Pulled Apart by Horses - Tough Love (Album Review)

Truly in the spirit of raw and ballsy rock ‘n’ roll, Yorkshire’s finest new guitar band have returned within a mere 13 months of releasing their mouthwatering debut to deliver a “difficult second album” that makes a piss take out of the phrase.

Written by: Owen Sheppard | Date: Thursday, 02 February 2012

The Twilight Sad - No One Can Ever Know (Album Review)

The title of this, the third The Twilight Sad record, in many ways sums it up better than any reviewer could possibly hope to. With the introduction of new facets to their distinctive personality, The Twilight Sad have created something with hidden depths and sometimes curtained brilliance. Like their previous efforts, this is an album founded on the basic principle of tearing apart the listener’s heartstrings. It does so just as potently as their previous work, albeit there is a noticeably different musical template at work here. Any suspicions that The Twilight Sad were a one-trick pony should be put to bed by this release.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 02 February 2012

Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind) The Crafty Ape (Album Review)

At some point more people in the UK are surely going to notice that Crippled Black Phoenix is one of the most talented musical collectives in the country. Although their first record, “A Love of Shared Disasters”, was perhaps a slow start to their discography, the sheer scale of follow-up “The Resurrectionists / Night Raider” and the groovy underbelly of third effort “I, Vigilante” should really have gained them a lot more attention by now. As things stand, however, “(Mankind) the Crafty Ape” arrives unheralded by the vast majority of the music world.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Wednesday, 01 February 2012

Eyvind Kang - The Narrow Garden (Album Review)

It is clear that Eyvind Kang, violinist for hire to the likes of Mike Patton in recent years, is an enormously talented musician, a composer and performer of great skill, yet it is perhaps not so clear that he can consistently produce brilliant full-length records. “The Narrow Garden” falls foul of that description in a fashion. This is as an album that manages to be both intriguing and enjoyable but never quite the sum of its parts.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Wednesday, 01 February 2012

John K Samson - Provincial (Album Review)

An undeniably talented wordsmith, “Provincial” is John K. Samson’s first solo record for nineteen years. After his departure from Propaghandi in 1997, he went on to act as frontman for The Weakerthans, but it is five years since their last studio album. As such it seems a little puzzling to see Samson return in this fashion at this time. For, while “Provincial” is a good record, it is hard to see what exactly makes it unsuitable for being The Weakerthans’ comeback record.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Friday, 27 January 2012

Rodrigo y Gabriela & C.U.B.A. - Area 52 (Album Review)

From busking in Dublin to headlining Glastonbury’s West Holts Stage, two guitars were all Rodrigo y Gabriela needed to wow the crowds. But now in a bold new move the virtuoso acoustic duo have got together with the 13 piece Cuban Orchestra C.U.B.A. for their latest album, Area 52.

Written by: Tim Cox | Date: Tuesday, 24 January 2012

Lionsex - Get It (Album Review)

Never judge a book by its cover! or at least, a band by its effigy where Milton Keynes glam-rock outfit, Lionsex is concerned. With an image easily passable of an 80’s styled Motley Crue, you’d be forgiven for stereotyping image with sound and thinking they were about as sleazy as The Treatment and as cartoonish as Steel Panther... but you’d be wrong.

Written by: Gemma Johnson | Date: Monday, 23 January 2012

Mike Marlin - Man On The Ground (Album Review)

'Man on the Ground' is the second album from British singer-songwriter Mike Marlin, who has been hailed by HMV as the next big thing. His first release took him 50 years to get out there, but 'Man on the Ground' was recorded as it was written and is due out in February, less than a year after his debut. So is this another album formulated of ideas from the inner-workings of a mature songwriter or just a speedy second release?

Written by: Steven James | Date: Friday, 20 January 2012

Therapy? - Living In The Shadow Of The Terrible Thing (Single Review)

Despite the belief of some that Therapy?’s career began and ended with 1994’s Mercury nominated ‘Troublegum’, Therapy? are now entering their 23rd year in the business with the Irish trio due to release a thirteenth album on 6th February 2012. Their first release on new label Blast Records, ‘A Brief Crack Of Light’, is described as ‘a dark, unsettling compendium of 21st century schizoid noise’. The lead single from the album ‘Living In The Shadow Of The Terrible Thing’ will precede the album, released on 23rd January 2012 and it’s really quite good.

Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Friday, 20 January 2012

Cher Lloyd feat. Astro - Want U Back (Single Review)

Since appearing on X Factor in 2010, we’ve always known Cher Lloyd liked to break the conventions – she was one of, if not, the first contestants to rap mid-song – now it seems she’s breaking the conventions of spelling, with her latest track ‘Want U Back’.

