Album Reviews
Album Review: John Grant – Grey Tickles, Black Pressure
For me, like many people, John Grant first appeared on my radar following the release of Queen of Denmark, his gloriously heartbreaking collaboration with Midlake and simply one of the most astonishing debut albums for many years. Of course, he’d previously been vocalist with the Czars during the 90s and early part of this century, …
Album Review: Rolo Tomassi – Grievances
Released earlier this year Grievances is arguably the bands best collection of work yet. Rolo Tomassi are a band that don’t tend to shy away from experimentation blending a whole a multitude of styles with varying results. The issues with some of the groups previous material is that it wasn’t always the most accessible, not …
Album Review: Luke Haines – British Nuclear Bunkers
Luke Haines is one of Britain’s genuine rock n roll eccentrics. As lead singer of The Auteurs he created some of the greatest albums of the era, including my personal favourite album of all time ‘After Murder Park’. As a solo artist he has created several (mainly concept) albums. And as an author he has …
Album Review: Die Nerven – ‘Out’
‘Out’ is the third LP release, by Stuttgart post-punk trio Die Nerven. I am delighted that this found it’s way to me via Ben Lynch at PinDrop Publicity – just the other day, I was reminiscing about John Peel having introduced me to Xmal Deutschland and Einstürzende Neubauten back in the day, courtesy of one of those Facebook …
Album Review: Zombi – Shape Shift
Listening to the heavy synth band Zombi is like zoning out to the opening credits of some imaginary sci fi or horror film. As you listen to the synth strings well up and overpower the mix, and the Neil Peart-like precision of the drums you can almost picture some imaginary scene of intense space flight. …
Album Review: Keep Shelly in Athens – Now I’m ready
Everything seemed to be rosy in Greek duo Keep Shelly in Mind’s world, at least from the outside following the release of their highly regarded debut album, 2012’s At Home. However, shortly afterwards, lead singer Shelly P left to persue a solo career, and the future of the band, given that they were 50% lighter …
Album Review: The Zombies – Still Got That Hunger
The Zombies new album, ‘Still Got That Hunger’ is after repeated listenings, hard not to like. For a band formed in 1961, they still tour a hell of a lot, so no-one can argue with its title. It’s in places semi-autobiographical, nostalgic and as technically proficient as one would expect, from a band responsible for …
Album Review: The Garden – Haha
Welcome to a land that’s familiar, yet slightly out of sync, and a little bit unnerving. Welcome to The Garden and their latest album ‘Haha’. The Californian duo have put together an album that at first glimpse makes about as much sense as their ‘vada vada’ philosophy – “… an idea that represents pure creative expression …
Album Review: Protomartyr – The Agent Intellect
Over the last fifteen years there have been many bands to emerge that wore the post-punk moniker proudly. That’s not to say they deserved to wear that moniker, mind you. That’s also not say they picked that moniker out themselves. It seems music critics(I’m not one as I don’t get invited to their soirees, nor …
Album Review: Editors – ‘In Dream’
A nagging synth pattern, a minimal echoing drum and a guy whose baritone chant of ‘I’m a go-getter’ sounds alarmingly like Nick Cave. One could be forgiven for thinking they’re listening to an outtake from the latest Bad Seeds offering, 2013’s ‘Push The Sky Away ‘ that is, until they’re startled by the falsetto in …