Southern Sunrise – Elspeth
Before we get into this, I ask that you set aside the tweeness of naming a song “Elspeth” and the connection that will inevitably form in your mind between the guitars in this song and Noah and the Whale’s execrable “5 Years’ Time” (pedant’s note: fuck’s sake, they didn’t even add the apostrophe – I …
Lapland – Metal Lungs
There’s something reassuring and comfortable about the way “Metal Lungs” starts – straight into its rhythm without intro as though it’s a story you were already part-way through, the next track on an album you had already started listening to. That sense is echoed by the insistent strains of repetitive guitars and warm, soft snare …
Streets of Laredo – Hey Rose
Despite obvious problems with their national rugby union side, I have a massive soft spot for Kiwis. I didn’t know this bunch were from NZ (albeit now based in Brooklyn in New York), but I’m also a sucker for country and a bit of folk and their name seemed to fit that bracket. I was …
New Single: Josef Salvat – Every Night/Till I Found You
London-based Aussie singer Josef Salvat releases his new single, more timeless (mainly synth) pop-soul in the form of double-A-side “Every Night” and “Till I Found You”. Out on December 9th on Fingers & Thumbs. We’ve met Josef before, back in April when we reviewed his previous single “Hustler” (you can read about it here). There …
Clara Engel – A Pound of Flesh (In Particulate Shards)
Look, I don’t like doing this any more than you should like reading it, but I’m writing this from the top deck of the 91 bus and time is tight. Besides which, these comparisons have merit so listen up. This sombre thrum reminds me of Kristin Hersh’s “Hips and Makers”, although it lacks the distracting …
Your Favourite Enemies – I Just Want You To Know
It always feels pretty strange, coming to a band that have been around for a while and already have such an international following. Your Favourite Enemies hail from Canada, and are releasing their first single into the UK market on Monday 4 November. The band have been going since 2006 and have a strong following, …
Video of the Day: Just Lions – Monsters
So I’m too late for Hallowe’en. Who gives a rat’s arse ? I was on holiday carving Pumkins (sic) and doling out sweets and had scant time for the interweb there. Now I have the time and who better to help me make up that gap than Just Lions. I know, I know, I already …
Boss Caine – The Rhythm and the Rhyme (Part 3 of Backseat Mafia On Tour: York)
Years ago when Gomez first emerged there would always be at least a strain of suspicion running through reviews. For the generous, the fact that this group of adolescents wrote about life experiences they couldn’t have had, in places they might only have seen as wide-eyed tourists, channeled through one particular singer who sounded like …
Hard at work: Altadore in the studio
The fact is that I am a pretty impatient man. It’s something that I struggle with on a daily basis and I can end up expressing it in various ways. Fortunately for you one of those has been repeatedly harassing David Katz of Altadore to give me updates on new music. Well, the band have …
EP: Just Lions – Paper Cage
A heavy, heavy sound. Juddering with bass and muscle, particularly from the guitar. This isn’t the sweet, wishful Just Lions of “Monsters” from earlier this year. Perhaps it’s the basements and bedrooms in which they’ve been tracking their latest EP influencing what is a more claustrophobic sound on this new 3-track EP. Title track “Paper …