Album Review: Easy Star All-Stars – Thrillah

It’s almost thirty years since the release of Michael Jackson’s Thriller – now the best-selling album of all time. It’s hard to forget the saddening procession of Jackson’s life after the success of the videos and (seven!) singles from Thriller propelled him into mega-stardom, through circus sideshow, disgrace and eventually to an untimely end, the […]
Liverpool ‘s musical renaissance continues aplenty with the recent emergence of Stealing Sheep and a thriving local live music scene to rival Manchester. One of the latest talents to emerge is the three piece band Bird, who comprise of Adele Emmas (singer, songwriter), Sian Williams (guitar, harmonies) and Alexis Samata (drums). Their press release talks […]

EP Review: Bird – Shadows

NEWS: GRIMES – WATCH THE NEW VIDEO TO ‘GENESIS’

Continuing an already crazy year for Grimes, on the eve of her next European tour she is premiering the incredible new video for ‘Genesis’. Releasing the album Visions earlier this year (4AD/Arbutus), to near universal praise, Grimes has barely stopped since; she’s graced numerous magazine covers, made her first live TV performances in both the […]
– SACRED TRINITY CHURCH, SALFORD – Half a dozen weeks before the release of their third album ‘Who Needs Who’, Dark Dark Dark come to Salford for an intimate set in the cosy Sacred Trinity Church. Nancy Elizabeth is playing solo when I enter the space, I’ve no choice but to wait just outside the […]

LIVE: DARK DARK DARK – 19/08/2012

Single Review: Minus The Bear – Steel And Blood

The first time I heard Minus The Bear was on a beach and it seemed their thoughtfully composed yet totally chilled out style of music was the perfect backing to an afternoon in the sun – whether that be on the white sands of Hawaii or, in my case, the somewhat darker sands of a […]
South Manchester’s Châteaux have been making a big impression ever since uploading their first demo ‘It’s Magic’ six months ago, and continuing to deliver ever since with their reverb-heavy, melodic mix of soaring vocals and swirling guitar sounds. I talk to Henry Flint, one half of the Flint twins George and Henry that make up […]

INTERVIEW: CHÂTEAUX

NEWS: VIOLENS – UK TOUR + NEW ALBUM ‘TRUE’

To coincide with the UK release of with new album ‘True’ via Slumberland Records on the 10th September, Brooklyn band Violens have announced a full UK tour in August, including a couple of Detourjam shows, a Songkick promotion that has also been endorsed by CharliXCX, Holy Other, Tycho and Motion City Soundtrack. There’s also two Amsterdam dates to round […]
Following the release of the stunning 7” single “Secret Paradise”, flourishing new London label Critical Heights are pleased to announced that they have signed Australian synth pop sensation Scraps (AKA Laura Hill) for the world, with a new full-length album due for release in early 2013. The lead track from the single “1982” has been […]

NEWS: SCRAPS – SIGNS TO CRITICAL HEIGHTS + DOWNLOAD ‘SECRET PARADISE’ FOR FREE

ALBUM: Don Niño – In The Backyard Of Your Mind

Don Niño (in reality a French chap called Nicolas Laureau) has a voice resembling Devendra Banhart, a drum sound evoking David Bowie’s Low, acoustic guitars reminiscent of  Love’s Forever Changes, and an album title that evokes the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band’s 1968 ditty ‘Canyons Of Your Mind’. However, to suggest that this album is as good as […]
– THE RUBY LOUNGE, MANCHESTER – Krankenhaus Mankenhaus! British Sea Power take the fun and frivolity of their monthly Brighton residency on tour as they venture north for the first Krankenhaus to be staged outside of East Sussex. The intriguing line-up includes a DJ set from Duncan of Dutch Uncles, a ventriloquism act from locally based BBC 6 Music radio hero […]

LIVE: BRITISH SEA POWER – 03/08/2012