Music
Not Forgotten: Tom Petty – Wildflowers
For his second ‘solo’ album Tom Petty did the smart thing and recruited Rick Rubin as the producer. Rubin’s organic and raw production methods were in sharp contrast to the synthetic and processed sounds that Petty’s albums (both solo, and with his celebrated backing band, The Heartbreakers) had suffered from since the lack-luster Southern Accents. …
Album Review: Gengahr – A Dream Outside
A lot of the time these days we’re constantly reminded that yes; guitar music is dead, or no; guitar music isn’t dead. Then we have punky bands like The Vaccines, Palma Violets and Catfish and the Bottlemen that resurrect rock music like Frankenstein’s monster. But I’ve been of the mind that instead of insisting that …
Say Psych: Album Review – Pan by White Manna
A number of reviews of this latest album by Californian five piece White Manna have inevitably rested on their space rock credentials in relation to prime movers of the genre, Hawkwind. While this is understandable it is, in my view, also a little unfortunate because I rate this album as being significantly better than anything …
See: One Eyed Wayne release new video for ‘Various Artists’
One Eyed Wayne are back with a new track – ‘Various Artists’ is a Duryesque stomper about what could easily become a sad lament to a real life endangered species, the unsavoury pub dweller. It’s another slice of what we affectionately referred to as streetcore, a blend of punk-poetry set to a catchy street wise beat …
Track: Velvet Morning – ‘You’re Blue, I’m Blue’
Taking their name from one of my all-time favourite retro psych tracks, Velvet Morning create a musical concoction made up of all the best cuts from the past 50 years of psych, blues and soul and serve it up as a beautiful dish to add to the current new wave psychedelia menu. ‘You’re Blue, I’m …
Soundtrack Of Our Lives: Andy Gill (Gang of Four)
Leeds post-punk luminaries Gang of Four should need little to no introduction. Since their inception in 1978 they have continued to be cited as a major influence for many. Their groundbreaking debut LP ‘Entertainment!’, was released 35 years ago this month yet still finds itself an almost permanent fixture on any ‘must own’ album lists …
Album Review: Paul Weller – ‘Saturns Pattern
Songwriter, national treasure, and eternal mod Paul Weller, now 56, could have carved out a nice little niche career playing various mod incarnations forevermore after his Jam and Style Council years, but luckily for us was too restless and easily bored to do so. Like his previous two albums of surprises, Saturns Pattern is full …
See: In This Moment Unveil Sex Metal Barbie Video
In This Moment have recently released the video for Sex Metal Barbie from their 2014 effort Black Widow. The video, based around other peoples perceptions of the band was turned into a sarcastic punch in the face to all the ‘haters’. Frontwoman and director of the video Maria Brink told Loudwire; “Directing it was a liberating …
Live Review: Calexico – Albert Hall, Manchester – 30th April 2015
Calexico made a welcome return to the UK after a couple of years’ absence in support of their brilliant new album – Edge of The Sun – and we were there to see them at Manchester’s Albert Hall. This was only one of three British gigs for Calexico so the venue was packed to the gills with people of …
Album Review: Palma Violets – Danger in the Club
The London based Indie Rock outlet Palma Violets broke through to the mainstream with their debut album 180, released in 2013, after a successful lead single and significant promotion from the likes of NME. Comparisons have been drawn from the likes of The Libertines, The Strokes, and the whole Garage-Rock revival. Admittedly, I was not …