ALBUM REVIEW: BEIRUT – NO NO NO

Beirut band leader Zach Condon’s story is film-worthy – as a young jazz trumpeter, he was exposed to mariachi music while growing up in Sante Fé, New Mexico. At 17, he dropped out of school and ran away to Paris after working in an international film cinema, where Sicilian funeral brass music and Balkan folk had caught his […]
“Things can get out of a black hole, both to the outside, and possibly, to another universe. So, if you feel you are in a black hole, don’t give up. There’s a way out” (*). This is Stephen Hawking’s encouraging reflection on the everlasting human concern about what’s on the other side(s). Spanish progressive post-rock […]

Album Review: Exxasens – Back To Earth

LIVE: CUZ – 03/09/2015

– THE RUBY LOUNGE, MANCHESTER –  Cuz is a collaboration between Mike Watt of The Stooges and Sam Dook of The Go! Team. The pair met whilst with their respective bands at a festival in Australia in 2006, became friends and went on to release a full-length record as Cuz last year. I had initially […]
– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – Well summer’s over, the tent is packed away and the sun cream remains unused. Don’t shed a tear though, because dark nights drawing near ushers in months of fantastic gigs. Two days into September and we’re already under way, another stellar line up from prolific promoters Now Wave. Headliners […]

LIVE: OUGHT – 02/09/2015

Album Review: False Advertising – False Advertising

Grunge is making a bit of a comeback isn’t it. False Advertising are leading the charge for Manchester, making waves locally with their satisfyingly sweet single ‘I Don’t Know’, with its twisting verse riff and power pop chorus. The thing is, it doesn’t turn up until about halfway through their self titled debut album. It […]
– GORILLA, MANCHESTER – Ty Segall’s drum kit, Chad Ubovich’s Bass and Charles Moothart’s guitar simultaneously explode into life, igniting a feisty crowd who are chomping at the bit. Like rabid dogs who had finally broken free from their leads, a wave of enthusiastic teens surge forward and drag each other about during the first few chords, […]

LIVE: FUZZ – 01/09/2015

LIVE: THE KVB / PINS / MENACE BEACH – 28/08/2015

– SOUP KITCHEN, MANCHESTER – So, its just gone 7pm on this Friday night and I’m stuck in work. I have that Friday feeling though so all is good! I get a text from my mate to say that the first of three bands that I’m due to go and see after work, are on […]
Is Beach House sticking two fingers up to the tyranny of change on their fifth album, Depression Cherry? Perceived wisdom maintains that constant musical transition bears the seal of authenticity. Arguably, titan, critically adored bands look like snakes constantly shedding their skins. The Beatles took a glorious trip from exuberant rock ‘n’ roll to the […]

Album Review: Beach House – Depression Cherry

LIVE: FFS – 25/08/2015

– THE ALBERT HALL, MANCHESTER – Musical collaborations are often viewed with scepticism and fraught with the apprehension that it’s the band that are getting more out of the project than the audience. The overall feeling is that something isn’t quite right and the sooner things return to normal the better. FFS must have had […]
– GORILLA, MANCHESTER – Deerhoof are 20, and remain edgy. That’s quite an achievement. The 4-piece band, born in San Francisco, have survived a few line-up changes over the years, but the current members have performed onstage together since 2008. Maryland drummer Greg Saunier was joined in ’96 by Tokyo singer Satomi Matsuzaki, and Guitarist John Dieterich (2001), was later joined […]

LIVE: DEERHOOF – 24/08/2015