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  • The Dream Machine channel Beach Boys-style wall-of-sound on new single ‘Things That Make Us Cry’
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  • News
        • The Dream Machine
          News

          The Dream Machine channel Beach Boys-style wall-of-sound on new single ‘Things That Make Us Cry’

          January 13, 2026

          If the best songs were always sung with a tear in the eye, then The Dream Machine’s latest single, Things That Make Us Cry adds to the canon of the saddest, most beautiful songs to seek hope as the […]

          ARCHIVE
          News

          ARCHIVE share new single ‘City Walls’ from forthcoming album ‘Glass Minds’

          January 13, 2026

          ARCHIVE, the unique, enigmatic and acclaimed collective who formed in Croydon, South London in 1994, have today shared ‘City Walls’, the latest single from their forthcoming 13th studio album Glass Minds, which is released on […]

          Matt Cardle
          News

          Matt Cardle Kicks Off 2026 with New Single ‘Fading Lights’ from Upcoming Album ‘The Great Escape’

          January 9, 2026

          Multi-Platinum artist and BRIT Award nominee Matt Cardle gets a big year underway as he unveils his brand new single ‘Fading Lights’. It comes as Matt prepares to step into a new era with the release of ‘The Great Escape’ – his first new album […]

  • Reviews
        • Album Reviews

          Sugar - Copper Blue
          Album Reviews

          ALBUM REVIEW: Sugar – Copper Blue: The Singles Collection

          November 28, 2025

          For fans of Sugar – and for anyone who still feels the shockwave of Copper Blue more than three decades on – Copper Blue: The Singles Collection arrives as a dream artefact. Pressed across four […]

          debdepan "Lovers & Others" EP
          Album Reviews

          REVIEW: debdepan “Lovers & Others” EP

          November 27, 2025

          In recent years, the vibrant seaside town of Margate has evolved into a heady blend of coastal charm and DIY creativity — a place where visual artists, musicians and free-thinking makers thrive. It’s the perfect […]

        • 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: Craic, Community and Conviction: The Mary Wallopers storm Belfast Credit: Becca McCaffrey
          Live Reviews

          LIVE REVIEW: Craic, Community and Conviction: The Mary Wallopers storm Belfast

          December 29, 2025

          The Mary Wallopers returned to Belfast on 23 December fresh from five consecutive nights at Glasgow’s Barrowlands, and if there was any risk of fatigue, it never showed. From the opening song, pints were flying, […]

          LIVE REVIEW: Wool City Rockers: Paradise Lost, Terrorvision & New Model Army take over Bradford Live Credit: Alina Salihbekova
          Live Reviews

          LIVE REVIEW: Wool City Rockers: Paradise Lost, Terrorvision & New Model Army take over Bradford Live

          December 23, 2025

          On 13 December, Bradford proudly celebrated the strength and legacy of the Yorkshire heavy music scene with Wool City Rockers, staged at the city’s newly refurbished Bradford Live. The line-up brought together three iconic bands […]

        • 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// 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 […]

          IN FOCUS// Punk Spirit Burns Bright as SLF, PiL & Sham 69 Rock Custom House Square © Bernie McAllister
          IN FOCUS

          IN FOCUS// Punk Spirit Burns Bright as SLF, PiL & Sham 69 Rock Custom House Square

          August 17, 2025

          Putting the Fast in Belfast 7 once again proved why it has become a staple of the city’s summer music calendar. A packed Custom House Square buzzed with anticipation as fans from across generations gathered […]

  • 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
        • 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 […]

          Fabrizio Cammarata
          Interviews

          INTERVIEW: Fabrizio Cammarata on Solitude, Connection, and the Inner Worlds of His New Album “Insularities”

          October 10, 2025

          Sicilian singer-songwriter Fabrizio Cammarata has returned with Insularities — a quietly profound exploration of connection, isolation, transformation, and memory. The record invites listeners into a space between light and shadow, where grief and love share […]

  • Podcast
        • Sleaford Mods
          Podcast

          Sleaford Mods’ Jason Williamson on Planet X, cultural decay, and the evolution of the band | XS Noize Podcast #264

          December 6, 2025

          In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by Jason Williamson, the fiercely articulate frontman of Sleaford Mods, to explore the band’s most ambitious and unflinching record yet: The Demise Of […]

          Oliver Murray
          Podcast

          Oliver Murray on completing “The Beatles Anthology” and bringing Episode Nine to life | XS Noize Podcast #263

          December 4, 2025

          In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by acclaimed filmmaker Oliver Murray — the British writer–director redefining modern music documentary through his bold, cinematic approach. Following his 2023 short film […]

          Steve Lillywhite on the Making of “Fairytale of New York” | XS Noize Podcast #262
          Podcast

          Steve Lillywhite on Making “Fairytale of New York” with Kirsty MacColl & The Pogues | XS Noize Podcast #262

