indie albums
Album Review: Sacred Paws – Jump Into Life; Vibrant, melodic, and effortlessly uplifting
After a five-year hiatus, Glasgow/London duo Sacred Paws return with Jump Into Life, a record that feels like both a continuation and a renewal of their signature sound. Since their debut Strike a Match burst onto the scene with its infectious rhythms and Afrobeat-inflected indie pop, Ray Aggs and Eilidh Rodgers have honed a style …
Album Reivew: Neev – How Things Tie in Knots; Indie-folk storytelling with heart.
Glaswegian singer-songwriter Neev returns with How Things Tie in Knots, a stunning collection of folk-inflected indie-pop songs that explore the tension of growing into adulthood. Building on the intricate storytelling of her debut Katherine, this album expands her sound with sweeping arrangements, raw emotion, and melodies that linger long after the music fades. From the …
EP Review: Ellis D – Spill
For those new to Ellis D, you will find a familiar warmth within the chaotic madness on display here. His music is well crafted and very much unique to the character and talent of Ellis D (real name Ellis Dickson). Written and recorded entirely by Dickson himself at Hackney Road studios with Shuta Shinoda (Hot Chip, Jenny …
Album Review: The Horrors – Night Life: Breaking Boundaries, Embracing Change
The Horrors have never been a band that stands still, but their approach has always been to evolve their sound rather then outright revolutionise it. New album ‘Night Life’ embraces the latter approach, ripping up many of the boundaries, or perhaps constraints, of old. With a revamped lineup composed of the ‘core duo’ of singer …
EP Review: Ideal Living – This Big House
Released on boutique label Crafting Room Recordings Ideal Living’s Indie Opera EP ‘This Big house’ will be accompanied by the release of a short film, and the publication of frontman Billy Marsh’s debut novel of the same name, from where the EP pools its narrative. The band are all about dramatics and a tactile approach to …
Album Review: Neal Francis – Return To Zero: a study in groove heavy cool.
Neal Francis’ Return to Zero is a lush, groove-heavy odyssey that seamlessly blends ’70s rock, funk, and disco into a sound that feels both timeless and immediate. His most ambitious work yet, the album was recorded live in the studio with his touring band, staying true to his deep love for analog recording. The result …
Album Review: Courting – Lust For Life: Chaotic, bold, and relentlessly catchy
Liverpool’s Courting return with their third album, Lust for Life, Or: ‘How To Thread The Needle And Come Out The Other Side To Tell The Story’, out this Friday via Lower Third. Following a whirlwind year that saw them release New Last Name, tour the US for the first time, and take on the main …
Album Review: Constant Follower – The Smile You Send Out Returns To You; a beautiful, spacial, immersive album
Stephen McAll’s journey to The Smile You Send Out Returns To You is as moving as the music itself. A brutal attack in his teens left him with lasting head injuries, altering his memory and setting him on an unexpected path. Yet, through sheer resilience, he has carved out a space in music, using songwriting …
Album Review: Edwyn Collins – Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation; Charming, heartfelt, and utterly compelling
Few artists have demonstrated the resilience, charm, and sheer songwriting brilliance of Edwyn Collins. From his early days fronting the influential Orange Juice to his solo success with A Girl Like You, Collins’ career has been marked by reinvention and a knack for timeless melody. Following his life-changing strokes in 2005, his music has carried …
Album Review: KEG – Fun’s Over; Chaotic, unpredictable, and ultimately rewarding
It’s hard to pin KEG down. A seven-piece with the chaotic energy of a band half their size but twice as frantic, they operate somewhere between post-punk, jazz, indie, and outright absurdity. Their long-awaited debut album, Fun’s Over, only solidifies their reputation as one of the most restlessly inventive bands in the UK right now. …