Music
Album Review; Ariel Pink – Pom Pom
I must confess to being late to the Ariel Pink party. His debut album ‘House Arrest’ came out in 2002, completely under my radar. I stumbled across this new album, ‘Pom Pom’ whilst perusing Spotify for something new to listen to. I had no idea what to expect, but it was clear from the opening …
Premiere: The Black Lamps – The Archivist
Today, here at Backseat Mafia, we bring you the premiere of ‘The Archivist’, the opening track from The Black Lamps self titled debut long player, out on January 12th via Of National Importance Records. The band, Greg Firth (bass), Dean Ormston (drums), Lyndon Scarfe (guitars and keyboards) and Liam Stewart (vocals and guitars) have previously …
Live Review: Kogumaza, Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, 19.11.2014
Amazingly this was the first time I had got to see Kogumaza live. I have enjoyed them from afar for a long time, but somehow always managed to miss them in the past, so I was very happy to see that they were supporting Hookworms at the launch gig for The Hum album. The …
Live Review: Hookworms, Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, 19.11.14
I’ve seen Hookworms many times now, and I’ve seen them quite a few times at the always excellent Brudenell; but this felt like something different. This was the launch gig for the band’s second, excellent, album The Hum (you can read my review of it here) which, in my opinion, has cemented the band’s position …
A Buyers Guide to Warren Zevon – The Asylum Years
Warren Zevon is one of those songwriters who is unfortunately best remembered for one song which overshadowed the rest of his career. This is a great shame, as Zevon’s output is one of considerable depth which underwent repeated twists and turns in terms of commercial success which lead to a relatively stop-start career punctuated by …
Album Review: Polybius – Be Seeing You
It’s difficult to know whether Polybius were formed, or born, or indeed anything. Best to assume the Sheffield / Rotherham based duo were forged. Certainly the (musical) DNA of Warp and Voltaire and Clock DVA have played heavy on the duo, only known as EV and the Random (“our personal names are irrelevant”) and they …
Live Review: Claw Marks – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds 27.11.2014
If you got home from work/college/shoplifting that late that you were unable to get down to the Brudenell for the opening act last Thursday, well count your lucky stars. For you were saved the tortuous half hour or so the rest of us had to endure when London’s second most disgusting band turned up. Claw …
Live: The Heartbreaks, Bodega, 28th November 2014
The Heartbreaks are a band who know how to look after you. When I arrived at the Bodega in Nottingham last night, I found drummer Joe Kondras and lead guitarist Ryan Wallace telling staff how important it was they let me in. Great start, boys. The Heartbreaks are the first band I ever fell in …
Track: J. Mascis releases cover of Fade into You on Black Friday Record Store Day
Yes, you’re right, he’s fucking cool. J.Mascis, the Spinosaurus of Dinosaur Jr., is following this year’s solo LP “Tied to a Star” with a special single release. Timed for the special Black Friday version of Record Store Day, the 7” single on Sub Pop will be a cover of Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You” backed …