Album Reviews
Album Review: Morning World by Teen Daze
At the risk of stating the obvious, the introduction of vocals into a piece of music completely changes the nature of it. For instance, a passage of instrumental music, which may be a rich and complex when taken on its own, can be relegated to the mere role of intro or instrumental break once the …
Album Review: Reverend and the Makers – Mirrors
Sheffield indie rockers Reverend and The Makers were instantly covered in glory right from their very first album, the brilliant The State of Things, that marked them out as purveyors of the finest groove-laden smart pop back in 2007, and followed it, with a hint of sophistication and witty political lyricism, with A French Kiss …
Album Review: Deafheaven – New Bermuda
Never in my life did I ever think I’d like a so-called “black metal” band. Up until a few years ago I didn’t know what black metal really was. The black metal genre was something I looked at from a distance and thought better to indulge in it. I got the Gothic stuff. The sludge-y, …
Album Review – Ben Folds – So There
The history of rock and pop artists dabbling in orchestral music is long and uneven. From Deep Purple’s lumpy Concerto for Group and Orchestra, to the splendid soundtrack work of Randy Newman, it’s been a mixed bag and unless the musician in question has the appropriate grounding in music theory, it can result in something …
Album Review: Public Enemy – Live From Metropolis Studios
“Feels good to be around some familiar surroundings” Flava Flav announces during the opening to Public Enemy’s DVD, Live from Metropolis Studios. For someone that has listened to Public Enemy as an impressionable youth, it’s great to be in familiar territory also. Where there is perhaps a sect who think that Flava Flav is this …
Album Review: The Virgance – ‘Paradigm 3’
‘Paradigm 3’ is the 3rd album in 18 months from precocious and prodigious talent, The Virgance aka Natham Smith. It follows hot on the heels of 2014’s ‘Lost Continent’ and this January’s ‘Hiko Shrine’, a release which, in conjunction with an interview with the man himself, I was honoured to have grace this page – “‘Hiko Shrine’ …
Album Review: Chvrches – Every Open Eye
If I were to introduce you to my sister I’d probably say: “She hates loud noises, dark spaces, and people.” She’s not a fan of music and her opinions of the medium range from complete indifference to downright cynicism. It’s a surprise to anyone when she finds a band she likes – she’s only bought …
Album Review: Nohno – Longitude and Latitude
As a member of revered Sheffield experimentalists Clock DVA, Dean Dennis cut his electronic chops a long time ago. Seems that yearning to create hasn’t left him, and judging by his new, double album ‘Longitude and Latitude’ under his Nohno moniker, neither should he. Teaming up with his partner Jose Snook, who also acts as …
Album Review: McCarthy – I am a Wallet (reissue)
Trust me, there was a time before you’re average indie band shied away from politics, because it might affect their ‘careers’. Today it seems that more bands are worried about saying the wrong thing, than maybe saying the right thing. It seems rather just, that at a time where Jeremy Corbyn, the almost antithesis of …
Not Forgotten: Monie Love – Down To Earth
Hip hop has always been a male dominated industry. It’s probably something to do with the blatant misogyny in the lyrics, or the sexually explicit imagery in the videos. Whilst big female icons such as Missy, Nicki, and Lil Kim have paved the way for the girls to be taken more seriously, back in the …