Album Reviews
Album Review: Gyedu-Blay Ambolley – Simigwa (Strut Records Reissue)
Strut Records continues its celebration of Ghana’s legendary Essiebons label with the official reissue of Simigwa, the groundbreaking 1975 album by Gyedu-Blay Ambolley. Recognized as a cornerstone of Ghanaian highlife and Afro-funk, Simigwa is a bold, genre-blending record that captures Ambolley’s unique fusion of traditional Ghanaian rhythms, American funk, and soul. This reissue not only …
EP Review: Ellis D – Spill
For those new to Ellis D, you will find a familiar warmth within the chaotic madness on display here. His music is well crafted and very much unique to the character and talent of Ellis D (real name Ellis Dickson). Written and recorded entirely by Dickson himself at Hackney Road studios with Shuta Shinoda (Hot Chip, Jenny …
Album Review: Brisbane’s Tape/Off unveil a magnum opus in the epic new album ‘Fort Sensible’ ahead of national tour.
Listening to the new album by Tape/Off is like journeying across the wide open landscapes of Australia where the scenery dramatically changes and yet remains breathtaking and stunning throughout. And threaded through every note is a larrikin sense of humour (the album title itself is an obscure Homer Simpson reference). The result veers from unhinged …
EP Review: Husk – Inner Perception
North East hard rockers Husk may sound like they have been around for a while, but ‘Inner Perception’ just so happens to be their debut EP, and what an EP. Mind you it’s not down to the musical and signwriting talent that gives them a been around the block vibe but its the huge slabs …
Album Review: ‘After The Flood’ is a magnificent collaboration between legends Ed Kuepper and Jim White that glows with a passion.
Following a thrilling tour last year between the two icons of Australian indie music, Ed Kuepper and Jim White have released ‘After The Flood’ on 21 March through Remote Control Records. Kuepper has also announced an extensive solo tour across Australia – his first solo gigs in five years following a series of gigs with a full band and with …
Album Review: Shelagh McDonald –‘Stargazer’: A long lost folk rock treasure returns to the shelves.
Vinyl reissues over the past few years have seemed to have been seized upon by majors gagging to maximise the current appetite for buying black (but now probably re-coloured) plastic. But beyond chasing the transient market, there are others who see their dedication to re-issuing very differently. For labels like Be With, Cherry Red and …
Album Review: The Horrors – Night Life: Breaking Boundaries, Embracing Change
The Horrors have never been a band that stands still, but their approach has always been to evolve their sound rather then outright revolutionise it. New album ‘Night Life’ embraces the latter approach, ripping up many of the boundaries, or perhaps constraints, of old. With a revamped lineup composed of the ‘core duo’ of singer …
Album Review: Gnod & White Hills – Drop Out III; A Psychedelic Resurrection Unleashed
With their extensive European and UK tour on the horizon—including their debut collaborative performance at Roadburn Festival—Gnod & White Hills have unearthed Drop Out III, the definitive edition of their acclaimed Drop Out series. More than a reissue, this version reshapes and refines the original recordings, salvaged from a dead hard drive and reimagined without …
Album Review: Haters debut with ‘Non-Violent’ – a raw and abrasive delight that soars with passion and melody.
In the words of a poetic messiah, haters are going to hate, but here at Backseat Mafia’s antipodean outpost we love the new album ‘Non-Violent’ from Queensland’s indie punk band Haters. Recorded in Ontario, Canada with Cancer Bats founding member Scott Middleton, ‘Non-Violent’ is the culmination of a month-long recording blitz that challenged the band …
Album Review: T. Gowdy – ‘Trill Scan’: Inspired Early music and darkwave alchemy.
It was a question of time before Canadian producer/audio-visual artist T.Gowdy’s background filtered through to his engrossing electronic music and that time is now. Gowdy’s new album ‘Trill Scan’, his third for Constellation, with its ethereal vocal harmonics and sinuous acoustic instrumentation makes careful sonic connections with college years spent as a professional choral singer …