ALBUM REVIEW – PJ HARVEY: I INSIDE THE OLD YEAR DYING

When PJ Harvey released her debut single, ‘Dress’, in 1991, it was immediately apparent that she had star quality. Matching a startling self-possessed voice to attention-grabbing lyrics, her songwriting managed to blend a recognisable indie rock style with more experimental elements. Over the subsequent 32 years, she has developed an ideal career, one where she […]
The emotional rollercoaster ‘Chaos For The Fly’ is lead singer of huge rock band Fontaines DC, Grian Chatten’s first solo album. Chatten decided to create an album of raw, earnest songs that he wrote alone with his guitar. Certainly, this album incorporates poetic lyricism and powerful guitar to shape a masterpiece.  A moment of airy […]

ALBUM REVIEW: GRIAN CHATTEN – CHAOS FOR THE FLY

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 30 JUNE 2023

June ends with a lovely collection of releases which are gathered here in our weekly guide. Sweeping Promises – Good Living is Coming for You Boston post-punk band that dirties up earworm melodies with a lo-fi charm. Influences discernible on the album take in Young Marble Giants, Kleenex/LiLiPUT, B-52s and Blondie. Mong Tong – Tao […]
With their second album, Kansas based duo Sweeping Promises have got post-punk and riot grrrl influenced tunes that maximise urgency while retaining space and minimalism off to a fine tee. The ten songs that comprise ‘Good Living Is Coming For You’ pack plenty of inspiration into their tightly packed two and three minute durations. While […]

ALBUM REVIEW – SWEEPING PROMISES: GOOD LIVING IS COMING FOR YOU

EP REVIEW – JOHN MONROE AND FIELD MUSIC: SONGS FROM THE SHELF

The average home contains so much detritus on its shelves: dust, empty sweet wrappers, out of date tinned food, unread copies of ‘Moby Dick’ and ‘Ulysses’. Daylight Saving Records clearly has a higher quality of material languishing in its vaults waiting to be rediscovered. The five songs on this EP date back to recording sessions […]
While big names are clamouring for attention at Glastonbury, this week sees a range of interesting, smaller-scale releases. Cory Hanson – Western Cum A high-stepping, hard-dancing, first love/heartbreak, tonight’s-the-night, future nostalgia kind of good time with a heavier sound than previous releases. Skating Polly – Chaos Country Line Songs journey from art-punk to noise-rock to […]

ALBUM RELEASES ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 23 JUNE 2023

ALBUM REVIEW: DJANGO DJANGO – OFF PLANET

The British group Django Django are renowned for their varied and avant-garde musical tastes. Vincent Neff (vocals and guitar), Jimmy Dixon (bass), Tommy Grace (synthesisers), and Dave Maclean (drums) make up the band, which was founded in 2009. The name Django Django, which highlights the band’s interest in fusing various genres and styles, is derived from […]
For many years, the idea of classical music was intimidating to me. The class connotations were off-putting together with the sense of a white, male and stale canon. The absence of lyrics also meant there was less to latch onto. Michael Nyman’s score to Peter Greenaway’s film ‘The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, Her Lover’ […]

ALBUM REVIEW – MANCHESTER COLLECTIVE: NEON

ALBUM REVIEW – CORY HANSON: WESTERN CUM

Three albums into his solo career, Wand’s Cory Hanson has conjured distinct and magical flavours each time. Debut release, 2016’s ‘The Unborn Capitalist from Limbo’, dealt out an unimpeachably lush psychedelia while its follow up, ‘Pale Horse Rider’, developed a country rock tinge. With his latest release, Hanson leaps into rock territory. To these ears, […]
This week Silent Radio offers you a selection ranging all the way from obscure experimentation to chart toppers old and new. SunYears – Come Fetch My Soul A collection of top-quality songwriting from Swedish singer/songwriter Peter Morén (Peter Bjorn and John) with guest vocals from Jess Williamson, Fruit Bats, Kathryn Williams, Ren Harvieu and an […]

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 16 JUNE 2023