Dazzling synths, confusing hooks, Canada, 20-foot houseboats called the “Velvet Glove Cast in Iron” floating down the Mississippi in lieu of just reading the book? Count me in! Claire Boucher is most definitely one quirky character; one just has to listen to a few of her cuts from her latest LP Visions to quickly come…
Chiddy Bang, made up of rapper/MC Chidera ‘Chiddy’ Anamage and studio partner Noah ‘Xaphoon Jones’ Beresin, are a duo from Philadelphia whose sound is a mixture of rap, hip hop and alternative. They’ve had some chart success accompanying You Me At Six on their single ‘Rescue Me’ and their debut album ‘Breakfast’ has been a long time…
The first thing you see when you extricate the booklet from Sleigh Bells’ new album Reign of Terror is a forest fire raging, with some tender saplings waiting in the foreground for their fate. Now imagine this fire as the band themselves and you will have some idea of why the New York noise-rock duo…
Considering The Jezabels debut full-length has been out since September and reached the No. 2 spot in their native Australia, it can probably be assumed they are a lot bigger back home in the land of Oz than the rest of the world. That could very easily be about to change though, as this record…
The Ting Tings return with second album Sounds From Nowheresville and fail to live up to the billing
Is it quite possible that we have already found the epitome of rock records in 2012? A bold statement possibly with plenty of tasty albums due in the summer, but Bones really should not go under the radar. In fact, even the doubters should listen up and take note of a band really going places.…
Michael Stafford, better known by his stage name Marverick Sabre, releases his debut album this month Lonely Are the Brave with pressure to live up to the success of his singles ‘Let Me Go’ and ‘I Need’. However, ultimately, the album feels very monotonous. When listened through in its entirety, although it tries to find a…
It’s been an interesting rise to fame by Scottish power-metallers, Ascension. Honed by continual touring and recording (most notably a UK tour with Axenstar at the end of 2011), the band retreated to Sonic Train Studios in Sweden with Grammy-nominated producer Andy La Rocque to record their debut full-length album, Far Beyond the Stars; out…
For the uninitiated, the inimitable Burial is something of a hallowed name in certain circles. His first two albums Burial and Untrue, released on Hyperdub in 2006 and 2007, marked him out as the forefather of a new sound. Combining elements of garage, R&B and dub and imbuing them with his own melancholic ambience, he…
The band’s third album has a few streaks of excellence, but generally remain a middle of the road rock group for the masses.
Chimes of Freedom was brought out to celebrate 50 years of Amnesty International and is made up of seventy-six Bob Dylan covers. Proceeds made from sales of the album are going towards the charity. A diverse range of artists contributed to the album, from pop-queen Kesha, to 92 year-old folk singer Pete Seeger. Even to…
After supporting Will Young on his UK tour in November, Jodie Marie’s anticipated debut Mountain Echo is finally finished. The album will be released on March 5th, and it’s definitely one to go out and buy. Her story is like something out of The X Factor. A young teenage girl with a dream, living in…
Alexander Green takes on the impossible: reviewing Lana Del Rey’s debut album with a clear head. Check out his review of the most audience-splitting album of the year so far here.
Every band has trouble with their second release. Maybe with only underground fame, do they give their fans more of a proven formula, or do they push the boat out a bit further and craft a more diverse, considered album? Leeds rockers Pulled Apart By Horses are set to release their sophomore record Tough Love…