album reviews
Album review: Yoo Doo Right – ‘Don’t Think You Can Escape Your Purpose’: fiendishly enthralling and focused
BEGINNING in 2016, Montréal’s Yoo Doo Right have strewn the experimental music world lavishly with fervent, heavenly jams: heavily akin to their eponymous krautrock forefathers, also stirring in a heady mix of influences and inspirations. The trio – Justin Cober (guitar, synthesizers, vocals), Charles Masson (bass), and John Talbot (drums, percussion) – made their debut …
EP review: James Heather – ‘Modulations: EP2’: the journey through grief articulated with beauty for solo piano
CONTEMPORARY composer James Heather is set to release his first collection of original works in four years in the shape of Modulations: EP2, which will be out on Coldcut’s other label besides Ninja Tune, Ahead Of Our Time, come May 28th. Recorded in his homebuilt studio during lockdown, each track on Modulations: EP2 was performed in a single …
Album review: Raoul Vignal – ‘Years In Marble’: a solid third chapter in an accomplished songwriting career
A small miracle of the independent European songwriting scene
Album: The Rumjacks – Hestia
After all the press associated with the bands past it seems the addition of new singer Mike Rivkees who has slid into the ranks perfectly well. Writing their new album Hestia who is warmly titled the Greek goddess of home and hearth the band have dug deep and created an album of songs rich with …
Album: Frank Black – Vinyl Release of Frank Black Francis, Honeycomb and Fast Man Raider Man
On 14th May Demon Records will release three Frank Black albums which have never been available on vinyl before. ‘Francis Black Francis’, ‘Honeycomb’ and ‘Fast Man Raider Man’ Each is lovingly issued on 140g coloured vinyl: ‘Frank Black Francis’ will be available as 2LPs on white vinyl, ‘Honeycomb’ on translucent-honey vinyl and ‘Fast Man Raider Man’ as 2LPs on …
Album review: Graham Costello/STRATA – ‘Second Lives’: energised modern jazz for the world today
SOMETIMES it pays to step back and remember that the kaleidoscope of UK jazz has many focal points beyond the frequently illuminated London scene. There’s the Worm Disc massive in Bristol, Ishmael Ensemble and all; the Gondwana northern powerhouse of Matthew Halsall; Brighton’s Sola Terra (home of Ebi Soda, etc.) and Mammal Hands lurking in …
Album review: iogi – ‘everything’s worth it’: a beautiful collection of songs
everything’s worth it is a really refreshing album from Yogev Glusman, a lesser known psych pop artist from Tel Aviv, and admittedly an ambitious one – but by now it’s clear that the divide from what is considered amateur and “professional” is completely blurred. everything’s worth it (sic) is as bit as professional as you …
Album: Amigo The Devil – Born Against
Inspired by storytellers such as Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen and Fiona Apple. Amigo The Devil is the pseudonym of Danny Kiranos, known for his deep, challenging and emotive yet often humorous lyrics. He has further evolved as a songwriter, resulting in his new album ‘Born Against’ taking on a vivid and cinematic feel to the …
EP review: Real Estate – ‘Half A Human’: capturing the hollowness of quarantine
THE ISOLATION of the pandemic has caused millions of people worldwide to realize how instrumental socialization and interaction has been in our lives. Separated from this aspect of ourselves for over a year has left many of us feeling hollow and aware of the hole left in our lives. We have tried to stay connected …
Album review: The Peacers – ‘Blexxed Rec’: San Fran garage outfit’s third has some nuggets within
Whatcha got? A great little garage rock record, is what. One foot in a California garage, fiddling with the fuzz pedals; another gazing across the ocean to Swingin’ London town, taking in folkiness, powerpop, mod and freakbeat touches. A great record for a dusk motorway, this; yeah, a great little record.