Folk
Album Review: Sumner – Sumner
Two years ago, there or there abouts Kristina Sarkisova arrived in London, via Moscow and Valencia with one suitcase and a guitar. Her intention, beyond seeing out the little money she had for a couple of months, was to give the ‘music thing’ a try. If she didn’t get a sign that it was worth …
From an old record box: Patrick Park – Honest Skrew
The old record box has thrown out some lovely surprises in this month’s bumper crop: a reunion with a clinical pop masterpiece in Roxette’s ‘It Must Have Been Love’, the indie rock rush of The Wedding Present’s ‘2, 3, Go’, and an R.E.M. 12” of high quality (‘Orange Crush’). But there have also been some …
Live Review: Laura James & The Lyres, Captives On The Carousel & Genevieve Carver, The Shakespeare, Sheffield – 9.11.14
It’s not often I end up being so completely captivated by a whole evening but this was one of those rare events where each performance captured the entirety of my attention. A gig headlined by Laura James this may have been, but add to that performances from folk group Captives On The Carousel and poet Genevieve Carver …
News: The Handsome Family – UK & Ireland Tour 2015
What a year this has been for Rennie and Brett Sparks. Before Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson starred in one of the most exciting and talked-about TV series of recent memory (all-time ? of course not, that’s still Buffy), The Handsome Family were strong, personal favourites for plenty of people; but now they’re household names. …
Album Review : Language of Shapes :: Mother Mountain
Language of Shapes inhabit a musical world all their own. Not that they don’t allow certain musical influences to seep into that world and show themselves now and then, but for the most part LoS score their wonderful little universe all their own. Their self-titled debut from 2012 showed a band brimming and bursting with …
See: José González releases video for ‘Every Age’ / announces 2015 tour dates
Here’s the basics. Its José González’s first solo album in Seven Years, its called Vestiges & Claws and its out via Peacefrog records on 16th February. From it he’s releasing a single ‘Every Ege’, which comes out on November 30th and features a video thats a unique collaboration between José and directors Simon Morris & Chris Higham. …
Not Forgotten: The Waterboys – A Pagan Place
Post-punk in a vaguely similar way that U2, Simple Minds and Big Country were post-punk, in the early 80s The Waterboys were a band laden with potential, fronted by an ace songwriter with a distinctive voice. Trouble was on their self-titled debut, The Waterboys consisted of Mike Scott and a saxophone player called Anthony. They …
Premiere: Rich Stephenson releases new visuals for ‘Sometimes’
Backseat Mafia is proud to present the video exclusive of ‘Sometimes’ by Rich Stephenson. Beautiful is an understatement when it comes to this song, presenting an intricate construction of guitar parts and vocal harmonies. More importantly, it feels honest. It’s this honesty that gives it such a great feel and makes it a rewarding listen. What …
See: The Belle Brigade announce new album news, watch “Back Where You Began” video
There’s some good genes at work in the new music from LA duo Belle Brigade. The siblings, Barbara and Ethan Gruska’s father songwriter/composer Jay Gruska while their grandfather is esteemed film composer John Williams. These genes have been successfully passed down, with sugary melodies and skillful arrangements alongside lovely harmonies and clever interplay the order …
See: Nat Johnson releases video for “Not Now, Horse”
I have a couple of confessions to make. Firstly, I wrote some of the brass parts for this song for Sheffield singer-songwriter Nat Johnson – I’m pretty sure that reviewers aren’t supposed to do that sort of thing, but there again, we’ve never been much for doing as we’re told here at Backseat Mafia. The …