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  • Billy Ocean Announces Belfast and Derry Shows for September
  • LIVE REVIEW: Lorna Shore Deliver a Career-Defining Headline Show at Alexandra Palace
  • Super Furry Animals Unearth Early 1993 Recording ‘Pocket Sam’ Featuring Rhys Ifans
  • Mark Shaw of Then Jerico on The Return, legacy, and bringing the full band show to Ireland | XS Noize Podcast #270
  • ALBUM REVIEW: Helicon x Al Lover – Arise
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  • News
        • BILLY OCEAN
          News

          Billy Ocean Announces Belfast and Derry Shows for September

          February 13, 2026

          One of the biggest recording stars Britain has ever produced, Billy Ocean is pleased to announce two very special shows at the Millennium Forum on September 13th and Waterfront Hall on September 14th with special […]

          Super Furry Animals
          News

          Super Furry Animals Unearth Early 1993 Recording ‘Pocket Sam’ Featuring Rhys Ifans

          February 12, 2026

          SUPER FURRY ANIMALS have released one of their earliest recordings, revealing the dreamy space-rock of Pocket Sam to fans with acclaimed-actor and original singer, Rhys Ifans on vocals. Captured on tape at Grassroots Studio in Cardiff as the Furries started to form in the […]

          Sananda Maitreya
          News

          Sananda Maitreya Releases Remastered Edition of Neither Fish Nor Flesh as Part of ‘Juvenilia: The Columbia Years’

          February 7, 2026

          Sananda Maitreya releases the newly remastered version of his visionary second album, 1989’s ‘Neither Fish Nor Flesh: A Soundtrack of Love, Faith, Hope & Destruction’. It is the latest instalment in ‘Juvenilia: The Columbia Years’, a remastered […]

  • Reviews
        • Album Reviews

          Helicon x Al Lover - Arise
          Album Reviews

          ALBUM REVIEW: Helicon x Al Lover – Arise

          February 10, 2026

          Scottish band Helicon were formed in Glasgow’s East Kilbride by brothers John-Paul and Gary Hughes. They are a collective of musicians whose experimental sounds blend psychedelia, sitar, electronica and guitars to create a fuzzed-up wall […]

          ALBUM REVIEW: IST IST - Dagger
          Album Reviews

          ALBUM REVIEW: IST IST – Dagger

          February 9, 2026

          Manchester’s post-punk titans IST IST have never been a band to do things by halves. Rising from the city’s underground with a fiercely independent DIY ethic, they’ve spent years carving out a sonic identity as […]

        • Book Reviews

          BOOK REVIEW: Y/N - Esther Yi
          Book Reviews

          BOOK REVIEW: Y/N – Esther Yi

          October 30, 2023

          K-Pop has reached an international audience. This year, BLACKPINK made history as the first K-pop band to headline a major UK festival at Hyde Park. The media’s coverage of BTS member’s enlistment into compulsory military […]

          BOOK REVIEW: Sophomore Songs by Clarke Geddes
          Book Reviews

          BOOK REVIEW: Sophomore Songs by Clarke Geddes

          August 29, 2023

          How does one become qualified to write a fictional music novel? The author of Sophomore Songs offers some clues. Growing up reading NME, doing a stint at Clash, drumming for several bands on and off, and […]

        • Classic Albums

          ‘Pop’ at 25: Looking back at the orphan child in U2's discography 2
          Classic Albums

          ‘Pop’ at 26: Looking back at the orphan child in U2’s discography

          March 3, 2022

          In March of 1997, 26 years ago, U2 released their much anticipated ninth studio album POP; for fans and critics alike, it quickly became their most polarizing release. There is a prevailing feeling that POP […]

          CLASSIC ALBUM: Duran Duran – Duran Duran 2
          Album Reviews

          CLASSIC ALBUM: Duran Duran – Duran Duran

          June 17, 2021

          This week sees the 40th anniversary of Duran Duran’s self-titled debut album. XS Noize looks back on this momentous release from a band that would become the ‘Fab Five’ of the ‘80s. It was December […]

        • Live Reviews

          LIVE REVIEW: Lorna Shore Deliver a Career-Defining Headline Show at Alexandra Palace Credit: Alina Salihbekova
          Live Reviews

          LIVE REVIEW: Lorna Shore Deliver a Career-Defining Headline Show at Alexandra Palace

