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

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 […]
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, […]

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

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

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 […]
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 & […]

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 18 OCTOBER 2024

ALBUM REVIEW – TESS PARKS: POMEGRANATE

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 […]
What you are about to hear, should you feel inclined to put Guy Blakeslee’s album ‘Extravision’ on after reading this review, is a cohesive and comforting project: every composition contained within is captivating, each evoking a different feeling through the myriad instruments and sounds the musician uses besides the acoustic guitar, which he used to […]

ALBUM REVIEW – GUY BLAKESLEE: EXTRAVISION

LIVE REVIEW: WUNDERHORSE – LIVERPOOL ACADEMY 14/10/2024

When I first saw the tour poster for Wunderhorse all over the UK some part of me melted a little inside, in my time going to music gigs, I haven’t seen a band burst out of nowhere and leave such an impression on people as them. Ever since their debut album Cub in 2022, there […]
Amyl and the Sniffers first came to my attention through seeing the single ‘Chewing Gum’ as a ten second clip and being entranced by the loud guitars, consistent beat and vocals coming from this woman who looked like butter wouldn’t melt.  But, after watching the full video I knew butter definitely would melt and she’d […]

ALBUM REVIEW – AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS: CARTOON DARKNESS

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 11 OCTOBER 2024

Another week jam-packed with interesting new releases jostling for attention. Here Silent Radio offers its pick. Stick in the Wheel    A Thousand Pokes    As far from pastoral folk as you can get.  Named after the 14th Century story of Tittivilus, the recording demon, who collects scribes’ mistakes (pokes) and the idle chatter of the “liars […]
Swedish masked psych warriors, Goat, have managed to create their own distinct niche. No other band has quite their image or sound, even though their music manages to combine many elements: psychedelia, wild guitar soloing, tribal percussion and chants. It feels appropriate that their latest album, eponymously titled, coincides with them releasing their own set […]

ALBUM REVIEW – GOAT: GOAT