NINA SIMONE: BLACKBIRD – THE COLPIX RECORDINGS 1959-1963

There has always been something effortlessly cool about Nina Simone – that deep soulful voice, coupled with those lush piano tones and band arrangements, whether performing her own tunes or interpreting other people’s songs, there was no one remotely close to her when it came to captivating song deliveries. This treasure trove of delights pulls […]
‘Sportswashing’ may be a new term but examples can be seen well before the attempts made by Saudi Arabia and Qatar to cleanse their global reputation through engagement with top quality entertainment. In 1974, the country then named Zaire staged a World Heavyweight championship fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman known as the Rumble […]

ALBUM REVIEW – VARIOUS: CONGO FUNK! SOUND MADNESS FROM THE SHORES OF THE MIGHTY CONGO RIVER (KINSHASA/BRAZZAVILLE 1969-1982)

ALBUM REVIEW: BEDBUG – PACK YOUR BAGS, THE SUN IS GROWING

Album number four, ‘Pack Your Bags, The Sun Is Growing’ is a genuine down to earth album which is definitely worth your time., even if you may initially feel it’s out of your genre comfort zone, stick with it! Their sound keeps you in a meditative state of mind, just listen to “Halo on The […]
Comprising of former members of The Fall, plus other noted musicians from Lancashire and Yorkshire, Imperial Wax create a heady post punk sound which brims with both angst and optimism, resulting in an astounding second album, ‘Transquiliser’. We caught up with  Sam Curran (guitars/vocals)  Pete Greenway (guitars), Kieron Melling (drums) and Shane Standrill (bass) to […]

INTERVIEW: IMPERIAL WAX

ALBUM REVIEW – CHASTITY BELT: LIVE LAUGH LOVE

When you hear the words Live Laugh Love, you probably think of the insufferable self-affirmation posters, doormats, and other memorabilia that is designed to be as 100% overbearingly positive as possible. Chastity Belts version of this popular phrase is much more endearing. With the four-piece using it with a wink and a nod and exploring […]
The concept of a double album is something that most bands would never dare attempt. RAGE are not like most bands, though, and are celebrating their 40-year anniversary. To mark it unlike any other band, these German power and thrash metal veterans have unleashed a mammoth double album in a way only they could. Combining […]

ALBUM REVIEW – RAGE: AFTERLIFELINES

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 1 MARCH 2024

As we emerge bleary-eyed into springtime (though it still feels like winter here), there are plenty of new releases to keep us company.   The Pheromaons             Wyrd Psearch    Upset The Rhythm release the band’s 13th album, a brew of  loose electronics, refractory rock and humdrum musing which tackles subjects such as mid-life crises, male pattern […]
Dolly Parton once said “If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain”, my Aunty Annie once said “country music, the tunes are great but the songs are depressing, first the couple split up, then the bills pile up, then the dog dies!” Two views there, one from Tennessee and one from […]

ALBUM REVIEW: GRANDADDY – BLU WAV

ALBUM REVIEW – LIZZIE NO: HALFSIES

Despite contributions from immensely talented black artists (Lead Belly, Odetta, Elizabeth Cotten, Ma Rainey), folk music can often be a genre that enables and celebrates white mediocrity. White folk singers depend on the exhausted formula of southern drawl and a broken heart to fulfil their dreams of releasing a cliché folk track and frankly, they’re […]
If the script writing boffins in TV land ever needed an artistic triumph over adversity series with a twist, they could do no better than looking towards the brilliant Bill Ryder-Jones for a gripping tale. From his early musical beginnings as a teen in The Coral, to taking time out from music to focus on […]

ALBUM REVIEW: BILL RYDER-JONES – IECHYD DA