News: China Crisis Announce First Ever Tour to Australia/New Zealand
Legendary Liverpudlians, China Crisis, have just revealed news of their first ever tour down under with gigs in Australia and New Zealand scheduled for August. While part of the new wave, new romantic explosion in the eighties, China Crisis were unique due to their concentration on music and lyrics as opposed to image, producing a …
Track: Tan Cologne – Alien
Tan Cologne hugely impressed with their dream pop release ‘Cave Vaults on the Moon in New Mexico’ – a song that seemed to capture all the mystery and magic of their home in New Mexico. They have released a new single – ‘Alien’ – which perfectly captures the mysterious allure of this band with its …
Track: Even As We Speak – Blue Suburban Skies plus Tour News
Even As We Speak are a Sydney band that formed in the mid-eighties and, after gaining a following in the Australian indie scene, eventually gained the attention of the legendary John Peel on BBC Radio 1 and airplay for their single ‘Goes So Slow’. This resulted in their signing by the iconic UK Sarah Records …
Video: Underground Lovers – Feels Like Yesterday
The inimitable Underground Lovers have released an absolutely delightful video for the gorgeous track ‘Feels Like Yesterday’ opening their last album ‘A Left Turn’ (my joint favourite album of 2019). Made up of vignettes from various black and white movies (European in origin, I surmise) and edited by Cristina Álvarez López & Adrian Martin , …
Track: Jekyll – I Do What I Can
It was back in 2014 and one of the first reviews I ever did for Backseat Mafia was of this incredibly impressive Blackpool band, Jekyll. I was so impressed, I followed up with an interview and continued to follow them as they grew exponentially. At the time, I presciently questioned why this band wasn’t bigger. …
Track: Haters – Feel Better
There’s nothing like a bit of noisy, shouty guitar-driven rock’n’roll, and Queenland’s Haters have released a blaster in their debut ‘Feel Better’. In the world where bands like Idles, Fontaines DC and The Murder Capital are making a massive impact and heralding a return to punk poetry, Haters are boldly entering the fray: powerful riffs, …
Track: Nada Surf – So Much Love
Nada Surf are a bit of an indie institution and are on the brink of releasing their ninth album, ‘Never Not Together’ on 7 February 2020. ‘So Much Love’ is the third single released in anticipation of the album and it encapsulates the Nada Surf sound and philosophy: bright sparkling joyous music that is infused …
Track: Ash – Darkest Hour of the Night plus Album News – Teenage Wildlife: 25 Years Of Ash
In 1996 at the tender age of 19 having just left school in Northern Ireland, Ash released one of the most extraordinary debut albums – ‘1977’ named after the year of two members’ births; the year a number of major punk albums debuted and, of course, the year Star Wars was released. ‘1977’ is filled …
Video: Fontaines DC – Liberty Belle
Fontaines DC released their universally praised debut album ‘Dogrel’ last year – for me one of the best releases of 2019 – and have sold out at increasingly larger venues across the world, culminating at a sold-out headline gig at London’s O2 Brixton Academy in February 2020. It’s no exaggeration there is a buzz about …
Track: Hayley Mary – Like A Woman Should
Hayley Mary has just released a new single and video for her song ‘Like a Woman Should’ in anticipation of her forthcoming EP, ‘The Piss, The Perfume’ due out on 17 January 2020 through I Oh YOU Records. Mary – real name Hayley Frances McGlone – has form: she was in Australian band The Jezabels …