Album Reviews
Album Review: Savages – Adore Life
It is rare that I will just sit down and write an album review after my first listen. I like to give my brain some breathing space, to come to terms with what I’ve heard and collect my feelings. Not so this time.The new album from London post-punk four-piece Savages has compelled me to start …
Album Review: Eleanor Friedberger – New View
“Oh Eleanor, it’s going to be alright. Things may seem down right now, but I promise things will get better. People come and people go out of our lives, but we will always have the memories of those people to put a smile on our face. Or, bring a tear to the eye. Regardless, you …
Album Review: The Besnard Lakes – A Coliseum Complex Museum
The Besnard Lakes sound like a cloudburst in the middle of an emotional breakdown. Absolute beauty in the midst of some psychic turmoil. Towering melody and cavernous harmonies ride on psychedelic riffs and proper rock and roll drum bashing. Ever since the very beginning back in 2003 the Montreal-based husband and wife team of Jace …
Album Review: King Charles – Gamble For A Rose
Things are changing for singer-songwriter Charles Costa AKA King Charles. His 2012 album ‘LoveBlood’ was a bouncy and quirky collection of pop gems. But January sees the release of its follow-up, and it couldn’t be further removed. Those big pop hooks have been replaced with something else; something more honest, and raw. After his collaboration …
Say Psych: Album Review, Paradise by Pop. 1280
The planet is in a pretty fucked up state and we’ve only got ourselves to blame. That may seem obvious to some, but given that Pop. 1280’s position is that we have collectively sleepwalked into this situation, not many are going to be arsed to think of this let alone agree. Pop. 1280, named presumably …
Say Psych: Album Review, Different Sun by Electric Eye
Norwegian quartet Electric Eye are one of those bands who have been on my radar for some time. I very much enjoyed the band’s debut album ‘Pick-up, Lift-up, Space, Time’ from 2013, especially ‘Tangerine’ which has made it onto countless playlists of mine. The band is now very much back and centre of my thoughts …
Say Psycht: Album Review, Blezard by Cavalier Song
This is the first review that I have written since David Bowie died. This is relevant because he had a huge impact on how I listen to and understand music. While this no doubt informs everything I write about music implicitly, the amount I have been thinking about him and his music this week will …
Album Review: David Bowie – ‘Blackstar’ – A Post-Script
Around a week ago I had the enviable task of reviewing the ‘Blackstar’ album (hey, it’s what we do and I got lucky – see below for original review). Like everyone, aside from the man himself (and his closest circle), I had no idea I was reviewing David Bowie’s parting address to the world. On …
Album Review: The Anchoress – Confessions Of A Romance Novelist
The UK has always been a big producer of unique female singer-songwriters. What our ladies have always offered is something with a little more edge; something cooler and quirkier. Take for example Amy Winehouse, Bat For Lashes, FKA Twigs, and the legend that is Ms. Kate Bush. But with a new year comes the arrival …
Album Review: Hinds – Leave Me Alone
With the release of their highly anticipated debut album, ‘Leave Me Alone’, Hinds melt away the January blues with twelve songs full of attitude, charm and Spanish warmth. The Madrid quartet started out as a duo called Deers in 2011 before Carlotta Cosials and Ana García Perrote were joined by Ade Martín and Amber Grimbergen …