Liverpool
New Music: The Raft, Orion (EP)
Liverpudlian Phil Wilson, the genius behind The Raft, is scarily prolific, having released a series of three rather epic EPs over the last six months (see previous reviews here). And what is even more astounding is the quality never suffers: these are a series of brilliant indie pop jingle jangle classics that manages to merge …
Tracks: The Raft, Summertime Blues/December (Again)
I recently enthusiastically reviewed a double EP from Liverpool’s Phil Wilson recording under the name The Raft, noting the sparkling production and glorious brightness of the songs. The prolific Wilson is back with a brilliant double single release, but this time with the ethereal voice of Claire O’Neill taking the fore. Her dreamy vocals add …
Track: Kova – I wanna Be
‘I Wanna Be’ is the debut track from Liverpool based Songwriter-Producer Kova aka Reece Cairns. Its out via Electronic House label Duo-Tone, and follows his remix of Eleanor’s All I want, which also dropped via the same label. Its a departure for Cairns, who, during his time stdying at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, …
Say Psych: Live Review: Liverpool Psych Festival – Saturday 23.09.2017
Day Two dawns for Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia, and the bleary eyed and the fresh faced alike assemble early at the Baltic Triangle to begin to absorb what is certain to be an interesting day. Opening the District stage are Manchester’s Purple Heart Parade. Back to a five piece after recent personnel changes, the …
Say Psych: Live Review: Liverpool Psych Festival – Friday 22.09.2017
Liverpool International Festival of Psychedelia has become known as the festival to be at for anyone interested in psychedelia, as well as being famed for touting some lesser known acts from complimenting genres. This years festival is set to be no exception, a feast for all the senses is in store. Thing’s kick off early …
Track: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – The Punishment of Luxury, plus album news
One of the best synth bands of the eighties, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), are back with a new single and video “The Punishment of Luxury” in anticipation of their album of the same name due out on 1 September 2017. As I have often written before, creativity does not have a use-by date, …
Album Review: WSTR – Red, Green or Inbetween
After a thankfully brief period where it seems like the pop punk genre has been populated by lesser bands hitting the charts with a more pop focused version of the genre, it’s bands like WSTR (from Liverpool, UK) that can get things back on track to what it actually means to be successfully classed as …
News: Circa Waves Announce April UK Headline Tour dates
2017 looks like it’s going to be a big year for Liverpool indie rockers Circa Waves. Their second album ‘Different Creatures’ is out via Virgin EMI on March 10th next year, and they’ve announced a 12 date headline tour to follow in April. Ahead of it all, lead track ‘Wake Up’ was revealed last week …
Past lives: 1959 – 2016. Pete Burns – A Tribute
Liverpool singer Pete Burns died of a heart attack on Sunday. He was 57. I first encountered Pete Burns around 1978. Me and my schoolmates would catch the bus to Liverpool every Saturday and blow our pocket money on 7” singles in Probe Records. Pete Burns served behind the counter; an explosion of black crimped …
Track: Psycho Comedy – One
Although they formed less than a year ago, Liverpool Psychedelic five-piece Psycho Comedy are already beginning to make waves, having recently played sets at Liverpool Sound City and festEVOL. Last Friday they released their rebut single ‘One’, produced by Gil Norton, who in the past has worked with the likes of The Pixies and Foo …