Music Reviews

Gwenno - Ramsgate Music Hall 17.03.2018 Live Review

Kent took quite a big hit from the first bout of snow, courtesy of The Beast From The East, so when its mini mate hit this weekend many plans were cancelled or at least disrupted. Making your way to a...

By Andrew Lockwood on 21 March 2018

The Boxer Rebellion - Ghost Alive Album Review

It is hard to believe that The Boxer Rebellion have been around for seventeen years, yet album number six is set to drop in the shape of 'Ghost Alive', released on the band's own label. This is said to be...

By Mark Moore on 20 March 2018

The Boxer Rebellion

Baloji - 137 Avenue Kaniama Album Review

Belguim's Baloji's stardom is clearly on the rise with the release of his fourth full-length solo album. Fusing a blend of soul, funk, jazz, afro beats, hip-hop and spoken word, Baloji offers up a largely upbeat fourteen tracks. There's a...

By Andrew Lockwood on 15 March 2018

Tom McRae - Revelation, Ashford 9.03.2018 Live Review

'I told myself that I would never dress in black and stand in front of a slightly bored congregation in church', was how Tom McRae described the situation he found himself in as he performed at Revelation St Mary's, in...

By Andrew Lockwood on 13 March 2018

Tom Mcrae

Stereophonics - First Direct Arena, Leeds 10.03.2018 Live Review

With their tenth studio album narrowly missing out on being a chart-topper, Stereophonics are in the midst of another largely sold-out UK arena tour. Their itinerary will then see them head to Australia, before returning to these shores for the...

By Alex Lai on 12 March 2018

Stereophonics

Nathan Fake - Sunder Album Review

There's a lot to be said for cutting things back to their elemental least; in an era where many of us yearn for simpler times, it's easy to bridge the gap between simplicity and reassurance. Nathan Fake's career has been somewhat...

By Andy Peterson on 06 March 2018

Peggy Gou - Once EP Review

If any music community can define itself as truly global it's that of dance; Peggy Gou was born in Korea, lives in Berlin and has built her reputation throughout the last couple of years by playing in places as far...

By Andy Peterson on 21 February 2018

Polica & Stargaze - Music For The Long Emergency Album Review

Although gleaning some of its initial inspiration from a 2005 book, 'The Long Emergency' by Howard Kunstler, this collaboration feels less like a soundtrack than a concept album. Kunstler is mapping out a future where oil production has peaked, economies...

By Andrew Lockwood on 15 February 2018

Polica

Ezra Furman - The Quarterhouse, Folkestone 10.02.2018 Live Review

The day after his latest album release and three months ahead of him returning to play in venues up to ten times the size of tonight's feels like the opportune moment to come and see Ezra Furman live. Playing to...

By Andrew Lockwood on 12 February 2018

The Damned - Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone 6.2.2018 Live Review

The last time I saw The Damned play live was on a Summer's day some years ago(!) in August at Brockwell Park in London. The crowd of mainly teenagers and twenty-somethings had come out to support a one-day free festival...

By Andrew Lockwood on 08 February 2018

The Damned

Joan As Police Woman - Damned Devotion Album Review

Joan As Police Woman's latest album release 'Damned Devotion' sees the lyrically adroit soulstress delivering her best work in years. That's not to say she's been off form or put out some questionable material, it just means that this album...

By Andrew Lockwood on 06 February 2018

Joan as Police Woman

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Wrong Creatures Album Review

While there are a lot of bands that can't stay the distance and keep making great music without splitting up due to musical differences, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are thankfully not one of them. Despite court battles with record labels,...

By Mark Moore on 01 February 2018

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Poppy Ackroyd - Resolve Album Review

Music never ceases to amaze me and I hope it never does. There are pivotal moments that hold firm in your head; game changers. The first time you hear Elizabeth Fraser sing a note, a Johnny Marr guitar riff, a...

By Andrew Lockwood on 30 January 2018

Paramore - Manchester Arena 19.01.2018 Live Review

Last year's excellent 'After Laughter' saw Paramore embrace and fulfil an evolution that had been hinted at on their previous couple of records. Unleashed from the shackles of the emo-rock sound that brought them to the fore, it was packed...

