Album Reviews
Album Review: Barrie – Happy to be Here
Barrie’s single “Tal Uno”, released last year, was for me one of the stand out singles of 2018 (along with Fontaines D.C.’s ‘Boys in the Better Land’). Their follow up singles, off the EP ‘Singles’ further enhanced my love of the band. Smooth clean jangly psych pop with the most elegant harmonies and the indelible. …
Album Review: Mammoth Penguins – There Is No Fight We Can’t Both Win
Back from a voyage into the world of the concept album with the excellent John Doe, Mammoth Penguins have stepped back into slightly more familiar territory. There’s No Fight We Can’t both win is another slice of their grown-up guitar pop. Which might sound a bit grim to the uninitiated. Is there really a place …
Say Psych: Album Review: Vert:X – Death to False Motorik
After the release of From Now to Now in 2017, Vert:X took a brief hiatus only to return in 2018 with a new line-up. Mainstay Neil Whitehead teamed up with Mat Handley of Pulselovers on electronics and Dave Millsop of XOND on guitar, thus ushering in a return to the noisier sound that Neil had …
Say Psych: Album Review: The Gluts – Dengue Fever Hypnotic Trip
Milan’s fast-rising noise-punks The Gluts are back with their ferocious third LP Dengue Fever Hypnotic Trip released recently on London’s Fuzz Club Records and produced bu Bob de Wit (Gnod, A Place To Bury Strangers) the album is their most challenging but determined work yet. Inspired by bassist Claudia Cesana’s recent encounter with both dengue fever …
Album Review: Tacocat – This mess is a place
It’s been a long journey since Tacocat started out way back in 2007. They’ve always been pruveyors of bubblegum garage/grunge rock, with – in the past oddball, funny, and feminist lyrics sprinkled over the top like hundreds and thousands. With their fourth album, and first on legendary label Sub Pop, they might have found that …
Album Review: Stuart A Staples – Music for Claire Danis’ High Life
Out on its physical formats on May 3rd via City Slang is Tindersticks’ Stuart A Staples soundtrack for Claire Denis’ first English language film, High Life. In the gaps between Tindersticks records / haitus’, Staples has worked extensively with Davis, and this feature, focusing on a group of criminals who are tricked into believing they will …
Album Review: Gang Of Four – Happy Now
Although more of a solo project for Andy Gill who, following the departure of Jon King is now the only original member, there’s still enough of Gang of Four in this gang of one (yeah, I couldn’t pass it up…) to make it a worthwhile listen. Anyone expecting a record bathed in the searing angular …
Say Psych: Album Review: The Janitors – 15 Years of Fuzz and Folköl
15 years ago, a night of heavy drinking resulted in the formation of The Janitors – a creative project that has been the centre of founding members Jonas and Henrik’s lives ever since. Over that time five drummers, eight percussionists and three bass players have passed through The Janitors grinder. This has ultimately resulted in …
Album Review: Idlewild – Interview Music
Idlewild explore variations on a dream with kaleidoscopic new album Interview Music. When Idlewild returned from a five-year break in 2015 with their anthemic album Everything Ever Written, it felt like reuniting with an old friend – as soon as you’re back in their presence for five minutes, it’s like you’ve never been separated. It …
Album Review: One Eyed Wayne – Saucy Postcard Super Creeps
OPTIC NERVE RECORDINGS OPT4034CD Two years on from the acclaimed debut album Attack Of The Luxury Flats One Eyed Wayne are back with a new album titled Saucy Postcards Super Creeps. Moving from their own label and securing a place with Optic Nerve Recordings One Eyed Wayne bring us 11 new tracks blistering with humour …