Indie
From an old record box: Ian Brown – F.E.A.R.
Verdict: just-about-listenable hokum. Let’s be honest – the lyrics are complete hogwash. I’m sure at the outset Ian Brown thought it was a great idea to flesh out the acronym in every line, but he was wrong; not even the early ones justify this cod-philosophical balderdash. Quite why I bought this (catalogue number Polydor 587 284-7), and …
Feature: New Music For The New Year – Albums To Look Forward To In 2015
I know, I know. This should be my favorite albums of 2014, not albums I’m looking forward to in 2015. As much as I love the favorite lists, and as satisfying as it is once I’m done with making my own and sharing it with the world, I have to admit it’s quite a daunting …
Track: Menace Beach – ‘Blue Eye’
Menace Beach are the lovechild of Leeds duo Ryan Needham and Liza Violet, who since their inception have been cruising round town picking up members from other bands to create their eagerly awaited debut album ‘Ratworld’. Current line-up consists of Liza, Ryan and Matt Spalding, Nestor Matthews and Matthew ‘MJ’ Johnson from Hookworms. Together …
Track: H Hawkline – Moons in my Mirror, plus tour news
Taken from his forthcoming album ‘In the pink of condition’ comes a new single by H Hawkline, aka Huw Gwynfryn Evans. Titled Moons of my Mirror, its out on Monday 26th January via Heavenly Recordings. The album follows on February 2nd and is his first album proper for the label, following on from Augusts Salt …
Live Review: Inspiral Carpets – Leadmill, Sheffield 6.12.14
The haircuts were considerably shorter, and maybe the clobber was a few sizes bigger than ‘back in the day’, but with the amount of Adidas trainees, Italian sportswear and sun hats been worn in the queue outside the Leadmill, it wouldn’t have taken a genius to deduce that one of the legends of the Madchester …
Track: Jordan Klassen – Piano Brother, plus European tour dates
Vancouver singer-songwriter Jordan Klassen has spent the last year hard at work, earning increasing amounts of plaudits for his assured songwriting, literate lyrics and this intricate, layered sound that has earned him comparisons to the likes of Broken Bells and Passion Pit. Taken from his long player Repentance comes a new single, Piano Brother. Opening …
From an old record box: The Wedding Present – 2, 3, go
“Ride white horses today ! Buy a red Chevrolet ! Let’s go swim the Zambezi Let’s do it just cos it’s easy !” Fans of Saturnalia and Wedding Present completists may all wonder why I’m so excited about this. ‘2, 3, go’ (catalogue number fry 048) has been around since ’96. It’s well-established in …
Track: The Districts – 4th & Roebling, plus Spring tour dates
Out on February 9th next year through Fat Possum Records is the new album from Pennsylvania quartet The Districts, titled ‘A flourish ans a spoil’. It’s a follow on from their debut self-titled EP which appeared at the beginning of the year, and it’s been produced by John Congleton (The Walkmen, St Vincent) From it, …
Artist Spotlight: Medicine’s Brad Laner
As I sit and listen to Medicine’s newest record Home Everywhere I’m astounded by the fact that they’re still largely seen as an underground band. If I asked the first four people I see if they know who the band Medicine is they would all likely say they have no idea who they are. Sure, …
See: The Wave Pictures announce UK Tour / Pea Green Boat Video
Here’s an apology. We tried and tried so hard to bring The Wave Pictures to Sheffield for the viewing and aural pleasure of the music loving masses of the Steel City in one of our Backseat Mafia presents evenings, but (and this is for the second time) the dates just didn’t work out. So, sorry. …