Album Review: Tony Iommi – From the Dark
What is there to say about the absolute legend that is Tony Iommi? He and the Black Sabbath boys invented heavy metal in the late 60s. His guitar playing has astounded and influenced a world of musicians for over 50 years and the man has genuine and unarguable hero status. A little over a year has passed since Sabbath’s final Villa Park gig and the sad passing of Ozzy and now Tony has released his first solo record in almost 20 years.
Album Review: Michael Kiwanuka – Fudge
The announcement of Michael Kiwanuka’s fifth album ‘Fudge’ also came with the sad news that he had suffered a stroke in July of last year. I personally just want to start with wishing Michael all the best with his recovery in what must have been, and continue to be, a very difficult time. I’ve been a huge fan of Michael’s ever since he played ‘Tell me a tale’ from his first album ‘Home again’ on Jool’s Holland in 2011. Since then he released the exceptional ‘Love and Hate’, the Mercury prize winning ‘Kiwanuka’ and, his excellent fourth album, ‘Small Changes’. All of these records are outstanding and the touring performance of ‘Love and Hate’ that I saw at the Brighton Dome was mindblowing.
Album Review: Ezra Collective – Here Because of Hope
With ‘Here because of hope,’ the London boys have created something with a message, profound depth and musical passion that, in my opinion, at least equals anything that they’ve done before.
The Levellers – Hove Park, Brighton
Brighton’s very own Levellers returned to where they started in 1988 and played to a delighted crowd to celebrate their beautiful record, the now 35-year-old ‘Levelling the Land’.
Daytime TV – Showcase at Third Man Records
If you thought that Daytime TV were a super group comprising of Alison Hammond, Bradley Walsh and two of the frequently reoccurring auctioneers from ‘Homes Under the Hammer’ then I’m afraid to say that you are sadly mistaken. They are in fact a very talented band of lovely people who I had a quick chat with and listen to at Jack White’s very own Third Man Records Store in Soho. What the actual icky-thump? I hear you say. Yes, a very cushy day at the office was had by me and long may that continue.
Fatboy Slim – On The Beach, Brighton
What I, and every other single person around me actually experienced, was pure, unfiltered musical majesty that unified the thousands and thousands of people into a single, bouncing, joyous, smiling, hugging, grinning thing of collective beauty.
Album Review: Life – Abstract/Natural
About two weeks ago I had not heard of Life until a musically wandering friend of mine picked them out as one of his favourite gigs of the recent and most excellent Great Escape Festival (cheeky Wyld Stallyns reference for the fans). Shortly following that, this absolute beauty of an album dropped into my inbox a week later. So, if like me, you know little about them but are openly Life-curious then let me offer you some nest feathering facts to get you up to speed.
The Cribs – Concorde2, Brighton
Jake also recommended that they sounded better live, so, after a few enjoyable listens, I happily trotted down to the Concorde 2 on a blustery Friday night in Brighton to find out.
Album Review: DEADLETTER – Existence is Bliss
I started this year genuinely excited about three albums due to arrive on our collective musical horizons: ‘Of the Earth’ by Shabaka Hutchings, ‘Honora’ by Flea and ‘Existence is Bliss’ by DEADLETTER.
Album Review: Mumford & Sons – Prizefighter
What instantly stands ‘Prizefighter’ out is that it’s a record jam-packed with collaborations from some A-list artists (Chris Stapleton, Gracie Abrams, Hozier and Gigi Perez) who all add their own voice and make it varied enough to be worth a listen.