By Alex Lai on 22 January 2018

Paramore

Frank Turner - The Booking Hall, Dover 19.01.2018 Live Review

Frank Turner has been to Dover many times before, he's even "got pi**ed in the pub next to the (Dover Priory) train station", but he's never played for an audience here. For gig 2,128, Frank took up the invite to...

By Andrew Lockwood on 22 January 2018

Frank Turner

Ezra Furman - Transangelic Exodus Album Review

There is no real need to give you a spoiler alert here, you've no doubt already clocked the stars accompanying the banner headline of this review, but I knew I was probably going to love this album upon hearing its...

By Andrew Lockwood on 20 January 2018

First Aid Kit - Ruins Album Review

It's very nearly eight years since the release of First Aid Kit's fully formed debut album 'The Big Black And The Blue', and just over three and a half since their biggest selling record to date, 'Stay Gold'. Rather incredibly,...

By Andrew Lockwood on 18 January 2018

First Aid Kit

Have You Ever Seen The Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? - Jazzbelle 1984/1988 Album Review

Have You Ever Seen The Jane Fonda Aerobic VHS? are full of the same boundless energy and enthusiasm with the release their sophomore album, 'Jazzbelle 1984/1988'. Their second album, following up 2015's 'Teenage Sweetheart', is a slightly crisper, better produced...

By Andrew Lockwood on 15 January 2018

Jono McCleery - Seeds Of A Dandelion Album Review

The press for 'Seeds Of A Dandelion' talks about Jono McCleery being one of the UK's "Best kept secrets", a position which - whilst it's undoubtedly true - when you're trying to put food on your own table is less...

By Andy Peterson on 09 January 2018

Jono McCleery

Will Varley - Spirit Of Minnie Album Review

Will Varley's fifth album sees a step change in terms of delivery in more ways than one. Having seemingly tired of the odd comic ditty (you'll find nothing approaching 'Self Checkout Shuffle' or 'A Monkey On A Rock' on this...

By Andrew Lockwood on 09 January 2018

Will Varley

Chemical Brothers - Printworks, London 02.12.2017 Live Review

After a year of mostly hiding, Chemical Brothers returned to the DJ booth for a set of three gigs that highlighted their supreme popularity in the industry.  Despite only playing a 'DJ set' as opposed to their phenomenal 'Live Shows',...

By Adam Holden on 20 December 2017

Chemical Brothers

Gorillaz - Brighton Centre 27.11.2017 Live Review

Outstanding. Spectacular. Gorillaz first tour in nearly seven years was worth the wait. It was a superlative frenzy as Damon Albarn brought his massive musical assemble to Brighton.  With the Humanz tour selling out at the speed of light, so...

By Adam Holden on 19 December 2017

Gorillaz

Frank Turner - Songbook Album Review

2017 marks ten years since the release of Frank Turner's debut solo album 'Sleep Is For The Week'. A timely point then to look back and assess the work of one of our most prolific singer-songwriters as he himself has...

By Andrew Lockwood on 21 November 2017

Frank Turner

Father John Misty - London Hammersmith Live Review

A staple at Glastonbury over the last few years, Father John Misty's UK tour proved sound evidence of his prominence. He added two more London Hammersmith shows to his schedule, finishing off on the south coast in Brighton. After the release...

By Adam Holden on 16 November 2017

Father John Misty

Eyre Llew - Atelo Album Review

Nottingham 3-piece Eyre Llew have been all over gigging non-stop and have just come back from touring with Crosa Rosa in South Korea. But somehow they have managed to find time to self-record their debut album 'Atelo' and now they're...

By Mark Moore on 16 November 2017

Bicep - Glue EP Review

One of the great things about electronic music is it's ability to deliver joy from the unexplored; a movement where you have to be there most of the time to best appreciate the bristling diversity, for the disconnected of us...

By Andy Peterson on 15 November 2017

Stereophonics - Scream Above The Sounds Album Review

Having spent the summer playing smaller festivals and venues, Stereophonics are now releasing their tenth studio album 'Scream Above The Sounds', 20 years on from their debut record. A handful of American dates lead into the new year when the...

