Sort Out What You Need To Sort Out: Kiley Lotz And Petal's 'Shame'

​ In the spring of ‘84, the Blue Nile put out a palatial synth-pop song that hung on an aching sentiment: “I will understand you.” Stay is the sort of number that doesn’t get released as a single anymore. It’s sad and makes no apologies for the fact, but that’s what Kiley Lotz likes about the band’s music. It doesn’t require much of a stretch to see her chalking up tour miles while getting lost in the spaces between its notes.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Wednesday, 10 February 2016

Loud Noises: The Dirty Nil Find Their Voice On 'Higher Power'

td#right {display:none !important;} As a concept, rock ‘n’ roll should be increasingly viewed with scepticism. These days, it’s as likely to be the fallback response of a pallid indie boy or guitar music truther, incensed at the preponderance of electronic music in the charts, as it is a life-affirming shot of adrenaline. But every now and again a band makes a case for the old way.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Monday, 01 February 2016

Tipped For The Top: Introducing Izzy Bizu

Escaping the predictable, mundane January gloom, Izzy Bizu spent the first weekend of 2016 sinking scotch at London jazz club Ronnie Scott’s.

Written by: Milly McMahon | Date: Monday, 25 January 2016

Family Affair: Acoustic Wandering With The Barnett Brothers

As merch tables go, it's not exactly weighed down. There's a box containing CD copies of Bobby's solo record, 'Little Wounds', and a few stickers. Pinned to the backboard, though, is a single shirt design. Printed white on black is a large fish - a striper - and the words 'Barnetts Boatyard'.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Friday, 22 January 2016

Arctic Monkeys: Many Happy Returns To Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

When Arctic Monkeys released ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not’ a decade ago this month, they had already amassed a considerable following. But what happened next was staggering. Their debut album went on to win the Mercury Prize and rapidly became the fastest-selling debut in UK history. Two Glastonbury headline slots, countless awards and a notable sphere of indie influence would follow.

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Friday, 22 January 2016

Sikth: Done Waiting For Something Wild

Reunions can be shit. Really, really, really shit. At The Drive-In’s 2012 comeback sucked. Limp Bizkit returned in great form before showing us their ‘Gold Cobra’ and subsequently realising we didn’t want to see any of that. They now think it’s acceptable to pack 20 minutes of covers into an hour-long set. It’s probably best if you forget those last two Fall Out Boy albums, too.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Tuesday, 05 January 2016

Stereoboard's Staff Picks 2015

We know what you’re thinking: “Let’s see some more lists. There just haven’t been enough end of year lists floating around. It’s like a desert out there.”

Written by: Stereoboard | Date: Tuesday, 22 December 2015

Stereoboard Albums Of The Year: Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly

td#right {display:none !important;} When it comes to album of the year, ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’ is a no-brainer. The appeal of Kendrick Lamar’s third full LP is that it becomes a more insightful and eye-opening experience with every listen. You know a record is good when the process of internalising it is as good as simply feeling it.

Written by: Jonathan Rimmer | Date: Friday, 18 December 2015

Stereoboard Albums Of The Year: The Neal Morse Band - The Grand Experiment

td#right {display:none !important;} Photo: John Zocco Nothing inspires fear quite like having to compile an end of year list, except maybe choosing my numero uno album. Critiquing individual records is one thing, but whittling down my favourites, which run a gamut of styles and deliver a divergent selection of sonic pleasures, fries my brain.  After much soul searching, some night sweats and hours curled up in the foetal position, here's how I ended up choosing The Neal Morse Band's 'The Grand Experiment' as my favourite record of 2015.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Thursday, 17 December 2015

Stereoboard Albums Of The Year: Grimes - Art Angels

td#right {display:none !important;} My grandfather was a carpenter and ceramist. My house is dotted with dishes, boxes and kitchen utensils that he made. Shoulder to the wheel, I managed a D in year 9 woodwork. There are gaps in our knowledge and practical abilities that we seek to fill and others that we simply can’t. This is one of the latter. “You can do anything if you set your mind to it,” the inspirational posters scream, but not this time. Do not, under any circumstances, ask me to build you a coffee table.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Thursday, 17 December 2015

Stereoboard Albums Of The Year: Clutch - Psychic Warfare

td#right {display:none !important;} Download Festival 2015: sun, rain, blood, sweat, beers. Clutch are rocking the tits off the main stage and they suddenly drop a new song, tentatively titled X-Ray Visions. It’s so good, a guy in the crowd does a backflip. But these are the expectations we have for any new Clutch album: backflip-inducing rock ‘n’ roll goodness.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Wednesday, 16 December 2015

