Music Reviews

Download Festival 2018 Live Review

Download Festival finally got the stunning weather it deserved, as over 100,000 fans descended with the likes of Guns N Roses, Ozzy Osbourne and Avenged Sevenfold.

By Adam Holden on 13 June 2018

Download Festival Guns N Roses

Angelique Kidjo - Remain In Light Album Review

Nearly forty years on, Angelique Kidjo re-works Talking Heads' 'Remain In Light' and sympathetically reflects it back on the sounds that gave rise to its inception.

By Andrew Lockwood on 06 June 2018

Angelique Kidjo

Ezra Furman - Brighton Dome 26.05.2018 Live Review

At the end of its near month-long festival, Brighton was lucky enough to play host to two extremely good acts: welcoming both Ezra Furman and Du Blonde.

By Andrew Lockwood on 29 May 2018

Ari Roar - Calm Down Album Review

Not yet a week since his Great Escape Festival performance in Brighton, Ari Roar is back on the Bella Union radar as he releases his debut album 'Calm Down'. Ari, real name Caleb Campbell, is, if you're not familiar, a...

By Andrew Lockwood on 24 May 2018

Ash - Islands Album Review

After twenty-six years and six previous albums, Ash return with a new, fresh, twelve-track album that fizzes with a vibrancy more readily associated with youthful exuberance.

By Andrew Lockwood on 21 May 2018

Ash

Artificial Pleasure - The Bitter End Album Review

When it comes to Artificial Pleasure you could be forgiven for thinking it sounds somewhat familiar but there is little else that's remotely like it around now.

By Andrew Lockwood on 21 May 2018

Poppy Ackroyd - Komedia, Brighton 01.05.2018 Live Review

If you live in Brighton I guess there's no finer place to start your current tour than Komedia. For her first solo gig in her adopted town, Poppy Ackroyd chose the venue to kick off her British and European jaunt....

By Andrew Lockwood on 08 May 2018

Manic Street Preachers - First Direct Arena, Leeds 02.05.2018 Live Review

On the road to promote their much-acclaimed 13th album, which was a place shy of topping the UK charts, Manic Street Preachers showed they are far from becoming a heritage act.

By Alex Lai on 03 May 2018

Manic Street Preachers

Joan As Police Woman - The Old Market, Brighton 23.04.2018 Live Review

Joan Wasser brought her very particular brand of soulful music to a quiet corner of Brighton as she neared the end of the current tour.

By Andrew Lockwood on 24 April 2018

Joan as Police Woman

Idles - Ramsgate Music Hall 12.04.2018 Live Review

Touted as an alternative to much that is wrong with the world, the antithesis of reality TV generated celebrity and the turgid, monotonous, boring and fake, Idles want to 'work hard' and give you an honest, no holds barred, heart...

By Andrew Lockwood on 17 April 2018

Idles

Manic Street Preachers - Resistance Is Futile Album Review

Just when you think they've about drifted away into the mist never to return, Manic Street Preachers kick back with another epic album. Unlucky for some, Manic Street Preachers release their thirteenth studio album today - rather appropriately, Friday the...

By Mark Moore on 13 April 2018

Manic Street Preachers

Thirty Seconds To Mars - America Album Review

It's been five years since Thirty Seconds To Mars released their last album; in the interim period, Jared Leto has seen his acting abilities recognised with an Academy Award, while also taking a turn at the iconic role of The...

By Alex Lai on 13 April 2018

30 Seconds to Mars

The Vaccines - Combat Sports Album Review

The Vaccines make a welcome return with their fourth album in seven years, and first in three, with the release of their latest record 'Combat Sports'. After the odd hiccup and wavering trajectory along the way, The Vaccines seem to...

By Andrew Lockwood on 12 April 2018

The Vaccines

Public Service Broadcasting - The Hall By The Sea, Dreamland, Margate 8.4.2018 Live Review

From the summit of the world to the ominous realities of the war room, through the vastness of space and into the mining shafts of Wales, Public Service Broadcasting have strived to inform, educate and entertain. Tonight they came to...

By Andrew Lockwood on 10 April 2018

Public Service Broadcasting

Ross From Friends - Aphelion Album Review

April 1st is traditionally a time for the media to throw out some gems of deceit with which to bait their audience; the problem is that in the clickbait/fake news avalanche that is our now daily lives sorting fact from...

By Andy Peterson on 06 April 2018

Project Pablo - There's Always More At The Store EP Review

Dance music is so much in the ear of the beholder; one artist's genius to some, to the rest wallpaper. This subjectivity tends to have an effect on some producers, persuading them to try too hard in the hope of...

By Andy Peterson on 04 April 2018

Cabbage - Nihilistic Glamour Shots Album Review

It's been a difficult year for the up-and-coming Mossley band Cabbage, make no mistake, but they have been turning things around for 2018 with a string of EPs and now their debut album 'Nihilistic Glamour Shots' is finally here. For...

By Mark Moore on 29 March 2018

Feeder - Rock City, Nottingham 16.03.2018 Live Review

Twenty-five years and still going strong, Feeder prove their lasting relevance by showcasing their distinctive back catalogue at Rock City, Nottingham. Following their stellar latest album 'All Big Electric', maybe it is just the right time for a "Best Of"...

By Mark Moore on 26 March 2018

Feeder

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