Album Reviews
Album Review: Manchester Orchestra – The Million Masks of God
Album six; phase two, stage two. If it seemed curious that Manchester Orchestra trailed the impending announcement of The Million Masks of God at a performance that simultaneously capped off its predecessor’s campaign back in February, it was unwarranted. Having pushed themselves in a hard and heavy direction for 2014’s COPE, the Atlanta, Georgia quartet …
EP: Bodom After Midnight – Paint The Sky With Blood
What should have been the beginning for the band has become their only work and a homage to the late singer/guitarist Alexi Laiho. ‘Paint The Sky With Blood’ sees Bodom After Midnight lay down three tracks of heavy metal riffs, pummelling drums and dual guitar trickery. The band comments: “Like ourselves, Alexi was beyond stoked …
Album Review: The Coral release ‘Coral Island’ – a thrilling magical masterpiece that is a testimony to boundless imagination and the joy of creativity
To describe The Coral‘s new album ‘Coral Island’ as an magnum opus is almost too reductive. This double album is an awe-inspiring journey into childhood memories – the magic of the seaside, merry-go-rounds, penny arcades, promenades, the sound of seagulls and the smells of fast food – but it is not something mired in nostalgia …
Album Review: Serendip Quartet – Queen of Fire; a homage to the Women of Congo.
There is a need to begin this review with a direct quote from its band leader, saxophonist Arnaud Guichard : “This record is dedicated to all the victims of sexual violences in DRC and to Dr. Denis Mukwege and his team who work hard at restoring the pride and dignity of all the victims of …
Album review: Beach Youth – Postcard; a beautifully disengaged debut LP
It might not be the most sensational trend-setting music revolution, but Postcard does represent a welcome addition to the count of heart-warming, easy listening records in contemporary independent pop music. Beach Youth is a young French band, Norman to be specific, and this can be considered their debut LP, after two long EPs.The band has …
Album review: UNKNOWN ME – ‘BISHINTAI’: a delightful, candy-coloured ambient trip
BISHINTAI is a delightful album, candy-colour bright, beamed from some offworld where fantastic cuboid furniture and hanging egg chairs are the norm; it will add a little brain-clearing wasabi to the most humdrum and dun day. If you’ve ever swooned for the Sushi 3003 and 4004 compilations; for Air at their most “Sexy Boy” cosmic and and most especially definitely, the bright retro-futurism of The Gentle People – then boy, is this album ever for you
Discovered: Roberta Baldizzone White Quartet – Changing Textures
Changing Textures is a musical project that brings together works by the pianist and composer Roberta Baldizzone. Pieces based mainly on contrasting sound research – timbre, dynamics, tension – created through experimental work on interval construction and open structures. Regarding the composition and improvisation make-up of the pieces, the themes, ostinatos, harmonic sequences, as is …
Album review: Matt Robertson – ‘Enveleau’: analogue grandeur, ambience and acid
If old-skool British acid and ambient techno floats your boat, and let’s face it, it’s such a halcyon era for the genre, mostly never bettered; get yourself Enveleau. Maybe only the redoubtable Mr Hopkin is operating with this deliciousness in the field
Album Review : Adam Moezinia’s ‘ Folk Element Trio’ – A Sonic Travelogue
New York based guitarist Adam Moezinia first debut album ,’Folk Element Trio’ is what we at Backseat Mafia have suspected it would be , after premiering its single ‘Celebration’ last month : a triumphant celebration. It is a union of global folk traditions featuring elements of Beninese, Malian, Welsh and American folk music in a contemporary …
Album review: Conrad Clipper – ‘Heron’s Book Of Dreams’: a pseudonymous, textural ambient gem
Heron’s Book of Dreams is glorious. It knows what to do, it knows what you need, and never aims for cheap and maximal when stripping back, excellent arrangement and contrast can do the job. Think a slightly more abrasively edged, more intimate A Winged Victory For The Sullen. A very beautiful record for people who love the interstices where ‘flesh and blood’ instrumentation gets it on with drones. Delightful.