          February 13, 2026

          The most incendiary force in modern deathcore, Lorna Shore, stormed the iconic Alexandra Palace for a night that felt less like a gig and more like a statement. Completing the bill were genre heavyweights Humanity’s […]

          IN FOCUS// Ash ignite La Scala with career-spanning London show Credit: Denise Esposito
          IN FOCUS

          IN FOCUS// Ash ignite La Scala with career-spanning London show

          February 6, 2026

          On 3 February, Ash returned to La Scala for a blistering, high-energy London show. Packed wall to wall, the venue buzzed as the trio tore through a career-spanning set, seamlessly weaving in new material from […]

        • Round Up

          XS Noize Best Albums of 2018
          Round Up

          XS Noize Best Albums of 2018

          December 22, 2018

          2018 has been an incredible year for albums. The year saw the strongest new acts in decades release their debuts, as well as a number of alternative legends returning to top form. The world of dance […]

          The Best Of October 2018 PLAYLIST + ROUND-UP
          Round Up

          The Best Of October 2018 PLAYLIST + ROUND-UP

          October 29, 2018

          Welcome to the October 2018 edition of our monthly new music playlist, which is available to listen to and watch via YouTube. If you enjoy any of the songs featured here, we encourage you to support […]

        • In Focus

          IN FOCUS// Ash ignite La Scala with career-spanning London show Credit: Denise Esposito
          IN FOCUS

          IN FOCUS// Ash ignite La Scala with career-spanning London show

          February 6, 2026

          On 3 February, Ash returned to La Scala for a blistering, high-energy London show. Packed wall to wall, the venue buzzed as the trio tore through a career-spanning set, seamlessly weaving in new material from […]

          IN FOCUS// Biffy Clyro at 3Arena Dublin, Ireland Credit: Becca McCaffrey
          IN FOCUS

          IN FOCUS// Biffy Clyro at 3Arena Dublin, Ireland

          January 11, 2026

          Biffy Clyro put on a brilliant show at the 3Arena on Saturday, 10 January, delivering a set that was as heavy and intense as it was open and emotional. The sold-out Dublin crowd were treated […]

  • Gigs
        • Hans Zimmer
          Gigs

          Hans Zimmer: The ultimate fan’s guide

          August 27, 2025

          Hans Zimmer, the genius behind Hollywood’s most unforgettable scores, is back on tour with an electrifying live experience to share with his fans. From “Inception” to “Dune”, Zimmer is preparing to transform his soundscapes into […]

          Andrea Bocelli
          Gigs

          The ultimate fans guide to seeing Andrea Bocelli in Amsterdam

          August 21, 2025

          The Italian tenor, Andrea Bocelli, will be at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam on March 29 and 30, 2026. The show will feature a mix of operatic tracks, pop songs, and classical repertoire. Bocelli is […]

          Eros Ramazzotti
          Gigs

          Eros Ramazzotti: Dates, venues, tickets and more

          August 18, 2025

          To celebrate the 40th anniversary of his breakout single, “Una Storia Importante”, Eros Ramazzotti will be performing live on some of the grandest stages across Europe, Latin America, and North America. Ramazzotti is a world-renowned […]

  • Interviews
        • Jordan Anthony
          Interviews

          Jordan Anthony on “Lost In LA”, Finding His Voice in LA & Dream Tour Plans

          February 10, 2026

          He may only be 20, but Perth-born, LA-based artist Jordan Anthony already has more experience within the music industry than many might expect. He was writing songs and playing instruments before he hit double digits, […]

          TAVE
          Interviews

          INTERVIEW: TAVE Talks ‘Fly Away,’ Self-Discovery, and the Art of Letting Go

          November 11, 2025

          Rising artist TAVE has had an extraordinary journey — from earning a scholarship at just 13 and performing with some of music’s biggest names to now stepping into the spotlight with his deeply personal debut […]

          :Panic :Over
          Interviews

          INTERVIEW: :Panic :Over Are Turning Northern Irish Indie Into a Global Sound

          October 16, 2025

          Neal McClelland meets the Northern Irish band whose anthemic sound is turning heads from Belfast to Tokyo. There’s something electric about catching a band right before liftoff — that mix of confidence, humour, and disbelief […]

