indie albums
Album Review: Peter Silberman – Impermanence
Peter Silberman has never been shy about laying his heart out for all to see on his albums with The Antlers. From Hospice to Burst Apart to Familiars his etheral vocals and dramatic musical arrangements show a musician not satisfied with the simple. Silberman wants to make his mark with each song. Scorched tales of …
New Music: elbow – Little Fictions
The magnificent cinematic sound of elbow returns with the release of a new album – “Little Fictions”. To me, elbow are the Ken Loach of indie music – beautifully poignant vignettes of ordinary life in Britain, expressed with a weary narrative that celebrates the potential of individual kindness and wonder in a world of cynicism …
Album Review: Porcelain Raft – Microclimate
Mauro Remiddi appeared from a hazy cloud of synthwave and dream pop back in 2012 under the name Porcelain Raft with the lush Strange Weekend. It was this wonderful mix of Cocteau Twins big sweeps and early Depeche Mode. It was a breath of fresh air amid the vacuous space known as chillwave that was …
Album Review: Dutch Uncles – Big Balloon
Dutch Uncles return with a triumphant fifth album, their fourth on the Memphis Industries label and first since 2015’s “O Shudder”. It’s remarkable that the Marple band (Duncan, Pete, Robin and Andy, formerly also Daniel) are still making their delightfully catchy and quirky brand of indie pop which has been labelled as “math pop”, “art …
Album Review: Molly Burch – ‘Please Be Mine’
Captured Tracks is proud to unveil this ten track album of gorgeous, whimsical, heartfelt and romantic songs of ‘loss, loneliness and reconnecting’. For fans of the Angel Olson and Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions sound. Molly Burch’s debut LP is the perfect soothing Vegas cocktail to dull a broken heart and accompany the dustbowl …
Album Review: Surfer Blood – Snowdonia
It seems that in the past few years we have been awash with surfer-rock/surfer-pop albums, seemingly become the music du jour for those who feel slightly more fashionable to still listen to Mumford and Sons (and discovered Urban Outfitters). Others, however, still yearning for those halcyon slacker days before we had to get full-time jobs. …
Album Review: Clock Opera – Venn
I first came across London-based four piece Clock Opera back in 2012 when they donned the main stage at Sheffield’s tramlines festival. Their blend of electronic and indie pricked up my ears immediately, and I remember thinking how much they stood out from so many other bands around at the time. Their debut album ‘Ways …
Album Review: Nadine Khouri – The Salted Air
Nadine Khouri The Salted Air There is a delicate quality to Nadine Khouri’s voice when you are first introduced to her; a hushed, bewitching quality that is equally earnest as it is powerful. It’s a contradiction to read, that I am well aware, but it is such a juxtaposition which one would believe lead previous …
Album Review: Mark Eitzel – Hey Mr Ferryman
It’s always good to have Mark Eitzel back. There will always be some who hanker after the particular dimensions and textures that American Music Club brought to his songs. But his solo work has given him a chance to explore different sounds and collaborate around and about a pretty consistent songwriting style. Given that probably …
Album Review: Japandroids – Near To The Wild Heart Of Life
It seems that Brian King and David Prowse have gone full Hooters(the band not the chain store.) They’ve turned their DIY, punk-inspired anthems into full-on roots rockers. From 2009s Post-Nothing clear through to 2012s breakout Celebration Rock, Japandroids have cultivated this caffeinated, punk-meets-Springsteen-meets-Replacements sweat and blood-stained love letters to getting drunk, falling in love, punching …