indie albums
Album Review: La Luz – Weirdo Shrine
La Luz are a gutsy band. After the release of their debut album, 2013’s It’s Alive, they had a near-fatal high speed accident in their tour van. That’s the kind of event that would leave many at a loss but La Luz soon went back to touring and wowing audiences with their unique live style. …
Album Review: Tame Impala – Currents
Okay, so I’ve listened to Tame Impala’s excellent new album Currents several times now. Like everyday, twice a day, since last Friday. I can say very confidently that it’s a masterpiece. Kevin Parker has finally decided he no longer has to make albums that sound like they’re being performed by a crusty crew of long-haired, bearded psych …
Album Review: Ezra Furman – Perpetual Motion People
He’s mixed up, Ezra Furman. His third album, and first for Bella Union, Perpetual Motion People mixes up genres as it sweeps through indie, rock and roll, blues, folk, musical theatre (well, almost) and a host of other things, and he shoots from the heart about his battles with mental illness, love and the lack …
Album Review: Albert Hammond Jr – Momentary Masters
Albert Hammond Jr’s artistic work flows through his new material called Momentary Masters to be released in July 2015. The LA lead guitarist attended a Swiss boarding school during his younger days where he met the future Strokes singer Julian Casablancas (an absolute gem) and later attended New York University’s film school during the 90’s. …
Album Review: Labasheeda – Changing Lights
Dutch three piece Labasheeda, aka Saskia van der Giessen (vocals, guitar, violin) Arne Wolfswinkel (guitar) and Aletta Verwoerd (drums) make this sort of experimental, unsettling music, that is often mind boggling with its constant changes of direction, often mid song. Over the years they’ve released a handful of increasingly well received records. Their latest, Changing …
Psych Insight: EP Review – Array 1 by Loop
When the Pixies released the first of their three EPs after a prolonged absence, back in 2013, many suspected that the decision to stagger their new material was deliberately made to circumvent the critical emphasis that would have been inevitably placed on the songs, had they been released together in the traditional album format. It’s …
Album Review: Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – The High Country
Springfield, Missouri five piece Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, despite the fantastic name, were a band that had largely passed me by. So reviewing The High Country, the bands fourth album – out now on Polyvinyl, was a voyage of discovery for me. As it turns out it was a very enjoyable journey as …
LP Review: Future – ‘Horizons’
Photograph by Arthur Weed Future were one of the many bands on ‘The Reverb Conspiracy Vol. 3‘ that captivated and left me wanting to hear more. Their track ‘Side Effects’, I described as, “an exquisite existential exercise in “sharp guitar riffs, cold melodies and fractured drums”” – as befits their “Cold Wave” self-classification. Thankfully the wait has …
Album Review: FFS – FFS
FFS are a supergroup in the purest sense. Two musical acts, seperated by a generation, combining to release an album which will hopefully combine the best bits of their respective sounds. It’s particularly interesting for me though, as I’ve had contrasting fan-relationships with the two acts. I liked Franz Ferdinand from the moment I heard …