album reviews

Album: The Rumjacks – Hestia
After all the press associated with the bands past it seems the addition of new singer Mike Rivkees who has slid into the ranks perfectly well. Writing their new album Hestia who is warmly titled the Greek goddess of home and hearth the band have dug deep and created an album of songs rich with …

Album review: Graham Costello/STRATA – ‘Second Lives’: energised modern jazz for the world today
SOMETIMES it pays to step back and remember that the kaleidoscope of UK jazz has many focal points beyond the frequently illuminated London scene. There’s the Worm Disc massive in Bristol, Ishmael Ensemble and all; the Gondwana northern powerhouse of Matthew Halsall; Brighton’s Sola Terra (home of Ebi Soda, etc.) and Mammal Hands lurking in …

Album review: iogi – ‘everything’s worth it’: a beautiful collection of songs
everything’s worth it is a really refreshing album from Yogev Glusman, a lesser known psych pop artist from Tel Aviv, and admittedly an ambitious one – but by now it’s clear that the divide from what is considered amateur and “professional” is completely blurred. everything’s worth it (sic) is as bit as professional as you …

Album: Amigo The Devil – Born Against
Inspired by storytellers such as Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen and Fiona Apple. Amigo The Devil is the pseudonym of Danny Kiranos, known for his deep, challenging and emotive yet often humorous lyrics. He has further evolved as a songwriter, resulting in his new album ‘Born Against’ taking on a vivid and cinematic feel to the …

EP review: Real Estate – ‘Half A Human’: capturing the hollowness of quarantine
THE ISOLATION of the pandemic has caused millions of people worldwide to realize how instrumental socialization and interaction has been in our lives. Separated from this aspect of ourselves for over a year has left many of us feeling hollow and aware of the hole left in our lives. We have tried to stay connected …

Album review: The Peacers – ‘Blexxed Rec’: San Fran garage outfit’s third has some nuggets within
Whatcha got? A great little garage rock record, is what. One foot in a California garage, fiddling with the fuzz pedals; another gazing across the ocean to Swingin’ London town, taking in folkiness, powerpop, mod and freakbeat touches. A great record for a dusk motorway, this; yeah, a great little record.

Album review: DJINN’s ‘Transmission’ commands an increasingly colourful palette
Transmission perfectly commands an increasingly colourful palette, an enriching conduit to what could be termed DJINN’s equally chasmic sound

ALBUM REVIEW: The Telescopes – ‘Songs Of Love And Revolution’: sexy, sleazy psych set
No Fender Jazzmasters or Vox Teardrops were likely harmed during the course of this record, but many are reported to have emerged bruised, sweat-slicked and smiling. Dirty, sexy and necessary

Album Review: Black Country, New Road- For the first Time
FURNISHING a burgeoning buzz from just two singles – albeit uniquely abrasive, jazz/noise flecked singles- and a feverish clamour for their live shows, Cambridge’s Black Country, New Road quickly set themselves apart from both their contemporaries. The band were also praised as “the best band in the world” by The Quietus. Again, within just two …