Music
Win: Tickets for Nostalgia 77 @ Rich Mix, London 18.9.15
He doesn’t play out very often, doesn’t Ben Lamdin, aka Nostalgia 77 so there’s much excitement here in Backseat Mafia towers that he’s announced a rare live appearance, along with his full live band, at Rich Mix, London on Friday 18th September. After bursting onto the scene with this atmospheric (nu)jazz and fresh take on …
Album Review: Ecstatic Vision – Sonic Praise
Ecstatic Vision are a band that linger in a class of chunky, driving metal that only a few can do right without coming across as ludicrous. It’s THC-fueled space rock that falls somewhere between fuzzed-out caveman Krautrock, and a less doom-and-gloom Black Sabbath. These Philly guys are steeped in 70s progressive rock and 90s doom, …
Live Review: Glastonbury Festival – Saturday 27th June 2015
The sun was out again. There were several more bleary-eyed faces from the previous night, but still everyone was on the beers straight after breakfast. The Pyramid was our stage of choice for the opining act. We were brought gently around by The Unthanks, backed by Charles Hazelwood & His Orchestra. ‘Are you all up …
Track: Love nor Money – Shake Me
Exciting and thrilling, the British girl trio Love Nor Money have released the colourful and energetic “Shake Me”. With winding riffs on the guitar and layered voices at the introduction, the song soon takes off, driven by the talent of Bess Cavandish’s vocal line, which leads the listener on a sound trip full of crazy …
Track: Bellwire – Let it Shine
Boston garage pop quartet Bellwire have heralded the release of their self titled debut album (admittedly not due till next year) with the release of a new single – Let it Shine. Work continues on the record this summer, when the band will be recording to tape at The Soul Shop in Medford, MA with …
Meet: We interview Liverpool based trio Elevant
Liverpool trio, Elevant, could hardly be described as workshy. In less than a year they’ve released two full length albums, completed two comprehensive national tours and numerous local gigs and rather than take a rest, they’re all eager to get on with the third long player, and continue with even more touring. Just as they …
Live Review: Evil Blizzard. Brudenell Social Club, Leeds 04-07-2015
Saturday night, the place is packed and it’s as hot as Hell. Not only is it hot as Hell, but as the stage becomes bathed in blood red lights five figures enter and at a glance you could quite easily believe that someone had spiked your drink and you were tripping in Hell. All around …
News: Preview – Reverence Festival, Valada
On August 27th, 28th and 29th Reverence festival returns to Valada, Portugal, to offer up another weekender of quality psychedelia. This monster line-up showcases the very best in stoner, grunge, shoegaze and doom, with more acts to be announced in the coming weeks. Heady, hazy sounds offer the perfect summer soundtrack to the beautifully picturesque setting of Valada …
Interview: Sonic Jesus
On experiencing ‘It’s time to hear’ for the first time, the warm embrace of it’s sweeping grandeur and haunting imagery had me gladly and willingly sealing my “Faustian Pact” with Sonic Jesus. A pact that the intervening 18 months has rewarded with two spellbinding live performances, at Eindhoven Psych Lab last year and the London launch party for …
Album Review: Act – Love and Hate – A compact introduction to Act
One of the blink and you’ll miss it bands from the time of synth-pop revolution, Act flashed and burnt out, pretty much before anyone noticed. The duo, Thomas Leer and ex-propaganda singer Claudia Brücken, convened after Propaganda fell apart over their contract with label ZTT, the band and Brücken (then Mrs Paul Morley, ZTT co-founder) …