ALBUM REVIEW: Gang Gang Dance – Eye Contact

Over the past few years, a few of the most talked-about indie bands have been those making music with a historical sense of mystical drama. Fiery Furnaces, Yeasayer, Grizzly Bear, and Animal Collective, among others, have been variously and inventively appropriating rock ‘n’ roll’s roots in ritualistic sounds. By and large, they draw upon ideas […]
– CENTRAL METHODIST CHURCH, MANCHESTER – The queue for Manchester’s Central Methodist Church stretches all the way down Oldham Street to Piccadilly Gardens, and consists of people of all ages and backgrounds, all braving the sporadic sudden downpours in anticipation of spending an evening in the company of one of the most widely revered and […]

LIVE REVIEW: Bill Callahan – 06/05/2011

LIVE REVIEW: Psychedelic Horseshit – 05/05/2011

– THE DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER – I wasn’t too sure what to expect this evening at the Deaf Institute. I get the impression that the point of Psychedelic Horseshit’s lo-fi pop, or ‘shitgaze’ as the band has pleasantly christened it, is that the music is more important than the presentation. Recording most of their records […]
– THE LOWRY THEATRE, SALFORD – So there I am at The Lowry Theatre in an all seated auditorium wondering how good a gig can be in such plush settings. A grand, cinematic sound sweeps in and Kloot enter to an appreciative, albeit theatre crowd, welcome. There’s the three maestros themselves plus backing musicians: guitar, […]

LIVE REVIEW: I Am Kloot – 04/05/2011

LIVE REVIEW: Fight Like Apes – 05/05/2011

– THE NIGHT & DAY CAFE, MANCHESTER – Sombre and introspective, Man Made cuts a lonely figure on the Night & Day’s stage. The nameless troubadour radiates his glumness through the venue like a black hole gobbles light, chopping away at his guitar from the elbow and mercilessly zapping any remnants of joy from the […]
– THE RITZ BALLROOM, MANCHESTER – I like Noah and The Whale but during this virtuoso display at Manchester’s Ritz, I decide I don’t like their crowd. The five piece don’t set a foot wrong all night: every harmony, hook and holler is flawless. But they’ve attracted seemingly serious types who aren’t interested in letting […]

LIVE REVIEW: Noah and the Whale – 03/05/2011

SINGLE: Ratmataz Lorry Excitement – A Year Short On Surprises/Trial & Errors

It’s been a long time coming, but Ratmataz Lorry Excitement (AKA Kev Dosdale) is back from his hiatus. Thankfully it has not been too long that he has had to re-invent himself, like many will attempt and fail. The first component of the double A-side ‘A Year Short On Surprises’ immediately kicks off with some […]
– CHAPEL STREET, SALFORD – Silent Radio believes just one person covering SFTOC is quite simply just not enough, so this year we send two of our finest to take in Salford’s Chapel Street all day non-stop music event. Review #1: It’s not often that everything stops for the sake of creativity in Salford and the city […]

LIVE REVIEW: Sounds From The Other City #1 – 01/05/2011

LIVE REVIEW: Sounds From The Other City 2011 #2 – 01/05/2011

– CHAPEL STREET, SALFORD – Silent Radio believes just one person covering SFTOC is quite simply just not enough, so this year we send two of our finest to take in Salford’s Chapel Street all day non-stop music event. Review #2: Deaf To Van Gogh’s ear proved an attractive first foray into Sounds From The Other City’s […]
– The Deaf Institute, Manchester – Timber Timbre (that’s one ending in an ‘er’ followed by one ending in an ‘re’ – how Pan-Atlantic of them) are spooky. And spooky is ostensibly really rather cool these days. Unlike say, Zola Jesus, whose Kate-Bush-meets-Lady-Haversham schtick one suspects extends beyond her on stage repertoire,  Timber Timbre seem […]

LIVE REVIEW: Timber Timbre – 28/04/2011