Stereoboard Albums Of The Year: Ezra Furman - 'Perpetual Motion People'

td#right {display:none !important;} ‘Perpetual Motion People’ had already been cemented as my favourite album of 2015 by the time Ezra Furman turned in the live performance of the year at his Bristol show back in November. On record, he unnerved me with his cynical candour and at the same time reassured me with an optimistic outlook. When playing live he was just as contradictory. Strutting across the boards of the O2 Academy he emanated an awkward confidence, confessing to the crowd that the band consider the stage their playground. If they wanted to play, it would be by their rules.

Written by: Laura Johnson | Date: Wednesday, 16 December 2015

Noise Not Music: End of Year Round Up 2015

It’s December 2015 and it’s time to sum up what’s been a fantastic year in the (slightly bizarre but hopefully always entertaining) world of sonic extremes covered by Noise Not Music. Before that, however, there are yet more new releases to look over…

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Wednesday, 16 December 2015

Stereoboard's Albums Of 2015: Part Three

td#right {display:none !important;} It’s the most wonderful time of the year...list time. It might seem like a lot to take in, but here are some solid gold picks from 12 months of reviews at Stereoboard. They’re not in any order, so think of this as a digital vinyl bin. Happy discovering/reminiscing/listening. Make a note to check out parts one and two and stay tuned later this week as we go full Rob Gordon for our shiny top five albums of 2015 features.

Written by: Stereoboard | Date: Tuesday, 15 December 2015

Stereoboard's Albums Of 2015: Part Two

td#right {display:none !important;} It’s the most wonderful time of the year...list time. It might seem like a lot to take in, but here are some solid gold picks from 12 months of reviews at Stereoboard. They’re not in any order, so think of this as a digital vinyl bin. Happy discovering/reminiscing/listening. Make sure to also check out parts one and three and stay tuned later this week as we go full Rob Gordon for our shiny top five albums of 2015 features.

Written by: Stereoboard | Date: Tuesday, 15 December 2015

Stereoboard's Albums Of 2015: Part One

td#right {display:none !important;} It’s the most wonderful time of the year...list time. It might seem like a lot to take in, but here are some solid gold picks from 12 months of reviews at Stereoboard. They’re not in any order, so think of this as a digital vinyl bin. Happy discovering/reminiscing/listening. When you're done here, dive in to parts two and three and keep your eyes peeled later this week as we go full Rob Gordon for our shiny top five albums of 2015 features.

Written by: Stereoboard | Date: Tuesday, 15 December 2015

Playful Perfectionism: Vennart On 'The Demon Joke' And Life After Oceansize

One of the abiding clichés in contemporary music is the the ageing ‘dinosaur’. You can picture them now: the middle-aged vocalist of a progressive rock band who takes a decidedly more mainstream pop route for their solo career. Phil Collins is the most obvious example, but Rush’s Geddy Lee and Yes’ Jon Anderson have also occupied shallower waters when going it alone.

Written by: Jonathan Rimmer | Date: Monday, 14 December 2015

PREMIERE: HMS Morris Get Festive With This Mistletoe Is Mine

HMS Morris via Twitter: “2 days to go until we smash you with Christmas like it or not.”

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Friday, 04 December 2015

PREMIERE: Watch The Video For Up River’s Youth/Apathy

Brighton post-hardcore quartet Up River have spliced together two songs, Youth and Apathy, from their debut album, ‘Undertow’, for a new tour video and we’ve got the premiere right here.

Written by: Jennifer Geddes | Date: Monday, 30 November 2015

Alternate History: Bruce Springsteen, 'The Ties That Bind' And 'The River'

We love a myth, just as we adore an underdog hero. Bruce Springsteen has created his share of the former and been the latter to a lot of people. In 1979 - call it a Sliding Doors moment, or Jeff Winger throwing a die - his timeline split. On one side, the Boss returned a year later and scattered recession-hit laments, ruminations on ageing and free-spirited rock ‘n’ roll throughout a sprawling double album, ‘The River’. On the other he stuck to the original plan and the follow up to ‘Darkness on the Edge of Town’ was a clipped 10 song set called ‘The Ties That Bind’.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Friday, 27 November 2015