Written by: Melisa Greenfield | Date: Thursday, 19 January 2012

Patricia Hammond - Our Lovely Day (Album Review)

If you're under the age of 30... let's say 70, it is more than likely that an album of “nice”, occasionally jazz-inflected songs with titles like 'A Nice Cup of Tea' and 'We'll Gather Lilacs' will probably not be up your street. I get that. If you already have the impression that an album called Our Lovely Day will serve better as a birthday present for your Granny, I get that too. Arctic Monkeys this aint.

Written by: Jonny Rimmer | Date: Wednesday, 18 January 2012

The Maccabees - Given To The Wild (Album Review)

The Maccabees’ track history of album releases is a pretty impressive one. 2007’s ‘Colour It In’ was the word-of-mouth success story of that year whilst “difficult” second album ‘Wall Of Arms’ proved not to be so difficult, catapulting The Maccabees to further deserved success in 2009 with a fantastic follow up. Jump forward to 2012 and the band are back with their long awaited third album, ‘Given To The Wild’. A lot of bands have a habit of declining in quality as their career progresses, but can The Maccabees do the exact opposite and improve with time?

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Tuesday, 17 January 2012

Little Roy - Lithium (Single Review)

Lithium is the latest Nirvana song to be taken from the album Battle for Seattle, Little Roy's 10 track reggae tribute to grunge legends, Nirvana. I'm not sure what Kurt Cobain would think about reggae covers of his songs, or indeed anybody making records made up entirely of his music, but as far as being a tribute to a legend, this could have been a hell of a lot worse.

Written by: Steven James | Date: Monday, 16 January 2012

Rough Trade Shops - Electronic 11 (Compilation Review)

Made up of 22 tracks picked out by the staff of the London Rough Trade shops; Electronic 11 is a compilation of minimal electro creations for you to graze your ears upon as you stumble and groan over another unwelcome new year.

Written by: Tim Cox | Date: Friday, 13 January 2012

Anja McCloskey - A Kiss (Single Review)

Last time we saw Anja, she was spookily tracking a vampirish couple through heavy woodland for single ‘And Her Head’. Her new release ‘A Kiss’ featuring David Miatt from Thomas Tantrum, has already gained praise from Q Magazine, winning the ‘Track of the Day’ spot earlier this month.

Written by: V O'Hagan | Date: Wednesday, 11 January 2012

JuiceheaD - How To Sail A Sinking Ship (Album Review)

Chicago has spawned a vast array of successful punk bands over the years and it seems JuiceheaD’s sophomore effort ‘How To Sail A Sinking Ship’ will solidify their addition to this list. Released on Misfits Records, the albums follows up 2007’s ‘The Devil Made Me Do It’ with a similar formula, but a greater metaphorical attack on the senses.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Wednesday, 11 January 2012

White Denim - Last Day of Summer (Album Review)

Following last year’s acclaimed D, White Denim return as they release in proper Last Day of Summer, a collection of songs written since the band’s formation in 2006 and recorded over one frantic month. Previously put out as a free download on the band’s website in September 2010 following label problems, the album drew me back time and again and is well worth that hard earned tenner. “It represented a final opportunity to make a record in our own space on our own terms.” said singer James Petralli’s. “We were fully aware that because of typical recording industry practices, this record would have little to no chance of receiving a typical release. With that truth in our minds, we resolved ourselves to completing Last Day of Summer in one month. After the completion of the record we all planned to go out and get day jobs, the band once again becoming a weekend project.”

Written by: Tom Bevan | Date: Monday, 09 January 2012

Tall Ships - Hit The Floor (Single Review)

Brighton based trio Tall Ships have gone from strength to strength since the release of their EP ‘There Is Nothing But Chemistry Here’ last year and in Hit the Floor they have produced yet another energetic bundle of experimental indie brilliance.

Written by: Ryan Crittenden | Date: Tuesday, 03 January 2012

Skrillex - Bangarang (EP Review)

Skrillex is actually a man called Sonny Moore who used to be the lead singer and guitarist in an emo band called From First To Last (They were actually quite good!). The band disappeared into obscurity after the release of their second LP and I thought that would be the last anyone would hear of any of them. This was back in 2004.

Written by: Marcus Colley | Date: Tuesday, 03 January 2012

Various Artists - Punk Goes Pop 4 (Album Review)

'Punk Goes Pop 4' is the twelfth release in Fearless Records' ongoing Punk Goes... series. After covering metal, classic rock and even rap Pop Goes Punk 4 once again returns to pop music and brings together several newer pop-punk/screamo/metalcore bands and has them covering tracks from the charts.

Written by: Steven James | Date: Friday, 23 December 2011