Sandra Blemster

Sandra mainly writes about indie/rock bands and has written many features, album reviews and interviews for XS Noize. Favourite bands and albums is a long list but to name a few Horslips, REM, Love, The Doors, Let It Bee – Voice of the Beehive, Velvet Underground and Nico album. (Ozric Tentacles live), October Drift. Sandra likes yoga, reading a good book, watching films, Netflix and drinking wine.
ALBUM REVIEW: Gruff Rhys – Sadness Sets Me Free

ALBUM REVIEW: Gruff Rhys – Sadness Sets Me Free

Gruff Rhys releases his new album Sadness Sets Me Free on Rough Trade Records. Amazingly, this is the 25th album…

3 months ago

ALBUM REVIEW: Nicky Wire – Intimism

Nicky Wire, bassist and lyricist for Welsh band Manic Street Preachers, has released a solo album as a follow-up to…

9 months ago

ALBUM REVIEW: Booker T. & The MG’s – Green Onions Deluxe (60th Anniversary)

In 1962, a record was created, through a spur-of-the-moment jam, of four musicians in Memphis, Tennessee. That record, ‘Green Onions’,…

1 year ago

ALBUM REVIEW: The Slow Readers Club – Knowledge Freedom Power

Manchester quartet, The Slow Readers Club are back with their sixth studio album Knowledge Freedom Power. Following on from their…

1 year ago

ALBUM REVIEW: Voice Of The Beehive – ‘LET IT BEE’ 35th Anniversary Edition

Ah, Voice of the Beehive, that takes me back. They first came into my existence somewhere back in 1987 with…

1 year ago

ALBUM REVIEW: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Changes

First conceived in 2017, a year in which King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, the Australian psychedelic six, released five…

1 year ago

ALBUM REVIEW: October Drift – I Don’t Belong Anywhere

I Don't Belong Anywhere is October Drift's follow-up to their debut album Forever Whatever in 2020. The Taunton quartet have…

2 years ago

ALBUM REVIEW: Arthur Brown – Long Long Road

Arthur Brown is back! The original God of Hellfire releases his new album Long Long Road this week, on his 80th…

2 years ago

LIVE REVIEW: The Unstoppable Arthur Brown @ Sale Waterside Arts Centre

‘I am the god of hellfire, and I bring you…!’ The people of Sale, Manchester, were treated to a visual/aural…

2 years ago

ALBUM REVIEW: Placebo – Never Let Me Go

Vocalist and guitarist Brian Molko and bassist Stefan Olsdal who make up Placebo, return, this time as a duo, following…

2 years ago

ALBUM REVIEW: Richard Ashcroft – Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1

Richard Ashcroft releases his new album Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1 on October 29th. It contains 12 newly recorded acoustic versions…

3 years ago

ALBUM REVIEW: James – All The Colours Of You

James releases their 16th studio album on June 4th, All The Colours Of You. Recorded partly before the pandemic, it’s…

3 years ago

REVIEW: October Drift – Naked EP

October Drift returns with their acoustic EP Naked released on Physical Education Records on 6th November. This follows on from…

3 years ago

ALBUM REVIEW: The Slow Readers Club – 91 Days In Isolation

Back in March, I reviewed the fourth studio album by The Slow Readers Club The Joy of the Return. I…

4 years ago

ALBUM REVIEW: Doves – The Universal Want

Manchester band Doves release their fifth album The Universal Want on 11th September 2020. Made up of Jimi Goodwin (vocals/guitar),…

4 years ago

ALBUM REVIEW: Proud Mary – Songs From Catalina

Manchester band Proud Mary are back after a seven-year break with their new album Songs From Catalina, out 26th June.…

4 years ago

ALBUM REVIEW: Hightown Pirates – All of the Above

The Hightown Pirates was formed by Simon Mason. He penned the critically acclaimed rock n roll memoir Too High Too…

4 years ago

ALBUM REVIEW: The Slow Readers Club – The Joy Of The Return

Manchester’s The Slow Readers Club are back with a fourth album, The Joy Of The Return, out on March 20th…

4 years ago

INTERVIEW: From the Altar to the Mainstage – A Chat with OCTOBER DRIFT

October Drift don’t take shortcuts. With their own personal style of intense guitar-driven, emotionally charged music the Taunton, Somerset quartet…

4 years ago

ALBUM REVIEW: Brix & The Extricated – Super Blood Wolf Moon

Brix & The Extricated are back to release their third studio album Super Blood Wolf Moon on 25th October nearly…

5 years ago