Archives
Not Forgotten: Deep Purple – Made in Japan
It is the 70s. Weeks last three days, amplifiers are stacked, hair is long and unkempt, pants are loon and sleeves are gatefold. In the pop charts, glam-rock and hollow pop held sway, while the album charts were dominated by progressive and hard rock bands, whose live reputations were at least as important as their …
Premiere: Will Joseph Cook – Daisy Chain video (Sofar sounds)
We’re pleased to bring you the premiere of the latest from the brilliant Sofar Sounds, a session with upcoming Tunbridge Wells singer-songwriter Will Joseph Cook. Joined by his band, its a version of a new song, Daisy Chains. Here at backseat mafia, we loved his rather beautiful debut single Catalyst, and it seems that Daisy …
Live: Adam Buxton – Bug Special: David Bowie
There are some events that you see advertised and you just have to go to. Having seen that Adam Buxton was bringing a special ‘Zavid Bowie’ edition of his Bug show to The Crucible this weekend as part of Sheffield Doc/Fest, upon me arriving home from a particularly taxing week at the office last Friday, …
Album Review – Guided by Voices – Cool Planet
Guided by Voices are one of those acts where I genuinely cannot remember where or when I first heard their name, but I’ve known it for a while now. I guess he first time they registered on my radar as anything more than just a name, was about nine years ago when a Canadian friend …
Not Forgotten: Dusty Springfield – Dusty in Memphis
It’s heartbreaking that someone who had such a huge talent as Dusty Springfield suffered from almost crippling insecurity and self-doubt. Legend has it that she struggled so much with the recording of this, Dusty in Memphis, now her most celebrated album, that “Son of a Preacher Man” and “Just a Little Lovin’” aside, she was …
Album review – 3TEETH – 3TEETH
3TEETH the L.A four piece that have seemingly re-invented industrial music for the digital age have been turning heads with the slow intravenous drip of material over the last year. Through impressive use of social media and Soundcloud they’ve built up anticipation but also cleverly only revealed 3 of the tracks featured on their debut …
A Buyers Guide to Randy Newman
Quick – who is the greatest songwriter America has ever produced? Okay, how many of you said Bob Dylan? More than three quarters of you I should imagine and you may even be right, but how many of you looked beyond the obvious and said Randy Newman? Quite a few probably, because you’re reading an …
Live: Human Hair. Bell Jar, Sheffield 1-6-14 + ‘View from the Pit’ Gallery
Like many people I know, I really do prefer the smaller gig. They’re a bit more intimate and personal. More importantly, the beer is usually a lot better than the over priced watered down chemical rich rubbish you have to endure at the more corporate venues. And of course, you quite often get to meet …
Film Festival Preview: Sheffield Doc/Fest – Part 3
Sheffield Doc/Fest is the premiere event in the Sheffield calendar. Taking place between 7-12 June, it’s one of the biggest and most renowned documentary film festivals in the world. Along with some of the best new documentaries expect live music, outdoor screenings and many accompanying events and talks. The last part of our preview focuses …
EP: Batsch – Collar EP
14th July will see the latest release from Coventry art/synth pop quartet Batsch. The band – Mason Le Long, Joe Carvell, Matt Rheeston and Andy Whitehead do a mean line in groove, laying down some beautifully melodic and memorable ones in their recorded work to date, taking the lead from the likes of Chic and …