  • Podcast
        • Mark Shaw - Then Jerico | XS Noize Podcast #270
          Podcast

          Mark Shaw of Then Jerico on The Return, legacy, and bringing the full band show to Ireland | XS Noize Podcast #270

          February 10, 2026

          In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar sits down with Mark Shaw of Then Jerico to talk about The Return — a moment that reconnects legacy, live energy, and purpose as the […]

          Desertflowerboots_H - photo credit Sandrita Cardenas 1
          Podcast

          Crispian Mills of Kula Shaker on creativity, chaos, and Wormslayer | XS Noize Podcast #269

          February 8, 2026

          In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar sits down with Kula Shaker frontman Crispian Mills to talk about Wormslayer — a record that captures the band feeling revitalised, confident, and creatively fearless. […]

          Dani Larkin
          Podcast

          Dani Larkin on Next Of Kin: life, loss, and learning to stay open | XS Noize Podcast #268

          February 3, 2026

          In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar sits down with Dani Larkin to talk about Next Of Kin — a deeply emotive record shaped by time, patience, and a renewed sense of […]

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Articles by Ben P Scott

Xsnoize Author
Ben P Scott
Ben P Scott is a writer and DJ from Somerset, UK. In his teens, he wrote the indie fanzine Supernova from 1997 until 2000 and has been writing for various music sites since 2010, including his own Rewind/Fast Forward site. He has many favourite bands and artists including Manic Street Preachers, The Fall, Blur, David Bowie, Mansun and Oasis.
Website
The Best Of October 2018 PLAYLIST + ROUND-UP
Round Up

The Best Of October 2018 PLAYLIST + ROUND-UP

October 29, 2018 Ben P Scott

Welcome to the October 2018 edition of our monthly new music playlist, which is available to listen to and watch via YouTube. If you enjoy any of the songs featured here, we encourage you to support […]

ALBUM REVIEW: The Lucid Dream - Actualisation
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: The Lucid Dream – Actualisation

October 23, 2018 Ben P Scott

Formed in 2008 and causing a stir since their 2013 debut ‘Songs Of Lies And Deceit’, Carlisle four-piece The Lucid Dream suffered a cruel blow early last year in 2017 when all of their equipment […]

LIVE REVIEW: Mark Chadwick (Levellers) - Trowbridge Town Hall Arts, 19/10/2018
Live Reviews

LIVE REVIEW: Mark Chadwick (Levellers) – Trowbridge Town Hall Arts, 19/10/2018

October 22, 2018 Ben P Scott

It’s no exaggeration to say that I’ve lost count of the amount of Levellers gigs I have been to over the last 18 years. I’ve met the band many times and even interviewed frontman Mark Chadwick. But tonight […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Richard Ashcroft - Natural Rebel
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Richard Ashcroft – Natural Rebel

October 14, 2018 Ben P Scott

The solo career of Richard Ashcroft can be divided into two halves: The warm, mostly acoustic-flavoured output of the post-Urban Hymns years, and the transitional sounds of the records he has released since The Verve reformed in 2007 and […]

ALBUM REVIEW: She Makes War - Brace For Impact
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: She Makes War – Brace For Impact

October 10, 2018 Ben P Scott

This week saw the release of the new She Makes War album ‘Brace For Impact’, which is at number 47 in the midweek charts. It marks a long-overdue chart debut for the brilliant Bristol-based multi-instrumentalist Laura Kidd, who […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Estrons - You Say I'm Too Much, I Say You're Not Enough
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Estrons – You Say I’m Too Much, I Say You’re Not Enough

October 9, 2018 Ben P Scott

“Estrons” is a Welsh word that roughly translates as “misfits” or “outsiders”, and the moniker chosen by a Welsh outfit who became hotly-tipped following three years of superb EP tracks and high energy gigs. Now, […]

The Best Of September 2018 PLAYLIST + ROUND-UP
Round Up

The Best Of September 2018 PLAYLIST + ROUND-UP

October 1, 2018 Ben P Scott

Welcome to the September 2018 edition of our monthly new music playlist, which is available to listen to and watch via YouTube. If you enjoy any of the songs featured here, we encourage you to […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Suede - The Blue Hour
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Suede – The Blue Hour

September 27, 2018 Ben P Scott

Like many of the other legendary indie bands who graced the 90s, Suede are right back on their very best form, making music that sounds and FEELS essential. Many would argue that Brett Anderson and […]

