Reviews

In April this year, when Explosions in the Sky announced their first North American tour since 2019, the excitement was matched with a sense of worry that it would be their last as it was […]

After releasing her much-admired debut album, Pohorylle, in 2021, Americana singer-songwriter Margo Cilker releases her sophomore album, Valley of Heart’s Delight, whose title signifies Cilker’s California heritage, where she grew up in the Santa Clara […]

My first encounter with Ash may be similar to many folks. I heard “Girl from Mars” in 1995  and thought, “What a fine-sounding bunch of minstrels these are. I must go away to my local […]

Twenty years following the departure of their original organist in 1999, Kula Shaker released their sixth LP, First Congregational Church of Eternal Love and Free Hugs, which can best be described as their most vital […]

It is not every day you get to review an album by someone who is a musician, author, actor, director, producer and horse breeder. You see… I bet you didn’t know William Shatner was an […]

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 […]

As well as 2023 ending the four-year hiatus since The Strokes headlined All Points East, this festival day saw terrific performances by The Walkmen, Amyl and the Sniffers and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. After taking […]

Five years after his last studio album, Ta-ku returns with his latest full-length release, Songs to Come Home To. Anyone paying attention to Australia’s lo-fi hip-hop scene over the last decade will undoubtedly have noticed […]

The cover photo of Rodeo Clown, the debut long player of Montreal-based country outfit the Nora Kelly Band, alludes in some measure to the theme running through the album. Band leader Nora Kelly explains, “We […]

The last ABBA UK live performance took place on 11th December 1982. The Swedish quartet played ‘Thank You for the Music’ on The Late Breakfast Show hosted by Noel Edmonds almost five years before MTV […]

It’s hard not to be an admirer of Hozier. His songs have an innate ability to penetrate even the most cynical of hearts and strike a chord. Even if you’re not a fan, you’ll recognise […]

San Francisco band Osees released their 27th studio album, Intercepted Message. The Osees, fronted by John Dwyer, describes the release as a “Pop record for tired times”. The band was founded by Dwyer in 1997 […]

Much media coverage has been about large music venues and outside music events being pivotal to boosting the economy. Thankfully, some small music venues, including the 1,410-capacity Koko, received significant investment too. Following £ 70 […]

Leave your television on for an hour, and you will be greeted with a barrage of world issues. Whether it’s climate change, war, extreme weather, the uprising of fascism, pollution, or the existence of ITVBe […]

Swedish gritty garage rock/punk outfit The Hives release their first new album in more than a decade, The Death Of Randy Fitzsimmons, via Fuga. The title refers to the band’s fictional founder, mentor, and songwriter, […]

Who wants some indie bangers? Is anyone here craving a few songs to sing along to at a festival? Perhaps some highly energetic guitar melodies to dance around in your skinny jeans? Alright, look no […]

Nicky Wire, bassist and lyricist for Welsh band Manic Street Preachers, has released a solo album as a follow-up to his 2006 debut, I Killed the Zeitgeist. Intimism is 12 songs released on Bandcamp, produced by […]

I still recall when Dexys Midnight Runners appeared on Tiswas in 1980. The much-loved Sally James asked where the band got their name from. When Kevin Rowland said, “You know what Dexys are?”. James sheepishly […]