ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 14 NOVEMBER 2025

Sister Ray Davies         Holy Island       The duo might be based in “the hit recording capital of the world”, Muscle Shoals, Alabama, but they have made a concept album about the ancient religious outpost off the coast of northeast England which mixes fuzzy guitars with folk horror. They also are clear winners of Name of the […]
While group names can often be random, Nusantara Beat has chosen one that encapsulates its ethos. Nusantara means all the islands that make up Indonesia and dates back to when kings wanted to unite the whole archipelago. Today, it means unity, many cultures coming together as one. Accordingly, Nusantara Beat mix the rhythms and music […]

ALBUM REVIEW – NUSANTARA BEAT: NUSANTARA BEAT

ALBUM REVIEW – HOTEL LUX: THE BITTER CUP

A Post punk revival is in full swing and hits the coasts of Portsmouth with a new release by Hotel Lux.  Previously attacking with a garage rock sound (which was championed by the likes of NME, Clash and So Young) before a lineup change meant a new lease on direction as the band stated, ‘We […]
When tickets for Jane Remover’s show went on sale a few months ago – the designated venue given as Band on the Wall – I jumped at the opportunity. This is, after all, one of the most exciting musicians currently in the business – I couldn’t not go and see them. Within a few minutes, […]

LIVE REVIEW – JANE REMOVER: MANCHESTER RITZ – 10/11/2025

EP REVIEW – THE ORCHESTRA (FOR NOW): PLAN 76

To anyone unfamiliar with London’s Windmill scene, The Orchestra (For Now) offers the perfect introduction. Named after The Windmill pub in Brixton, the scene offers a brand of art rock characterised by jagged urgency, regular stylistic spasms, and lyrics that read more like raw poetry than conventional songs. Black Country, New Road rode the sound […]
Despite having released music for over a decade, as well as being a long-time collaborator of Wyatt and Fletcher Shears (of The Garden, Enjoy and Puzzle), Slater is still quite underrated. Those who have happened to check out his colourful and confident discography, though, have discovered in him an artist brimming with charm and flare. […]

LIVE REVIEW – SLATER + SUNNBRELLA: SOUP – 08/11/2025

NEWS – FIRST BANDS ANNOUNCED FOR MANCHESTER PSYCH FEST 2026

Even though it is not yet Christmas, it is already time to start thinking about next year’s Manchester Psych Fest which will take place on 5 September 2026. The first tranche of acts has been announced and will feature a headline set from the legendary Beta Band together with Northern heroes Working Men’s Club, the […]
“One chord is good, a second is alright, three is a crowd, four will end in a fight.” These words from ‘The Friends of the Buff Medway Fanciers Association’ perfectly summarise Thee Headcoats’ music. They offer a primal take on rhythm’n’blues, rock’n’roll and punk influenced by early Kinks, Pretty Things and, most importantly, The Downliners […]

ALBUM REVIEWS – THEE HEADCOATS: THE SHERLOCK HOLMES RHYTHM’N’BEAT VERNACULAR & THEE HEADCOATEES: MAN-TRAP

LIVE REVIEW – HARD LIFE: MANCHESTER ACADEMY – 06/11/2025

Is there anything as beautiful as a comeback? From this summer’s swaggeringly assured Oasis reunion, also known as Armistice Day for Adidas-wearers, to the slightly more unsteady reappearance of Catfish and The Bottlemen – a very slow-hatching but tardily rewarding cocoon – this last year has been all about musicians returning to the ring. The […]
“There’s a mighty judgment coming / But I may be wrong”, Leonard Cohen croons on “Tower of Song”, a career highlight from 1988’s dark, moody I’m Your Man. Whichever it is, he doesn’t sound overly concerned. No, he sounds like a fatalist with a dry sense of humour. On their fourth album, No Time for […]

ALBUM REVIEW – THE SAXOPHONES: NO TIME FOR POETRY