PALE WAVES announce debut album 'My Mind Makes Noises'
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: – Pale Waves – My Mind Makes Noises

September 20, 2018 Ben P Scott

‘My Mind Makes Noises’ is the debut from the Manchester four-piece Pale Waves, whose goth-punk appearance turns out to be completely at odds with the massively unoriginal and highly commercialised sound of their music. Bright, […]

MENACE BEACH Share Video for 'Black Rainbow Sound' feat: Brix Smith - Watch Now 1
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Menace Beach – Black Rainbow Sound

September 11, 2018 Ben P Scott

The third album from Leeds-based duo Menace Beach is a celestial treat for lovers of alternative rock. The songs on ‘Black Rainbow Sound’ show a band who have come into their own. Having always embraced […]

LIVE REVIEW: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds / Paul Weller @ the Bristol Downs Festival
Live Reviews

LIVE REVIEW: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds / Paul Weller @ the Bristol Downs Festival

September 8, 2018 Ben P Scott

This is a very special day for the city of Bristol, yet it turns out to be far more than that. Despite the South West being the location for Glastonbury, other events in the region […]

Classic Album Revisited: Babybird - There's Something Going On
Classic Albums

Classic Album Revisited: Babybird – There’s Something Going On

September 5, 2018 Ben P Scott

Forget about ‘You’re Gorgeous’… Recorded two years after that big hit, this extraordinary, dark, and remarkable album was Babybird’s REAL main event. Released 20 years ago on 24 August 1998, ‘There’s Something Going On’ never became a massive seller […]

SUEDE Release video for their new track 'The Invisibles' - Watch Now
Round Up

The Best Of August 2018 PLAYLIST + ROUND-UP

September 3, 2018 Ben P Scott

Welcome to the August 2018 edition of our monthly new music playlist, which is available to listen to and watch via YouTube. If you enjoy any of the songs featured here, we encourage you to […]

ALBUM REVIEW: James - Living In Extraordinary Times
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: James – Living In Extraordinary Times

August 9, 2018 Ben P Scott

Their last two albums have found Manchester indie legends James enjoying something of a renaissance. This week they release their 15th record. 15? Surely we don’t need another James album, do we? You probably know […]

INTERVIEW: Pete Wilkinson (Aviator) discusses new album 'Omni' 6
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Aviator – Omni

August 8, 2018 Ben P Scott

Aviator is a musical project featuring former Cast/Shack bassist Pete Wilkinson, and Mark Neary, who was a member of The Hours. Liverpool-based Wilkinson quit Cast in 2015, a few years after they reformed. “It was […]

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT: THE BEST OF MANSUN
Rewind

REWIND: Revisiting the Best of July 1998 + Playlist

August 3, 2018 Ben P Scott

Listen to a selection of the best tracks from July 1998. Every month I revisit the music that we were listening to 20 years ago, and compile them into a YouTube playlist for your viewing […]

PLAYLIST: The Best Of July 2018
Round Up

PLAYLIST: The Best Of July 2018

July 31, 2018 Ben P Scott

Welcome to the July 2018 edition of our monthly new music playlist, which is available to listen to and watch via YouTube. If you enjoy any of the songs featured here, we encourage you to […]

JOHNNY MARR Announces New Album 'CALL THE COMET' To Be Released June 15th 2
Round Up

JUNE 2018 // Music Round-Up

July 4, 2018 Ben P Scott

Time for a look at some of the very best tracks of the last month or so in this new monthly round-up curated by DJ and writer Ben P Scott. This edition features new music […]

REWIND// June 1998
Rewind

REWIND// June 1998

July 3, 2018 Ben P Scott

A monthly look back at the music we were listening to exactly twenty years ago. All of these singles were released back in June 1998. You can read a bit about each individual track and […]

FOO FIGHTERS Concrete and Gold North American Tour 2018 Expanded by Popular Demand
Live Reviews

LIVE REVIEW: Foo Fighters, London Stadium, Saturday 23 June 2018

July 1, 2018 Ben P Scott

I’m not used to events of this scale. The most recent gig outing prior to this was a relatively small gathering in a small Bristol city centre venue. This evening, I’m on the opposite end […]

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LATEST PODCASTS

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