          November 30, 2025

          In this episode of the XS Noize Podcast, Mark Millar is joined by legendary producer Steve Lillywhite — the Grammy-winning studio mastermind behind iconic records by U2, The Rolling Stones, Talking Heads, The Smiths, The […]

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Articles by David Ham

Xsnoize Author
David Ham
Music fan and music geek living nestled into the South Downs. Can often be found staring longingly at Tumuli while wearing oversized headphones.Favourite Album – Serge Gainsbourg, Histoire De Melody Nelson Favourite Band – Lee “Scratch” Perry
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ALBUM REVIEW: Tune Yards – Sketchy
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Tune Yards – Sketchy

March 24, 2021 David Ham

Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner are the duo better known as Tune-Yards, and their excellent fifth album, released by 4AD, is called Sketchy. The 11 songs have been inspired by the Beastie Boys, Book and […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Goo Goo Dolls – It’s Christmas All Over
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Goo Goo Dolls – It’s Christmas All Over

November 2, 2020 David Ham

“It’s Christmas” shouts Noddy Holder on every Christmas compilation album and on every mainstream radio show and on every Spotify playlist. Having a popular Christmas song can be very lucrative. People may not know any […]

ALBUM REVIEW: William Shatner – The Blues
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: William Shatner – The Blues

October 26, 2020 David Ham

William Shatner is a rare cultural phenomenon, an actor and celebrity who has become a worldwide household name. Most people instantly think of James T. Kirk. The starship Captain on his five-year mission “ to […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Dream Division – Beyond The Mirror’s Image
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Dream Division – Beyond The Mirror’s Image

September 29, 2020 David Ham

The last few years have been a very productive time for Tom McDowell and his musical project Dream Division. McDowell is an electronic music composer whose speciality is the heavy and decidedly dark synth sound […]

ALBUM REVIEW: The Arthur Brothers – Nine
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: The Arthur Brothers – Nine

September 20, 2020 David Ham

The trio behind The Arthur Brothers is the real-life brother’s Matt and Danny Arthur and the producer and multi-instrumentalist J.C Wright. Their debut album, Nine is released by Clearlight Records/Declared Goods. There is a lack […]

ALBUM REVIEW: DMA’s - The Glow
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: DMA’s – The Glow

July 27, 2020 David Ham

Tommy O’Dell, Matt Mason and Johnny Took formed DMA’s in Sydney, Australia in 2012. The three-piece band exploded onto the scene in 2014 with their debut single “Delete” and self-titled EP which was heavily influenced […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Dogs Versus Shadows – This Crow Wears A Wire
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Dogs Versus Shadows – This Crow Wears A Wire

June 29, 2020 David Ham

Dogs Versus Shadows is the moniker of Lee Pylon. Probably best known as the host of the excellent radio show “Kites and Pylons.” A weekly show on Sine FM and Mixcloud, with the tag line […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Badly Drawn Boy - Banana Skin Shoes
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Badly Drawn Boy – Banana Skin Shoes

May 26, 2020 David Ham

It’s been twenty years since Damon Gough, aka Badly Drawn Boy, exploded onto the “Indie” music scene with his debut album The Hour Of The Bewilderbeast. In the late ’90s, Gough released various EPs, steadily […]

ALBUM REVIEW: I Break Horses – Warnings
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: I Break Horses – Warnings

April 27, 2020 David Ham

I Break Horses is the musical partnership of Maria Linden and Frederick Balck who are based in Stockholm, Sweden. Signed to Bella Union their debut album Hearts was released in 2011 and is an interesting […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Hunter Complex – Dead Calm and Zero Degrees
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Hunter Complex – Dead Calm and Zero Degrees

March 15, 2020 David Ham

Hunter Complex is the Dutch musician and composer, Lars Meijer. He’s well-known in the Netherlands underground electronica scene. He has been composing electronic, synth-based music for other 30 years. In the late 80’s he began […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Baxter Dury – The Night Chancers
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Baxter Dury – The Night Chancers

March 5, 2020 David Ham

“The Night Chancers” released by Heavenly Records, is Baxter Dury’s 6th album. It continues the long term collaboration with producer Craig Silvey. The pair are purveyors of sleazy, alternative pop music. Soaked in synth strings […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Porridge Radio – Every Bad
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Porridge Radio – Every Bad

March 1, 2020 David Ham

Formed in Brighton in 2015, Porridge Radio are a New Wave, Post Punk, Alternative Pop quartet, fronted by lead vocalist and guitarist Dana Margolin. The punk DIY ethos burns fiercely bright in Porridge Radio. A […]

ALBUM REVIEW: Gigi Masin – Calypso
Album Reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: Gigi Masin – Calypso

February 17, 2020 David Ham

The Italian, Venetian born composer, Gigi Masin has probably moved into the veteran category in the world of electronic ambient music. “Wind” was his debut album, it was privately pressed in 1986. Unfortunately, Masin’s house […]

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