Album Reviews
Say Psych: Album Review, Goodbye To The Light by Cult of Dom Keller
There is something about the music that I write about here that seems to attract people who, at the moment, see to feel that we are on the wrong side of history. The very nature of the ‘scene’ is that it is outside the mainstream mediated through small independent labels, left field bands and websites/ …
Album Review: Bright Light Bright Light – Choreography
Could ‘Choreography’ be the perfect title for Welsh electronic singer/songwriter Rod Thomas AKA Bright Light Bright Light’s third album? Why? Well first of all it goes perfectly with the gloriously eighties inspired styling of the album; from the fashions, to the artwork, to the big synth sounds that have already dominated all his albums to …
Album Review: Monarch : Two Isles
Ahh, Southern California sure knows how to mold and shape guys and gals into laid back, jammy musicians. There’s this breezy, hazy vibe that comes from a city like San Diego that you can’t get anywhere else in the country. In-particular, psych rock has had somewhat of a resurgence in that area, with heavy hitters …
Say Psych: Album Review, High Collider by Melting Hand
Melting Hand describe themselves as a ‘psych dirge’ super-group which sort of leaves me in a binary quandary; because to me ‘psych dirge’ sounds just excellent. But super-group? I’m immediately put in mind of ageing rock stars seeking out their last paydays from collaborations that provide ample evidence to show that they are mere shadows …
Album Review: Highasakite – Camp Echo
The inexorable march of Norwegian five piece Highasakite continues with the release of their second (at least internationally, pendants will no doubt note its their third) album, Camp Echo. Those that fell in love with their frankly astonishing last long player Silent Treatment, which some two years later is still skirting around the charts in …
Album Review: Mogwai – Atomic
I have to admit, it took me a while to find my way to Mogwai. Even after seeing them in 2004 during an ear-shattering assault that left a good friend of mine and I stunned and shell shocked at the Curiosa Festival I still just could never bring myself to dig deeper into these Scottish …
Album Review: Terminal Gods – Wave / Form
Wave / Form – Terminal Gods debut album – kicks in with the fuzz fed guitar feedback, drum machine heavy intro to Shockwave and right from the off makes clear it’s intent. Their guitars are switched to power play, their synths set to stun, all combine to compliment their lead singers undeniable baritone vocals and …
Say Psych: Album Review, Celestial Bums – Ascend
Celestial Bums are a dreamy psych rock band hailing from the Catalan capital, Barcelona. The band who’s members are fluid, with three having recorded the album, but the live offering never consisting of less than five, released their self-titled, self-released debut EP back in 2012. This was followed with a 10” split with now label mates …
Album Review: Bat for Lashes – The Bride
It’s been 10 years since Natasha Khan, aka Bat For Lashes released her first album Fur and Gold (2006) and introduced her whimisical storytelling on the world. She honed her craft on Two Suns (2009), she dealt with dicotomies and alter egos, in the shape of ‘Pearl’ whose personality is strong and full of herself, …
Album Review: Various Artists: C87
Its been 3o years since the release of the original C86 compilation a mail order cassette from the NME, which at the time was a must have and introduced the world of indie bands to many and created a new scene in British music. The long awaited follow up C87 is packed with a corking …