Truth or Something Beautiful

Paloma Faith produces a very contemporary, familiar sound continuing in the long line of recent soulful singer songwriters like Adele and Duffy. But what sets Paloma Faith apart and above her peers is her voice. It’s an incredible cross between Amy Winehouse, Joanna Newsom, and Beth Gibbons and sets a strongly atmospheric tone for her […]
– THE RUBY LOUNGE, MANCHESTER – Feldspar are a one-band version of David Cameron: The Oxford Years…On A Yacht. The four polite, neatly turned out, studious gents are in all probability called Rupert, Giles, Will, and something exotic like Everest (there’s a soprano sax present, after all), yet despite being formidable musicians, their meticulously arranged, […]

LIVE: SAM ISAAC/THE XCERTS – 03/12/2009

LIVE: SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE – 03/12/2009

 – ISLINGTON MILL, SALFORD – This is my first visit to Islington Mill, the hub for creative minds in Salford is difficult to find in the dark. It is understated to say the least, in an ‘affordable for artists’ kind of way. Four bands are on the bill tonight, organized by WOTGODFORGOT. Irma Vep kick […]
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – Even though tonight’s temperature is plummeting quicker than Tiger Woods’ squeaky clean reputation, it’s good to see that the music lovers of Manchester are turning out early and in force. By the time the doors to the upstairs music hall are opened, the queue is stretching down the full […]

LIVE: I AM BLACKBIRD – 30/11/2009

LIVE: THE ENEMY – 29/11/2009

– THE APOLLO THEATRE, MANCHESTER – Derry trio, General Fiasco, have come a long way since opening up for Fighting With Wire at The Roadhouse a little over a year ago. Here, in an already heaving Apollo, Owen Strathern’s hooks have sharpened up considerably, each melody mercilessly jumped upon by his guitarist brother, Enda, with […]
– ACADEMY 3, MANCHESTER – It’s an intriguing experience going to see a band you’ve never heard of. You’re worried you might hate it, and as a reviewer, you’re duty bound to stay for the whole thing. Well it turns out I had heard of The Answering Machine, I just didn’t know it and I […]

LIVE: THE ANSWERING MACHINE – 26/11/2009

SINGLE: Primary 1 & Riton – Radiate

Radiate separates my split personalities into two warring acrimonious factions. The sci-fi geek in me loves the laser battle breakdown, the android singer and the bouncy retro synth beats. But the snob in me is repulsed by the chavy pop-dance sensibilities that underpin the whole affair…and the Star Trek lover. What wins through though is […]
Rob Thomas has the same vibe as Maroon 5. He’s trying to come across as a respected member of the creative community, but underneath lies the evil, robotic heart of another X Factor contestant. Singing with an overly-emotive yet unconvincing vibrato voice, and trading in all the most ubiquitous romantic clichés, he turns the epic […]

SINGLE: Rob Thomas – Someday

SINGLE: Richard Hawley – Open Up Your Door

There’s something strange about the appeal of Richard Hawley. I mean, if he were born in a different time you’d expect it to be the kind of music your dad or grandfather would play when he wanted you to know how he seduced your mother or grandmother. It’s kind of wrong. But he’s playing it […]
Plucked from obscurity over in the US by Elbow, a band recently and famously plucked from the gallows by last gasp blaster The Seldom Seen Kid, Jesca Hoop has come to our shores backed by Britain’s newest favourite band. But it seems to me that she’s been plucked from somewhere far less familiar than the […]

ALBUM: JESCA HOOP – HUNTING MY DRESS