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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.
Album Review: Big Special – O’Joy!
For a collection of songs originally left off BIG SPECIAL’s first two records, O’JOY! never feels like a collection of leftovers. Instead, it acts as a companion piece in the truest sense: a chance to spend a little more time inside the world that vocalist Joe Hicklin and drummer Callum Moloney have spent the last few years building.
Album Review: Bleachers – everyone for ten minutes
Bleachers have always had a gift for making nostalgia feel cinematic, and on ‘everyone for ten minutes’, Jack Antonoff leans into that strength beautifully. The band’s fifth studio album feels hopeful, romantic and reflective all at once - a collection of songs that don’t rush to demand attention, but instead slowly pull you into their world layer by layer.
Album Review: Skindred – You Got This
Whether you found them from a 2002 TikTok dance trend, or have became a fan of the band over the last 27 years, the big question is, does Skindred still got this?
Album Review: Holly Humberstone – Cruel World
The ever evolving wonder that is Holly Humberstone is set to release her sophomore studio album titled Cruel World. The release arrives at the perfect moment for Holly. After several breakout years, she is finally able to gather her experiences and emotions into a well rounded and sharply observed body of work.
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: Gorillaz – The Mountain
Gorillaz, as a concept, has never been short of anything but ‘outside of the box,' and this latest of their nine albums is perhaps their most ambitious yet. It takes the listener into a realm previously untouched by Damon Albarn, who founded the ‘virtual band’ in 1998 to explore musical avenues outside of the Britpop scene that Blur left him in.
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.
Album Review: Demob Happy – The Grown-Ups Are Talking
The Geordie’s are back at it again, with Demob Happy’s latest album The Grown Ups Are Talking. The album features the trademark ferocity that we expect from the trio, but is far more introspective and personal compared to their previous records. Matthew Marcantonio, Adam Godfrey, and Thomas Armstrong are at the top of their game in The Grown Ups Are Talking, and the album is another brilliant addition to their strong catalogue.
Album Review: Crystal Tides – Toothpaste
As someone born and raised in Portsmouth, there’s a genuine sense of pride in watching Crystal Tides develop over the past few years, not only musically, but as individuals too. That growth is woven throughout Toothpaste, an album that feels like the culmination of countless local shows, steady refinement, and a band finally stepping fully into their own without losing their hometown pride.