LIVE: THE BLANKS 23/06/2011

– MOHO LIVE, MANCHESTER – Well, it was always going to be a weird gig. I’m standing in a dimly lit, smoky room with about fifty other people as hip-hop blares through the speakers , and the only real indicator I’m here to see an a capella group and not a heavy metal band is […]
– ACADEMY 3, MANCHESTER – The Horrors were unfairly labelled a novelty act by the music press when they burst onto the live scene in 2005. With their birds-nest hair, black eyeliner and tighter than tight jeans, many thought it was all just style over substance; a Cramps tribute band with a singer who looks […]

LIVE: THE HORRORS – 16/06/2011

Album Review: Bon Iver – Bon Iver

When the Manchester Evening News relaunched CityLife a few years back – not long before the axe was plunged through its privates – Neil Sowerby, the then editor, personally warned me not to request the Bon Iver gig because everyone wanted it (and presumably I was not CityLife´s star critic). Fine, I was completely unaware […]
A pair of plain recycled cardboard CD sleeves popped through my letterbox, and if I hadn’t already known who Wu Lyf were, I wouldn’t have found out much more on the internet. Especially before the release of Go Tell Fire To The Mountain, their marketing strategy was to hide behind a bizarre mix of imagery […]

SINGLE: WU LYF – DIRT/LYF

EP REVIEW: VEZELAY – LYRE

This, the latest outing on Planet Mu, sees Vezelay (aka Matthieu Le Berre) make his label debut with this six track EP of electro pop dream dust. The EP opens with ‘Sedative’, where arpeggios and a simple but effective, kick and snare combination lead the way for distant vocals to float upon. ‘Demure’ follows on […]
East Londoner Ossie, gives us three gifts of musical goodness for his second outing on wax with the “Set The Tone EP” on a personal favourite of mine: Hyperdub. Imagine the scene if you will. I am just about to get off the bus and begin my walk to work. For me, the only way […]

EP REVIEW: Ossie – Set The Tone

LIVE: DRIVER DRIVE FASTER – 17/06/2011

– KRAAK GALLERY, MANCHESTER – You hear a buzz about a local band, there are a few tunes knocking around on the interweb and you like what you hear. You go to their album launch in a hidden back street venue/art gallery and you buy the album from the merch stall… then you have trouble […]
The band name and album title suggest a disliking of the Post Office and the cover art depicts moody, painted skies… I’m expecting some retrospective analysis of the dreary UK here, from this Belfast five piece. Immediately after pressing play, the bright acoustic guitar chords on ‘Goldstar’ suggest a sunnier disposition, but the lyrics contain a […]

ALBUM: CASHIER NO.9 – TO THE DEATH OF FUN

LIVE: GOMEZ – 14/06/2011

– ACADEMY 2, MANCHESTER – As a relative newcomer to the music of Gomez, I’m not entirely sure what to expect from tonight’s Academy 2 gig, but based on good feedback from many fans that’d seen their shows and several intensive Spotify sessions, I’ve come to see their live act with high hopes. Support band […]
– THE RUBY LOUNGE, MANCHESTER – After 5 Long years the wait is over, Tom Vek returns to the stage to launch his second album ‘Leisure Seizure’.  Upon entering the Ruby Lounge I am greeted by a sense of anticipation and excitement for tonight’s sold out show, so  as the venue slowly fills to capacity […]

LIVE: TOM VEK/BRETON – 13/06/2011