Music Reviews

The Unthanks - Lines Album Review

As projects go, you'd have to say that the latest one from The Unthanks draws together three remarkable strands under one ambitious umbrella, 'Lines'.

By Andrew Lockwood on 21 February 2019

The Unthanks

Feels - Post Earth Album Review

The eleven tracks that make up Feels' latest release combine a raw garage band authenticity with a self-assured swagger.

By Andrew Lockwood on 20 February 2019

Peter Doherty & The Puta Madres - Fort Road Yard, Margate 14.02.2019 Live Review

Peter Doherty once again highlighted his talent as a musician, lyricist and performer during a very entertaining evening.

By Andrew Lockwood on 18 February 2019

Pete Doherty

Lou Doillon - Soliloquy Album Review

Doillon's latest release is self-assured, positive and empowered; it is not trying to be something it's not.

By Andrew Lockwood on 15 February 2019

Du Blonde - Lung Bread For Daddy Album Review

'Lung Bread For Daddy', a phrase appropriated from a friend and referring to a request for a cigarette, is a multi-faceted journey through the life of Du Blonde.

By Andrew Lockwood on 11 February 2019

Sleeper - The Forum, Tunbridge Wells 02.02.2019 Live Review

After a 21-year gap between albums and a full 19-year break as a band, Sleeper seem at last to be back in earnest.

By Andrew Lockwood on 06 February 2019

Sleeper

Beans On Toast - Dreamland, Margate 01.02.2019 Live Review

Jay McAllister - otherwise known as Beans On Toast - brings his raucous road show to Kent's infamous seaside town.

By Andrew Lockwood on 05 February 2019

Beans On Toast

Unloved - Heartbreak Album Review

Unloved are back with their second full-length album 'Heartbreak'. The trio of David Holmes, Keefus Ciancia and vocalist Jade Vincent are set to release the follow-up to 2016's 'Guilty Of Love' on February 1st.

By Andrew Lockwood on 31 January 2019

Stalker Miller - Homegrown By Joan Album Review

Stalker Miller have seen a will and determination come to fruition with the release of their debut album 'Homegrown By Joan'.

By Andrew Lockwood on 30 January 2019

The Vaccines - Brighton Dome 25.01.2019 Live Review

The rather regal elegance of The Brighton Dome played host to The Vaccines for the first time in years on January 25th to the delight of the sold-out crowd.

By Andrew Lockwood on 29 January 2019

The Vaccines

Toy - Happy In The Hollow Album Review

After ten years together, Toy are releasing their fourth full-length studio album. 'Happy In The Hollow' represents the band's first album for their new label Tough Love Records.

By Andrew Lockwood on 23 January 2019

Go Dark - Neon Young Album Review

The eleven tracks that make up 'Neon Young' combine an alternative electro backdrop with a hip-hop swagger and menacing undercurrent.

By Andrew Lockwood on 16 January 2019

RYD - RYD Album Review

RYD, aka North London producer Ryan Downie, is set to release his self-titled debut album under that moniker on 18th January.

By Andrew Lockwood on 14 January 2019

Steve Mason - About The Light Album Review

Steve Mason, along with producer Stephen Street, has given us his most 'open' and accessible album to date with 'About The Light'.

By Andrew Lockwood on 02 January 2019

Steve Mason

Manic Street Preachers - This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours (20 Years Collectors' Edition) Album Review

By 1998, Britpop bands were on the decline yet for the Manic Street Preachers, the creative juices seemed to flow stronger than ever.

By Mark Moore on 12 December 2018

Manic Street Preachers

The Pere Ubu Moon Unit - Ramsgate Music Hall 7.12.2018 Live Review

On Friday, avant-garde group The Pere Ubu Moon Unit, which was founded back in 1975 in Cleveland by David Thomas, took to the stage of the Ramsgate Music Hall.

By Andrew Lockwood on 10 December 2018

Ride - Dreamland, Margate 30.11.2018 Live Review

Celebrating thirty years of Ride with a special anniversary Unplugged tour, Oxfordshire's finest came to the seaside to play in the Ballroom.

By Andrew Lockwood on 04 December 2018

Ride

Reef - Dreamland, Margate 23.11.2018 Live Review

In the Hall By The Sea at Dreamland, Reef brought their Revelation tour to life as they delivered one of the best live sets I've had the privilege to witness this year.

By Andrew Lockwood on 26 November 2018

Reef

Mattiel - Patterns, Brighton 16.11.2018 Live Review

Mattiel Brown and her band put on an anything but plain performance at Patterns in Brighton.

By Andrew Lockwood on 19 November 2018

Crooked Man - Crooked House Album Review

As the nights draw in and the temperature drops, Crooked Man treats us to a fabulous slice of sun-soaked House, Disco and Electro.

