Music
Album Review: Hooton Tennis Club – Highest Point In Cliff Town
Just from the first glance at the album cover, there’s something familiar about Hooton Tennis Club’s debut. Having listened to this album a number of times now, there’s also something familiar about its sound, its feel, its tone. A few songs in, and it starts to become obvious that this Merseyside four piece are well …
Interview: The Mantells + new single ‘Payday Playboys’
Manchester 3-piece indie rockers The Mantells have been together for just over 18 months and have been very busy. Last year’s single ‘Men In Suits’ was well received by music bloggers and gig goers alike. Now back with the ‘Payday Playboys’ Ep, Nina Fritsch caught up with singer Tom Barrow to talk about the importance …
Track: Advance Base – Pamela
It’s been three years since singe songwriter Owem Ashworth released his debut album under his Advance Base moniker, A Shut-Ins Prayer. Since then, he’s been busy on projects including a book of drawings, making beats for Chicago rapper Serengeti, recoding the debut single by psych-folker Mulie Byrne, contributing to Sun Kil Moon’s Beni album, and …
Not Forgotten: Kirsty MacColl – Kite
I find it impossible to dislike any aspect of Kirsty MacColl. She was a trier, tirelessly honing her craft, refusing to sell herself short or compromise her material for anyone, be they record companies, her expectant fans or her father. Sadly for all her obvious talent and verve, she struggled to record a consistently satisfying …
See: Jess Barlow releases new visuals for ‘Someone Else’s War’
Sung with a beautiful honesty, ‘Someone Else’s War’ from Jess Barlow has quickly become one of my favourite songs of the year. On top of a simple and elegant musical construction, Jess’s voice presents the emotions behind the songs meaning and brings it all to life. It’s a song that expresses the inner emotions of a …
Album Review: Mark Morriss – The Taste Of Mark Morriss
Bluetones frontman Mark Morriss has been a busy boy of late. The singer and his former band mates recently announced they would be going back on the road to celebrate their twenty-year anniversary. And now Morriss has just released his brand new solo album, ‘The Taste Of Mark Morriss’ on Acid Jazz. Basically speaking it’s …
A buyers’ guide to They Might Be Giants
They Might Be Giants are an act who have forged an utterly unique music career over thirty-odd years, from their early days as an act more cabaret than their contemporaries punk rock, via their Dial-a-Song service, sixteen studio albums, eight EPs, another eight live albums (and an additional live promo album) and ten compilations. Riding …
Live Review: Dandy Warhols. Leadmill, Sheffield 30.07.15
It has been some considerable time since tonight’s headliners last played the Steel City, and there’s a definite air of anticipation and excitement as the venue starts to fill to bursting. One of Portland’s finest exports and one of the most influential bands of our time. The Dandy Warhol’s take the stage in a casual, …
Not Forgotten: Silver Sun – Silver Sun
Silver Sun were a bit of an oddity during the dying years of Britpop, as they were far more of a straight power-pop act than any of their contemporaries. Specialising in Weezer-esque geek-pop guitar tunes blended with Posies-style harmonies, they were a far fizzier and fuzzier proposition than the bands they inevitably toured with. They …
Album Review: Miss May I – Deathless
In recent years Miss May I have been a band who not only have a firm grasp on their metalcore roots but have branched out into a more sharpened and established straight-up metal sound. Their previous release Rise Of The Lion (2014) didn’t have the same consistency that 2012’s At Heart had and was also …