By Alex Lai on 15 November 2017

Stereophonics

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Nottingham's Rock City 03.11.2017 Live Review

It's hard to believe that over 16 years ago Black Rebel Motorcycle Club came to the shores of the UK and supported Oasis at Finsbury Park, instantly making an impact. Every time they've returned, they've left a lasting mark. A...

By Mark Moore on 15 November 2017

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Visionist - Value Album Review

2017 has been a year of ambitious statements and big visions in electronic music, with Louis Carnell's Ninja Tune label mates Forest Swords and Lapalux both releasing albums which were on its fringes aurally, but through boldness and a lack...

By Andy Peterson on 26 October 2017

Howie Payne - Mountain Album Review

The Stands former frontman Howie Payne returns this week with only his second solo album proper since the split of his Liverpool based band in 2005. Having kept the company of some of the early noughties most revered acts (Oasis,...

By Andrew Lockwood on 26 October 2017

Liam Gallagher - As You Were Album Review

In some ways, the high anticipation for a Liam Gallagher solo record is illogical. His song writing contributions to the Oasis legacy are hardly the band's best moments, while post-Noel project Beady Eye will unlikely be in high demand for...

By Alex Lai on 26 October 2017

Liam Gallagher

The Dears - Brighton's The Haunt 6.10.17 Live Review

It's been a while since I've gone to a gig where I could've counted the audience. Whilst I was a little surprised that The Dears had not sold out The Haunt, it did make for a more intimate experience. It...

By Andrew Lockwood on 23 October 2017

The Dears

By The Sea Festival 2017 - Festival Review

Now in its third year, and most definitely at home, By The Sea festival returned to Margate in glorious style. Having surely established itself as Kent's premier music festival, By The Sea once again upped its game with an inspired...

By Andrew Lockwood on 10 October 2017

The Libertines Metronomy Dutch Uncles Everything Everything

La Route Du Rock 2017 At Saint-Malo, France - Live Review

The European festival season has just ground depressingly to a halt to make way for a few months of Netflix and chilly. That means it's time to look back longingly at the photos from those four days of music and...

By Holly Mosley on 29 September 2017

La Route Du Rock The Jesus And Mary Chain PJ Harvey Mac DeMarco

Mew - Hong Kong's Music Zone E-Max 18.09.17 Live Review

Mew, the Danish troupe not the Pokemon, have been around for over two decades now and have polished their live set to match their image. Tonight their set traverses the highs of their generally well-received career, splicing the heavier moments...

By Lauren Mullineaux on 29 September 2017

Mew

Mogwai - Leeds Brudenell Social Club 07.09.17 Live Review

Scottish post-rock pioneers Mogwai have been one of the genre's most key exports for over 20 years now. Across records such as 'Mogwai Young Team', 'Mr Beast' and 'Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will', they've repeatedly managed to take...

By Max Cussons on 29 September 2017

Mogwai

Iglooghost - White Gum Single Review

While we recently praised and are still worshipping Iglooghost's last single 'Bug Thief', we're now here to talk about latest song 'White Gum' from upcoming album 'Neo Wax Bloom'. Frankly, the hype is more than justified; this kid is revolutionary...

By Max Cussons on 29 September 2017

Iglooghost

Feeder - The Best Of Album Review

Feeder celebrate 21 years of recording this year (2017); 21 years ago since the band came onto the scene with the release of their mini album 'Swim'. As a band they have been together for 25 years which nowadays is...

By Mark Moore on 29 September 2017

Feeder

When The Sun Hits - Immersed Within Your Eyes EP Review

You never know what's going to happen with a side project. When The Sun Hits began as such eight years ago while its members were in their respective bands. Although they had done some work together, the project itself seemed...

By Mark Moore on 29 September 2017

Project Pablo - Hope You're Well Album Review

Project Pablo is the handle of Montreal-based DJ/producer Patrick Holland, whose first long player 'I Want To Believe' dropped in 2015. Whilst that was mostly living at the techno end of deep house - especially on the juicy 3am grooves...

By Andy Peterson on 29 September 2017