Album Review: Kae Tempest – Self Titled
As a poet, rapper, storyteller, and songwriter, it’s quite plain to hear Kae Tempest speak his truth on…
Album Review: Self Esteem – A Complicated Woman
How could Rebecca Lucy Taylor, aka Self Esteem, possibly follow up on the sheer barnstorming odyssey of pop honesty of 2021’s Prioritise Pleasure?
The answer is with abundant ease upon the release of her third album, A Complicated Woman, on Polydor Records that summons the themes and styles that pushed the Self Esteem cream to the top - a blend of spoken word mantras, and alt-dance pop.
Album Review: Divorce – Drive to Goldenhammer
With a name like Divorce and a debut album title like Drive to Goldenhammer, you would be forgiven…
Album Review: Lambrini Girls – Who Let The Dogs Out
There was a club night in Brighton I used to frequent at The Gloucester (now the North Laine Brewhouse). It was a Tuesday night indie/punk/ alternative night. The walls were stained yellow with cigarette smoke, your converse would stick to the floors, a pint was £3.10 and the cloakroom was free. What a time to be alive.
Review: Public Service Broadcasting – The Last Flight
Public Service Broadcasting, with the ultimate corduroy laden supplier teacher pastiche are back for another excellent lesson. Their 5th album, The Last Flight recounts the story of pioneering female “aviatrix” Amelia Earhart. Earhart was the highest solo flying woman at 25, and the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans before disappearing somewhere over the Central Pacific in 1937 attempting to circumnavigate the globe.
Review: Los Bitchos – Talkie Talkie
Running in hot with their second album, Talkie Talkie on City Slang Records, Los Bitchos sprinkle their joyful global sounds that…
Review: La Luz – News of the Universe
In an overwhelming moment in history, there is a lot to be said for bands that can perfectly encapsulate not so much direct social commentary, but sonically, embellish both the bedlam and the bliss in one go. Step forward La Luz and their 5th album, News of the Universe; their first offering on Sub Pop records.
Review: The Lemon Twigs – A Dream Is All We Know
A very quick follow up to last year’s ‘Everything Harmony’, The Lemon Twigs return with yet more perfectly pleasant do-wop pop rock harmonies on ‘A Dream Is All We Know’ on Captured Track Records.
Review: Porij – Teething
The indie dance sound, once a well worn crumpled leather jacket on top of a pile of stranger’s coats on a dance floor of a club that’s probably become a Co-op, now makes a striking and very fashionable return with the release of Porij’s debut album 'Teething' on Play it Again Sam Records.
Review: Chalk – Conditions II
Having only recently come across the Belfast trio, I had not even had a chance to stumble into their 2023 EP, Conditions to build any opinions off. This follow up EP opens with a quasi industrial-electro-punk number. The Gate is, for me, an odd opener if you’re trying to listen to Chalk for the first time. It’s full of high adrenaline, static and deep and pained vocals from vocalist Ross Cullen all of which has you on the fence trying to dance off a panic attack.