Indie
Meet: Q&A with Gene’s Matt James
My heart, in the 90’s at least belonged to Gene. The indie quartet appeared out of the haze of The Smiths, were loved by almost crazily obsessive fans, released a handful of albums that touched both the charts and the heart strings, and then split. They set the standard for emotive indie rock, with front …
News: Paul Weller announces five ‘Forest Live’ dates
The ‘Modfather’ is getting back to nature again this summer. Following the success of last years ‘Forest Live’ gigs, Paul Weller, in conjunction with the Forestry Commision, has just announced a string of live dates all set in beautiful woodland surroundings. “It will be good for me to be back in the woods. I really …
See: Darlia, the most exciting guitar band in the UK?, announce tour dates
“The most exciting guitar band in the UK” according to Nigel Harding, head of playlists at Radio 1. A bold statement, but it’s one that seems to be getting support from every quarter. Hotly tipped by many to be one of the biggest acts of 2014, Blackpool trio, Darlia, are already drawing comparisons to the …
See: The Crookes release new video for PLay Dumb, plus album and tour dates
If ‘Play Dumb’ was written to provoke a conversation, then it certainly succeeded in my eyes. The premier single on The Crookes third album, Soapbox, offers an interesting dichotomy of prettiness and intelligence, sincerity and lies, superficial attraction and dark secrets. The anguish in singer George Waite’s eyes seems all too real as he is …
A buyers guide to the Super Furry Animals
In ten years time and the children of the Brit-pop generation start taking an interest in their parents music collections, who do you think the really cool bands will be? It won’t be the big hitters whose songs will still be played on the radio, but those nearly men, those who despite having the talent, …
Track: Solander – The Woods Are Gone (plus name your price download)
Wintery sadness, gorgeously delivered. The rhythm is the perfect rendition of walking through snow – always trying to go faster, but caught by the weight of the drifts, the sadness, the longing. The shimmering snare shivers under the song like skirring flakes pelting across your eyes in moonlight and bitter winds. On top the guitar …
See: King Krule releases new video for A Lizard State
King Krule videos have always nosedived into the surreal. ‘Rock Bottom’ s visual accompaniment transfigured the desolation-induced lyrics into a beautifully contorted mess of Lynchian, Kafkaesque and beat generation reference work, with sparse industrial landscapes, cockroach wallpapers, black lodge diners, cactus women and a pack of brutish ‘city boys’ summoning a real sense of dread, …
Not Forgotton: Northside – Chicken Rhythms, and new spring tour dates
For me, it started with an apple. For there, in my local record emporium (the glorious Left Legged Pineapple in Loughborough) as I thumbed through Cocteau Twins, King of the Slums, Fuzztones, A.C. Marias, Blur, Diesel Park West, Lush and Bridewell Taxis records, I kept coming back to this record, with nothing more than an …
A buyers guide to Grandaddy
Grandaddy were one of those bands who struggled to catch a break. They had all the talent in the world, great tunes, a fine songwriter in Jason Lytle and had a lot more to offer than your average five piece rock band peddling their wares at the turn of the millennium. Sound-wise they were not …
Aan – I Don’t Need Love
Consider this a precursor. Early next year we’re expecting Aan‘s debut album so this is just to tide you over… Yes, yes, yes, they’re ANOTHER band from Portland, Oregon. It isn’t my fault that they keep on making them over there. ‘I Don’t Need Love’ is a huge slice of experimental indie rock. This is …