Music
Live Review: Seasick Steve – Sheffield O2 Academy, 16.04.2015
It would have been so easy for Seasick Steve to infiltrate the crowd of his own gig. For one night only, Sheffield 02 Academy was filled with men of a certain age, complete with beards and baseball caps. But that’s not to say it was only the older generation at this gig. The audience spanned …
Album Review: Grace Jones – The Disco Years
1977 was an important year according to most people I know, and many I don’t. The first Star Wars film was screened, The first issue of 2000AD was published, Apple was incorporated, the rings of uranus were discovered (much to the amusement of most), Led Zeppelin and Elvis Presley played their last concerts, Elvis then …
See: Graham Parker & The Rumour release video for Railroad Spikes
Graham Parker and the Rumour’s second post-reunion album, Mystery Glue, is due out May 18th. The Rumour was pre-punk singer-songwriter Graham Parker’s backing band from 1975 to 1980, consisting of Andrew Bodnar, Bob Andrews, Brinsley Schwarz, Martin Belmont, and Stephen Goulding. Brinsley Schwartz alone is noteworthy as one of Britain’s best power pop/pub rock guitarists. …
New Music: Cabane release debut single Sangokaku, featuring Bonnie ’Prince’ Billy & Kate Stables
Sangokaku is the perfect title for Cabane’s debut single. In Japanese it translates to ‘sea coral’, believed to hold magical healing properties, which have been completely absorbed into this music. Sangokaku is graceful and haunting. As you listen you find yourself feeling isolated, considering your own loneliness, teetering between the elated and melancholic. But you …
Not Forgotten: The Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots
After years of struggling in the alt-rock wilderness, Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots was the first release by The Flaming Lips that you could say had been ‘long awaited’ by just about anybody outside of North America. Sure they had their small bands of admirers scattered across the globe previously, but The Soft Bulletin had …
Track: Jenny Hval releases new single ‘Sabbath’, plus UK/EU tour dates
“Sabbath” is the second release from Jenny Hval’s up coming album ‘Apocalypse, Girl’. I’m a bit of a sucker for the stories that sit behind the songs, thankfully Jenny has provided a bit of info – and possibly the quote of the month – about the song… “I think I’ve been writing this song since …
Live: Sonic Jesus (Album Launch) & The Underground Youth – The Waiting Room, London 16.04.2015
I appreciate that people generally make the pilgrimage TO Ireland, but this was one divine intervention I was not going to miss for anything… Two years in the making and the day finally arrives for the official unveiling of the debut album by Sonic Jesus – ‘Neither Virtue Nor Anger’. (Full LP Review to follow). In a …
See: Rubik releases new video for ‘Duet’
Shaun Yule, the London producer otherwise known as Rubik, has been on the edges of the experimental electronic scene for a while now, both as a performer – his latest album Tone Poem is his fourth, and as label boss of left-field imprint Domestiv Records, home (at least at some time) to the likes of …
News: Long Division Festival returns to Wakefield 12th – 14th June
Five years in and Long Division festival in Wakefield has become as much a part of the festival season as any of the offerings its big city rival, Leeds, can offer. 80+ bands – three days – eight city centre venues ! It’s a winning formula with an ever impressive line up ranging from the …
Track: Miya Folick – Talking with Strangers
Talking with Strangers is a new release from the Santa Ana, California singer-songwriter Miya Folick. After growing up in a Buddist family, music was always an important part of her life, but that only really took off when she taught herself to play the guitar in downtime whilst studying Theatre in college. Talking with Strangers …