Album Reviews

Album: Amigo The Devil – Born Against
Inspired by storytellers such as Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen and Fiona Apple. Amigo The Devil is the pseudonym of Danny Kiranos, known for his deep, challenging and emotive yet often humorous lyrics. He has further evolved as a songwriter, resulting in his new album ‘Born Against’ taking on a vivid and cinematic feel to the …

Album Review: Årabrot – Norwegian Gothic
Norwegian noise rock duo get theatrical for their ninth LP.

Album Review: Philippe Lemm Trio’s ‘First Steps’ is a mastery of musical movement
First Steps sees the Philippe Lemm Trio come through in unique style and displaying fantastic form, both of which have been well-honed during the past ten years of consistent touring and creating. Partly a reflection on the past 12 months, this record celebrates the life of Lemm’s long-time friend and collaborator, pianist Angelo Di Loreto, who …

Album review: Parannoul – ‘To See The Next Part Of The Dream’: a window into catharsis
INSPIRING stories have been hard to find in recent times, so hopefully it will sound refreshing that a project from a South Korean bedroom artist has risen to global attention, on par with Lana Del Rey or Nick Cave’s latest releases. It’s probably better not to even think about what the pandemic has done to …

Album review: Cory Hanson – ‘Pale Horse Rider’: a psych-country triumph from Wand frontman
You might expect Pale Horse Rider to be a really good record; it’s actually a great one. It’s a record about LA written with all the perception and acuity of native. It takes the country-psych template and when it plays within it, it plays with grace and precision and blur; and when it shifts out beyond, it does with the dynamics of British exploratory rock. All points covered, no filler; perhaps its time to crown Cory the new Wolf King of LA. Buy.

Say Psych: Album Review: Saccades – Flowing Fades
Flowing Fades is the second Saccades album from The KVB’s Nicholas Wood and is out this week via Fuzz Club Records. Where Wood’s work in The KVB (Invada Records) trades in minimalist post-punk/coldwave, the Manchester-based artist’s solo material under the Saccades moniker is an exercise in escapist psychedelic pop. On Flowing Fades we find a …

Jordan Rakei curates latest ‘Late Night Tales’ and it’s an atmospherically soulful release
The latest compilation from the artist-produced mix series, Late Night Tales, has been curated by multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and producer Jordan Rakei. Rakei’s edition marks the first release of Late Night Tales’ 20th year, with Fila Brazillia in 2001 serving up the first of many mixes for music connoisseurs the world over. Subsequent compilations were released …

Album Review: Taylor Swift – Fearless (Taylor’s Version)
A nostalgic and powerful revival of an old classic. As a young, naive Taylor Swift entered the music industry in 2005, she signed a contract with Big Machine which was arguably a bittersweet start for the star in retrospect. The label recorded her first 6 albums as well as promoted her, they helped her achieve her musical dreams. However, they claimed ownership over the masters, changing the course of her journey through …
Album review: Spirit of the Beehive ‘ENTERTAINMENT, DEATH’
New album from Spirit of the Beehive on new label, Saddle Creek, out April 9th this is Entertainment, Death. The shape shifting Philadelphia trio return with a new work for a new label but remaining true to their spirit of noise rock immersion with their work being less music but pop music just not as …

Album Review: Peggy Seeger – First Farewell
First Farewell is folk icon, Peggy Seeger’s, 24th solo album and it is out today via Red Grape Music. We’re told it’s ‘probably’ her final original album but based on the utter joy she still has for playing music and her never-ending supply of thoughts and ideas, it’s hard to believe we won’t see more …