Category: Sound

Without music, life would be a mistake. – Friedrich Nietzsche

Scanners – Submarine

This London born band has the right mix of feminine wiles, indie charisma and soft punk sensibility to win any listener over. Let’s all get depressed. No, let’s get angry. No, cheerful....

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Connan Mockasin – Forever Dolphin Love

When the going gets weird… Once or twice in the space of an aeon, something or someone enters the musical multiverse that is so completely bizarre that you’re not sure whether it’s...

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Syn Ze Sase Tri – Intre Doua Lumi

Dark Symphonies from the Black Metal heart of Romania. Roughly translated the band’s name means,“I’m with triple 6”. After some brief thought and armed with the knowledge that...

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Hunx and His Punx – Too Young to Be in Love

The Hunx and His Punx's new album “Too Young to Be in Love” gives 1960s pop a queer twist, but did the Hunx forget to pack before racing to the past? You've seen the film. Marty...

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Drugg – Shackled EP

Choosing a band name is always a fraught business and in the case of London garage act Drugg one I’m not sure from this first outing whether they’re the real thing or merely an inert lump...

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Belong – Common Era

Uncommon pleasures… The shoegaze revival that many thought could never happen is still in the process of snowballing as it rolls onward through yet another decade. From ambient meanderings to...

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Wagon Christ – Toomorrow

Toomorrow is Luke Vibert’s first outing as Wagon Christ since Sorry I Make You Lush in 2004 and if you needed a masterclass in sample transmutation, this is it. From the intro onward Toomorrow...

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The Cave Singers – No Witch

A lot of this album rides on close vocal harmonies - but don't expect sweetness and light from the Cave Singers, No Witch...

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Gruff Rhys – Hotel Shampoo

An album that was given all the breaks yet provided none of the greatness.  As a musical mid-life crisis goes, this one is the equivalent of a red sports car and a blonde twenty-two year old...

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Ultraphallus- Sowberry Hagan

A doom metal album recorded in just four days, on a farm,with Oxbow . Am I meant to be impressed? Well good, because I am. Ultraphallus are an equally abrasive and bewildering quartet from Leige,...

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Bonded by Blood – Exiled To Earth

Profligate the Pain When I saw the name Bonded by Blood my heart leapt into my mouth. "I get to review Exodus' debut, awesome!" so imagine my surprise/disappointment upon seeing an...

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Black Label Society – Colston Hall

A few years ago (2007) Black Label Society, headed up by guitarist and singer Zakk Wylde, booked a March date at London’s Brixton Academy, well in advance following only a handful of appearances on...

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Spokes – 3, 4, 5

An alt-indie group seems like a pretty unlikely choice for the Ninja Tune roster but with their talent for structured orchestration you wonder why Spokes weren't snapped up sooner. Since winning...

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Venetian Snares – XOYO

Ecstatic breaks and camaraderie, Venetian Snares rocks London. XOYO, Old Street, 23/2/11...

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The Death Set – Michel Poiccard

It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to… Ok, before we begin, I feel I have to issue a health warning. This review contains considerable traces of rap-rock. In fact, a hell of a...

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And Hell Followed With – Proprioception

Should they exercise their own proprioceptive sense? The word ‘proprioception’ means having an understanding of the world around you and your place within the Universe. At least this the...

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FluiD – Duality

Crawl through the dark spaces and grind out body locking moves with this Dubstep Metal infusion. Often a record comes around that elicits both excitement and mild contempt. FluiD’s unrestricted...

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Evile Machinations

Guitars being hammered so skillfully by dudes in black and constantly hidden behind a blaze of swirling hair, living every thrasher’s dream. Sundays aren’t generally my favourite days for...

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Oceano – Contagion

Oceano describe themselves as, “the heaviest, most pissed off band on the planet.” Their claim of being the heaviest could be rightly justified after one look at a picture shows them to...

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Mono/Poly – Manifestations

The slow and sexy presets of Mono/Poly 's Manifestations represent smart funk at its unique best....

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Raspberry – Oval Theatre.

A bunch of misfit spectres led by a cockney guardian angel. Peculiar and wise Raspberry doesn’t tell the tale, it screams it at you. The Oval Theatre is a tiny place, filled with the promise of...

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Rival Sons – Rival Sons EP

Vocalist Jay Buchanan belts out his lyrics with the melody of Robert Plant, the tone of Steven Tyler and the swagger of David Coverdale. Fuzzed up bluesy rock riffs provide meaty instrumental hooks...

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Disappears – Guider

Minimalism is a curious concept. In the current musical climate it usually manifests itself in the form of scratchy, barely-there snatches of sound and the vapour trails of vague melodies. It usually...

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Yuck – Yuck

Slacker pop returns. Yuck hail from London with a sound that comes directly from 1990s. As much Pavement as Dinosaur Jnr, as much Yo La Tengo as Teenage Fanclub, as much tribute as triumph. A lot of...

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Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi

When Anna Calvi sings 'Desire' I feel it. Deep down within in the most dramatic histrionic part of my heart there is a swelling. The waves of reverb and brash surf guitar match the oceanic...

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Shea Seger – Borderline

From the heights to the home, the light remains undimmed. Shea Seger has had a long strange road on her musical journey. In 2001 the plucky Texan waif seemed set for a long life on the broad stage;...

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White Wizzard – Over the Top

Stand up for metal From the whiplash sustained during the opening avalanche of riffage it is painfully apparent that White Wizzard's debut release ‘Over the Top’ means to raze banal...

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Make Better Music 29: Disrespect

dropcap style=”font-size:100px; color:#992211;”I/dropcap stumbled over this idea a long time ago, and it was a hard step for me to take. I’m a respectful person, especially regarding...

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Martin Simpson – The Green Note

A guitarist, a storyteller and a legend walked into a bar. This is no joke, this is Martin Simpson. He held the room with his words, singing about rebellion, war and romance. We travelled the world...

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Balloon and Needle: Cafe OTO

As Avant-Garde as all that: Korean sonic collective Balloon and Needle distort the medium. Cracked electronics, chin stroking and a serious aversion to anything fun, Avant-garde music can be a real...

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