Music
News: David Bowie Dies
Only days after his 69th birthday and the release of Blackstar, David Bowie has passed away. Following an 18 month battle with cancer, David passed away peacefully on January the 10th. A statement from his Facebook page confirming the very sad news reads “David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous …
See: The Shimmer Band release video for ‘Shoot Me Baby’
The Shimmer Band pack a psychedelic punch with new single ‘Shoot Me Baby’. The Bristol five-piece – Tom Newman (singer), Willz Hatcher (drums), Tom Smith (guitar/synths), Tom Kuras (bass) and Babsy (guitar) – are set to make heads spin with their pounding and twisting blend of psych-rock and pop. This reflected in a particularly trippy, …
Album Review: Hinds – Leave Me Alone
With the release of their highly anticipated debut album, ‘Leave Me Alone’, Hinds melt away the January blues with twelve songs full of attitude, charm and Spanish warmth. The Madrid quartet started out as a duo called Deers in 2011 before Carlotta Cosials and Ana García Perrote were joined by Ade Martín and Amber Grimbergen …
Album Review: Turin Brakes – Lost Property
To me Turin Brakes are like an old friend I’ve lost regular touch with over the years that I bump into in my local one evening. We’ve not seen each other for a while, but after some initial awkwardness, we end up having one of those nights out that sticks in your memory and reminds …
Album Review: Ignite – A War Against You
A War Against You is the first release in ten years from California’s melodic hard-core punks Ignite. The band return with their own blend of fast paced melodic hard-core and thought provoking political, socially aware lyrics. The album opens with the signature almost operatic sound of frontman Zoli Teglas, belting out the opening lines with …
News, Sonic Youth 180g vinyl reissues
USM are embarking on a re-issue programme of some of Sonic Youth’s key albums as part of its ‘Back to Black’ series, all to be available for the first time on 180g vinyl, and with high quality downloads. First up, later this this month, (January 22nd) are ‘Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star’, ‘A …
Say Psych: Album Review, Mind Control by Sun Dial
Sun Dial will need no introduction to many. Formed in 1990 by Gary Ramon, the band has explored many different aspects of psychedelic and space rock during its existence, and has often sprung a surprise or two, not least with its response to the release of its 20th anniversary retrospective (‘Processed For DNA’), an eponymously …
Track: Black Stone Cherry – The way of the future, plus album/tour news
With a recent new signing to The Mascot Label group last year, Black Stone Cherry are set to release their fifth studio album ‘Kentucky’ on April 1st. Named after the band’s home state it looks like it’s going to be a very ‘back to their roots’ album with the hard rock outfit working with the …
Say Psych: Album Review, Henge
In your fuckin’ face…that’s what this album is from the very first bar as the feedback from opener ‘TD’ pours fluidly from the speakers, the bass pulsates and the fuzzed up guitar kicks in. If that wasn’t enough to pin you back to the wall you are harangued by the sort of vocals which leave …
Album Review: Villagers – Where Have You Been All My Life?
I liked Villagers from the moment my friend Susie slipped their debut album into her car CD player as she gave me a lift to the train station one lunchtime in early 2011. The fact that they were effectively a him (Conor O’Brien), that he / they were signed to the ever-dependable Domino Records and …