By Andrew Lockwood on 12 November 2018

John Grant - Brighton Dome 29.10.2018 Live Review

With a fourth solo album having just dropped and his 50th birthday celebrations behind him, John Grant kicked off the UK leg of his latest tour in style at The Brighton Dome.

By Andrew Lockwood on 06 November 2018

John Grant

Marie Davidson - Working Class Woman Album Review

Marie Davidson's fourth album, 'Working Class Woman', in form reflects her history of work in projects at home and time spent in Berlin.

By Andy Peterson on 23 October 2018

John Grant - Love Is Magic Album Review

The quality of the back-catalogue of the once-upon-a-time Czar, John Grant, is building to be the one of the most impressive set of albums released in the recent past.

By Andrew Lockwood on 11 October 2018

John Grant

Anna Calvi - All Saints Church, Hove 5.10.2018 Live Review

With the recent release of her third, very well received album 'Hunter' just behind her, Anna had plenty of relatively new songs to showcase.

By Andrew Lockwood on 09 October 2018

Anna Calvi

Lydia Cole - Tom Thumb Theatre, Margate 20.09.2018 Live Review

Lydia Cole came to play at not only one of the smallest theatres in the UK, but also one of the smallest in the world.

By Andrew Lockwood on 26 September 2018

Maribou State - Kingdoms In Colour Album Review

People who tell you that electronicists are merely pretenders who could be bothered to sit through a few how to use Pro Tools tutorials will find a rebuttal in Maribou State.

By Andy Peterson on 21 September 2018

Black Honey - Black Honey Album Review

Black Honey's eponymous debut has been three years in the making and is the culmination of a lot of hard work and determination on their part.

By Andrew Lockwood on 20 September 2018

Wheels & Fins 2018 - Live Review

On a clifftop above a beautiful sandy beach, Wheels And Fins Festival sprang into life over the weekend

By Andrew Lockwood on 12 September 2018

The Libertines

Spiritualized - And Nothing Hurt Album Review

Spiritualized's eighth album comes twenty-six years after their first, and yet sounds as fresh and vibrant as if it were a debut.

By Andrew Lockwood on 07 September 2018

Spiritualized

Idles - Joy As An Act Of Resistance Album Review

You wait around for a feral, untethered, vital, challenging and dynamic record to shock your senses and then two come along in the space of eighteen months, and both are by the same band. Idles released their debut album 'Brutalism'...

By Andrew Lockwood on 29 August 2018

Idles

Roni Size - Dreamland, Margate 25.08.2018 Live Review

Roni Size brought his party to the Scenic Stage of Margate's Dreamland over the weekend.

By Andrew Lockwood on 28 August 2018

Roni Size

Wye Oak - The Booking Hall, Dover, Kent 14.08.2018 Live Review

From one important seaport to another, Wye Oak came across the pond from Baltimore to Dover as they played at The Booking Hall.

By Andrew Lockwood on 21 August 2018

Wye Oak

Ash - The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge 13.08.2018 Live Review

Tonight, Ash top off a perfect storm between band, audience and venue, resulting in a show which will live long in the memories of those in attendance.

By Alex Lai on 17 August 2018

Ash

Neverworld 2018 Live Review

Neverworld brought out the bright and the beautiful over a sun-drenched three days on John Darling's Farm in Kent.

By Andrew Lockwood on 08 August 2018

Bastille Clean Bandit

Gabe Gurnsey - Physical Album Review

Gabe's latest album is a solo release and as such features a wholly Gurnsey lead direction.

By Andrew Lockwood on 01 August 2018

Orbital - Dreamland, Margate, Kent 28.07.2018 Live Review

Orbital brought their spectacular show to the East Kent coast at the weekend to the delight of a variety of ravers.

By Andrew Lockwood on 31 July 2018

Orbital

Soulwax - Essential Album Review

Last year Soulwax were invited to deliver their Essential Mix and for it they provided entirely new music produced by themselves, the first act ever to do so.

By Andrew Lockwood on 22 June 2018

Soulwax

Field Division - Dark Matter Dreams Album Review

Field Division have journeyed far and wide to facilitate the release of their debut album, 'Dark Matter Dreams.

By Andrew Lockwood on 22 June 2018

Starcrawler - The Haunt, Brighton 19.06.18 Live Review

Seeing and hearing Starcrawler live is an experience that will leave you speechless and will enliven your senses.

By Andrew Lockwood on 21 June 2018

The Libertines - Meltdown Festival 2018 Live Review

Meltdown Festival is twenty-five this year and to celebrate its silver anniversary it is down to the one and only Robert Smith, of The Cure, to curate this year's event.

By Andrew Lockwood on 20 June 2018

The Libertines