The Staves are a band you may or may not be familiar with. They seem to have been 'around' for a while, gradually working their way into our subconscious, yet you may be surprised to...
Review posted on 26th October 2012
In 2006, Natasha Khan, aka Bat For Lashes, released her debut album Fur And Gold. However, it was not until she appeared on the (formerly less bloated and more focused) Culture Show in February 2007...
Review posted on 22nd October 2012
Sibling rivalry can produce interesting results. Some relationships that were merely nothing more than tolerable can be argued to have produced a partnership's best results. Oasis, for instance, were at their height when brotherly love...
Review posted on 18th October 2012
Since forming in 2003, Chicago based band Volcano! have released two albums: 2005's 'Beautiful Seizure' and 2008's 'Paperwork' as well as a couple of singles along the way. After first 'Striving for maximum intensity..and unpredictable...
Review posted on 8th October 2012
Them there Canadians can be an unassuming lot (not that I'm a fan of generalization, but you know.). They get quite passionate about Ice Hockey, Mounties, snow mobiles and Niagara Falls (Their side at least)...
Review posted on 1st October 2012
In 2007 Scottish Indie darlings The View released 'Hats Off To The Buskers'. They released 5 singles from it, it went to #1 and it earned them a Mercury Music Prize nomination. Since then the...
Review posted on 1st October 2012
As choirs go, this one, Gaggle, does at least deserve the moniker of alternative, innovative and original. They may not win Choir Of The Year (nor do they probably want to) and they are unlikely...
Review posted on 1st October 2012
With every album Bellowhead release, they raise the barrier. Broadside, Bellowhead's fourth full-length offering, complete with their trademark infectious folk-funk stomp, juicy, eclectic arrangements and almighty appetite for entertainment, does it yet again.'Byker Hill' opens...
Review posted on 1st October 2012
Way back up in the woods (In a 'secret' location just outside Deal) among the evergreens, there stood a log cabin made of earth and wood......where (for three days, and for only the second time)...
Review posted on 4th September 2012
'Go Fly a Kite' is Ben Kweller's 5th album and his first released through his own Noise Company record label. Originally scheduled for a much earlier airing, Ben decided to err on the side of...
Review posted on 28th August 2012
The broad church that supports the collective assembly of Communion Records was only formed 6 years ago through the vision of Ben 'Mumford' Lovett, bassist Kevin Jones and producer Ian Grimble. From its early roots...
Review posted on 28th August 2012
Lounge On The Farm celebrated its seventh birthday in some style over the weekend. The site was re-configured again this year as a few more new attractions were brought in and one old one was...
Review posted on 16th July 2012
Double 'A' side singles come along very rarely these days; long gone and sadly missed are the days of flipping your 45rpm vinyl between 'Straight To Hell' and 'Should I Stay Or Should I Go?'...
Review posted on 9th July 2012
Worthy Farm, home to the Glastonbury festival, may be taking time out to recover this year but Merton Farm, just outside Canterbury in the heart of the Garden of England is gearing up for another...
Review posted on 3rd July 2012
How good must you have to be? How much faith in your own ability must you have? How long before you're the default that pops up on any search engine? If you're a relatively new...
Review posted on 19th June 2012
Smoke Fairies new album 'Blood Speaks' is the result of a 'more confident', 'bolder' band 'pushing (their) boundaries' and incorporating 'broader influences'. Having caught the ear of such respected and influential musicians as Richard Hawley...
Review posted on 19th June 2012
From a tentative, early, but not entirely confident, first dip of a toe into the water with an EP in 2008 through to the more meaningful collaborative 'side project' that resulted in a startling surprise...
Review posted on 11th June 2012
As if by way of some timely reminder, Loreen's 'Euphoria' via the Eurovision Song Contest has been re-affirming and cementing the long held popular opinion that Sweden and pop are a winning combination; inextricably bound...
Review posted on 11th June 2012
Rock N' Roll loving duo and former John Peel favourites of French, definitely 'not Swedish' or American homeland, Herman Dune follow up their breakthrough album 'Strange Moosic' with a new EP, 'Monument Park'. Although the...
Review posted on 30th May 2012
'The National Health" finds Maximo Park playing to their strengths. It's the band's fourth studio album and, whilst they are hardly breaking new ground, either on their own sonic turf, or anyone else's, they appear...
Review posted on 25th May 2012
'It All Starts With One' is the 'latest' release from Norwegian born, Stockholm resident Ane Brun. Her 8th album has been longer in coming than intended due to touring commitments with Peter Gabriel. That matters...
Review posted on 21st May 2012
Some things are more quintessentially English than others. Tom Williams tourist attracting home town of Tunbridge Wells is definitely one of them. It's got a John Lewis, has Royal status, is a spa town with...
Review posted on 9th May 2012
Paul Thomas Saunders may well hail from West Yorkshire's sprawling financial, cultural and commercial city of Leeds but upon listening to his latest creation you'd be forgiven for thinking he was more of an...
Review posted on 8th May 2012
Preconceived ideas are generally not a good idea and very often wide of the mark. Formulating an opinion before the facts have been heard can be a dangerous and foolish thing to do. To have...
Review posted on 24th April 2012
"If I can make it there I can make it anywhere"......so the song goes. Has he made it there? No not really. Is he likely to make it anywhere? Well the jury is still out...
Review posted on 24th April 2012
'Soul Is Heavy' is the third album from 31 year old Nigerian born singer-songwriter, Nneka. Following on from 2008's 'No Longer At Ease' and her debut 2005 release 'Victim Of Truth', 'Soul Is Heavy' is...
Review posted on 27th March 2012
Some years ago now when the Manic Street Preachers had the audacity to criticize The White Stripes for being lazy in their song writing, for not spending enough time crafting their songs and putting out...
Review posted on 26th March 2012
Charlotte Gainsbourg is a talented actress as well as a singer. I would suggest, should the chance arise and if she were offered it, her most suitable roll at the moment would be a part...
Review posted on 26th March 2012
There was a time three to four years ago when I thought Wallis Bird was going to huge. Amy Winehouse huge. Whilst I was clearly wrong Wallis has been moderately successful, especially in her native...
Review posted on 20th March 2012
Rams' Pocket Radio is the work of Peter McCauley, a very talented singer-songwriter, pianist and drummer. Championed by the likes of Gary Lightbody..."He's an extraordinary musician..a frightening talent" and 6Music's Tom Robinson among others Peter...
Review posted on 15th March 2012
Maximo Park return with their first full length studio album in nearly four years as they release 'Nature Always Wins'.
Yes, I know, it's far too early to call out contenders for the Top Ten Albums of 2021 but, if 'In Quiet Moments' by Lost Horizons doesn't feature...
Maisie Peters first release of 2021, 'John Hughes Movie', is as an inspired, individual and thought provoking concept that showcases the singers ever...
Wolf Alice make a long awaited return ahead of the release of their third album with a new single and video, 'The Last Man On Earth'.
Tom Odell returns with new song, 'numb', his first single in nearly two years.
Way, way back in the February of 1980 one twenty year old Bryan Adams released his eponymous debut album, paving the way for the start of his...
As the second month of 2021 gets ever nearer we take a look at the new releases that are set to delight our ears over the coming weeks.
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