Music
Track: Gold-Bears release new indie pop anthem, ‘For You’
Dalliance, The second album from Atlanta, Georgia’s Gold-Bears, is described as a record about regret. On For You, the band have emerged from the other side of regret and into a firm defiance. Opening lines ‘You’re a mistake/ You said on the phone last night’ lead into a tale of a broken relationship that has …
Album Review : Alex Calder – Strange Dreams
The title of Alex Calder’s newest album couldn’t be more accurate. Listening to Strange Dreams is indeed like having a strange dream. The music wobbles and shimmers. It hops along like a hurt animal doped up on narcotics. It’s hallucinogenic demeanor oozes out of the speakers as if some symbiotic creature wanting to meld into your DNA …
Album Review: Japan Soul “Plastic Utopia”
Japan Soul: call it dance music with a conscience, intelligent pop, whatever you like, their new album “Plastic Utopia” is a fantastic slice of intellectual soul. To reflect my eighties predilections, it’s like a mash-up of the attitude of The Clash with the music and lyricism of Heaven 17 (and even China Crisis) it is something sorely missing from …
Meet: Zara McFarlane
“I was at a point where I hadn’t tried to do my own thing. I had lots of plans but I hadn’t really given it a try yet, to be an artist, to do my own music … So I needed to at least try.” We were almost defeated before we began. Our meeting …
New Music: Mr Scruff – Render Me Remixes
Out now on the Ninja Tune label, premium purveyors of quality beats, comes a trio of reworks of Render Me, taken from Mr Scruff’s latest long player Friendly Bacteria, itself only recently released. It features funky Detroit producer Dez Andrés (Slum Village / Mahogani Music / La Vida); Royalty & AD Bourke; and Mr. Scruff …
Album Review : The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart :: Days Of Abandon
There has been a gradual move for New York City’s The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart; from a rough-around-the-edges sound on their debut to something resembling a sunny 80s pop sheen on their newest long player Days Of Abandon. The change is subtle, but there. On their debut album there was a slight darkness to …
Not Forgotten – Manfred Mann’s Earth Band – The Roaring Silence
Ah pop-prog, that strange little sub-genre that only Electric Light Orchestra, Queen and Supertramp seemed to get right. Each band had their own special way of approaching it, so none of them ever sounded remotely like each other, but most of them enjoyed a certain level of success that allowed them to become household names …
Live Review: Wakey Punx Sunday Service: Subhumans / Lowlife UK + ‘View from the Pit’ galleries
I’ve never swallowed the bullshit about punk been dead. Mainly because I’ve always found it’s exactly that. Bullshit! No matter where I go at home or abroad (especially Europe) I’ve always managed to find a reasonably thriving punk scene, whether it be a bar, a club or a D.I.Y. festival in the middle of nowhere. …
See: Lola Colt release video for ‘Vacant Hearts’
Lola Colt need no introduction on the pages of Backseat Mafia. We’ve been unashamed fans of theirs since we first heard them. Latest single ‘Vacant Hearts’ was featured only just over a week ago, along with news of the bands debut album. To promote the single further, the band have just released the video to accompany …
New Music: Kelis – Rumble (Actress Remix)
Fresh on the heels of her first triumphant album for Ninja Tune, Kelis has had one of the tracks remixed by labelmate Actress. It’s a real meeting of talent. On one side is New York RnB singer-songwriter and chef, approaching legendary status – Brit, Q and NME award winner and double Grammy Nominee, whilst on …