ALBUM REVIEW – THE INNOCENCE MISSION: MIDWINTER SWIMMERS

There is a great sense of detail in The Innocence Mission’s latest album, ‘Midwinter Swimmers’. It is apparent in lyrics that have a poetic precision and colourfully capture place. The music is imbued with a fragility reminiscent of Vashti Bunyan and mingles lo-fi charm with subtle shifts to create a cinematic palette. It is a […]
With his 2022 album, ‘Chloë and The Next 20th Century’, it appeared that Father John Misty was trying to dial down the ambiguous signals that had permeated his earlier releases. Its mixture of golden era Hollywood and cruise ship opulence signified an artist happy to embrace the mainstream, an arena for which his outstanding melodicism […]

ALBUM REVIEW – FATHER JOHN MISTY: MAHASHMASHANA

ALBUM REVIEW – POM POKO: CHAMPION

For those of us in northern England, the word ‘champion’ might have a different meaning than to other people. “Aye, it’s champion” symbolises a grudging respect, a down-to-earth admission that something is pretty good, rather than the triumphalism of Queen’s or a sporting crowd’s boast of “We Are The Champions”. For Norwegian band, Pom Poko, […]
Two albums into their career, it is already apparent that Personal Trainer thrive upon throwing frequent curveballs into the equation. Their debut, 2022’s ‘Big Love Blanket’, contained a multitude of joyous, brief songs that were ideal for their greatest champion, 6Music’s Marc Riley, to slot into any small gap preceding the news headlines. Following this […]

ALBUM REVIEW – PERSONAL TRAINER: STILL WILLING

ALBUM REVIEW – JOHN GRANT: THE ART OF THE LIE

With his debut solo release in 2010, ‘Queen of Denmark’, John Grant established himself as one of the supreme balladeers, blessed with a velvet voice like the most enveloping and reassuring hug. This style highlighted his unique talent as a lyricist, an ability to sugar troubling personal experience with humour. However, as listeners to his […]
2024 is beginning with the Bella Union label furthering its claim to alternative national treasure status. Having gifted to the world Silent Radio’s Album of 2023, BC Camplight’s ‘The Last Rotation of Earth’, the latest addition to its roster, Conchúr (pronounced Conor) White, fits within the gorgeous traditional songwriting part of their portfolio of delights […]

ALBUM REVIEW – CONCHUR WHITE: SWIRLING VIOLETS

ALBUM REVIEW – HARP: ALBION

The debut album from Harp, former Midlake singer Tim Smith’s new act, bears a healthy imprint of Anglophilia. The album title reflects his fascination with England, or Albion as it was known in former times, especially the Medieval and Renaissance eras, together with its landscapes, gardens, villages, grey skies and mist on the moors. Musically, […]
The debut album from The David Tattersall Group ought to have a nocturnal title. Of the eleven original compositions which start with ‘Bright Moon’. three songtitles reference the night (‘Night Owls’, ‘Drive All Night’ and ‘Since the Night’) and another the evening (‘Fresh Evening Rain’). It is a record that marks a departure from the […]

ALBUM REVIEW – THE DAVID TATTERSALL GROUP: THE DAVID TATTERSALL GROUP

BC CAMPLIGHT ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM

The Last Rotation Of Earth, Out May 12 via Bella Union Is there a curse that says Brian ‘BC Camplight’ Christinzio cannot move forward without being knocked back? That the greatest material is born out of emotional trauma? Whilst making his new album, The Last Rotation Of Earth, Christinzio’s relationship with his fiancé crumbled after […]
Mr Ben & The Bens bring news of a new six-track EP ‘Melody Shed’ released May 21st via Bella Union. Alongside it comes its a first track titled ‘How Do I Get To You?’ Speaking about the track, band-leader Ben Hall says: “This is the song that completely changed the course of the entire EP. […]

MR BEN & THE BENS BRING NEWS OF A NEW SIX-TRACK EP ALONGSIDE ITS FIRST TRACK TITLED ‘HOW DO I GET TO YOU?’