Music
A Buyers Guide to The Shins
Initially an offshoot of Flake Music, The Shins were a solo side project for bandleader James Mercer to dabble with during the downtime of his main band. At some point in the mid 90s, Flake Music basically morphed into The Shins, and initially consisted of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mercer backed up by Flake Music’s Jesse …
Album Review: Nate Connelly – A dream about being lost
Since graduating from Leeds College of Music a decade ago, St. Annes born Nate Connolly has concentrated on writing and scoring film scores, totaling approaching a couple of dozen. But he does have a history with hard house, raves and drum and bass dating back to his teens. At first sound, it seems like one …
See: Augustines announce UK tour dates, plus album news
Formed out of the ashes of Pela, and named after the month where the bands main protagonists Billy McCarthy and Eric Sanderson were born, Augustines have returned. Their first, brilliant, album Rise Ye Sunken Ships was coloured with the experience of the tragic death of McCarthy’s brother James. Things were made more difficult by a …
Track: Brody Dalle – ‘Meet The Foetus/Oh The Joy, plus album news.
She’s been absent for a while, having a couple of kids, marrying Queens Of The Stone Age front man Josh Homme, stuff like that. But now she’s back. Punk rock icon Brody Dalle has just unleashed her latest single, ’Meet The Foetus/Oh The Joy’ as a taster for her eagerly anticipated new album. Having previously …
See: Beacons Festival 7-10 August 2014
I guess it’s time to start thinking which summer festival to attend and I’m really excited about the first acts announced by Beacons Festival. This independent festival is only in its third year (after the 2011 event was forced to close due to flooding) and it seems to be giving the bigger festivals a definate …
New Music: Ziggy Marley announced new album Fly Rasta, and streams title track
Following in his fathers illustrious steps, Bob’s eldest son Ziggy is returning with his fifth album, Fly Rasta, that comes out on 14th April via Tuff Gong records. Although he might not have the worldwide adoration and all time classic records enjoyed by his father, he has made consistently great records and recently recieved his …
Meet: We speak with Italian indie band Sweet Jane and Claire
At the risk of seeming obsessive, I have already reviewed the brilliant new album by Italian band Sweet Jane and Claire and their video to accompany the single “I’m Afraid When Guilio Whistles”. Their new album, “Stick Caramel Mind” is on constant rotation: it is an intriguing indie debut from a band that deserves a …
Album Review: Pompeya – Tropical Remixed
Following hot on the heels of their first US release, Tropical – an album that showed that pop/funk/disco/new wave (yes, really, all of those things) could convincingly be mashed together into dancefloor sized pieces and thrown out there all the way from Moscow, comes Tropical Remixed. It’s an album that does exactly what it says …
Feature: Darker Sound – Helltrash
Helltrash is the scuzzy and sleazy industrial metal project of Vlixx Vaden. Whilst Vlixx is joined by several others for liveshows, Helltrash is in essence Vlixx (in the same way NIN is Trent Reznor). Blending chunky chugging riffs with pulsating synth beats, samples and Vlixx’s intense filtered vocals. Helltrash are a musical tour de force. …
Album Review: Temples – ‘Sun Structures’
With half of the country under water, the rest battered in to submission by relentless winds, it’s pretty hard to imagine sunshine and gentle breezes. But help is at hand. The debut album from Kettering quartet Temples is here and it’s more than capable of transporting you away from the deluge and back to the …