Indie
Scratch The Surface: The Jasmine Minks – Scratch the Surface (Creation Records, 1989)
Formed in Aberdeen in 1983 by Jim Shepherd (guitar/vocals), Adam Sanderson (vocals/guitar), Martin Keena(bass guitar), and Tom Reid (drums/vocals), The Jasmine Minks were a staple on the 80s indie scene, and after sending a demon to Melody Maker, were gobbled by Alan McGee’s fledgling Creation Records. From there they released four albums and four singles …
Track: Ya Tseen’s ‘Knives’ Works Towards Emotional Normality
Many of the day-to-day emotions we take for granted have been atrophied by the pandemic, and artists have begun to explore how we can return to emotional normality. In anticipation of his upcoming debut album Indian Yard, Indigenous Alaskan artist Ya Tseen released a teaser single “Knives.” Receiving support from fellow Alaskan rockers Portugal. The …
See: Dominic Breen releases evocative video for the glorious track ‘James Street Tonight’ plus announces live shows
Dominic Breens‘s track ‘James Street Tonight’, released at the beginning of March, was lauded by us for its chiming guitars and melancholia, lifted skywards by Breen’s gorgeous vocals. The song continues to haunt: a beautiful and enigmatic release that is growing in stature through time. Breen has also just announced a series of live gigs …
Playlist: Sarah Records – The Hundred
Here at Backseat Mafia, we’re totally cross genre. It’s how we like it. So you’re just as likely to see Deep House followed by Death Metal followed by neo-jazz or something. BUt we do have our favourites, and over the years, Sarah Records has always found its place on Backseat Mafia. Formed by Clare Wadd …
News: Cheval Sombre announces his second album of the year, following the deliciousness of ‘Time Waits For No One’; see the animation for ‘Well It’s Hard’
AFTER so many moons away from us Chris Porpora, aka Cheval Sombre, has delighted us, truly delighted us, with the gorgeous ambient shoegaze folk of Time Waits For No One just a month ago. If you haven’t caught up with that yet, then by crikey you must. We commented upon its release that: “Well, wow. Time …
News: Red Rum Club launch an acoustic album with a bright, brassy retread of ‘Eleanor’ – there’s a marathon tour run, too
LIVERPOOL’S bright, summery popsters Red Rum Club are following hot on the heels of last autumn’s The Hollow Of Humdrum by taking those well-sculpted tunes and unplugging them for an acoustic retread of album length, The Hollow Sessions, which’ll be out on Modern Sky on April 30th. And it’s one of their biggest and brightest …
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: Dance punk exponents Death From Above 1979 release new album ‘Is 4 Lovers’
After months of fierce anticipation Death From Above 1979’s fourth LP release, ‘Is 4 Lovers’, finally drops today. Produced, mastered and recorded entirely by bassist Sebastien Grainger and drummer Jesse F. Keeler, the album captures that unmistakable, boundary-shoving dance-punk sounds fans remember, along with some redefining of their original format. DFA wanted this record to …
Premiere: Felix And The Sunsets release new single ‘Leaving on the next train’; get an early listen here
Leaving on the next train is the new single from Scottish band Felix and the Sunsets, and we’re delighted to be able to premiere it right here on Backseat Mafia this today. taking inspiration from figures in classic rock such as Zappa, Santana, Bowie and the Velvet Underground, the band bring elements of alt-rock, garage …
Premiere: See the video for the DM-bouncealong indie anthem of Gunke’s ‘Football’
IF, in these long Covidian days, you find you could actually do with a decent slab of DM-bouncing indie-rock with a nod to Pavement and Bill Ryder-Jones, crunchy guitars, chantalong vocals and a little gentle shade cast on the so-called beautiful game, then get your GP to prescribe you the latest single from Gunke, to …