Events

8th February

  • Paul McCartney - Kisses On The Bottom

    Paul McCartney - Kisses On The Bottom

    by Richard Kavanagh

    The enigma that is Paul McCartney. He is the writer of some of the best pop songs in history, melodist extraordinaire and the go to guy if you need a headliner for a charity festival. He has also not been able to recreate the magic of his earlier compositions in his recent work. It’s not that surprising really; he no longer has to compete with John Lennon and trying to better himself is, to be fair, one big ask. [read more]

  • Phenomenal Handclap Band - Form and Control

    Phenomenal Handclap Band - Form and Control

    by Tom Baker

    Dear Trading Standards, I would like to complain about the false advertising perpetrated by the name of the American indie ensemble <strong>Phenomenal Handclap Band</strong>. Not about the use of the word "phenomenal", as I know this is entirely subjective; my problem is that I was expecting at least some jaunty, fun-time hand-claps somewhere amongst the eleven tracks on their most recent album. And yet there are none. Do I have a case? [read more]

  • Young Guns – Bones

    Young Guns – Bones

    by Daniel Gill

    There still seems to be place free at the top of the pedestal for British alternative rock/punk, it appears that no one ever manages to hold that number one spot down. However this isn't to do with live shows (because it's not often you get a bad show from any British punk rock band), it's more to do with album consistency and following up with a solid second album after an impressive first. [read more]

  • Air - Le Voyage Dans La Lune

    Air - Le Voyage Dans La Lune

    by Tim Brown

    There is no album as close to my heart than Air's 1998 album Moon Safari. It's been my favourite album for as long as I can remember. First introduced to it by a roommate at University, I have found it to be the perfect album for summer, winter; morning, evening; relaxing, partying; Anytime I put it on I am transported away and it cheers me up. [read more]

7th February

  • In Photos: Nicolas Jaar - Roundhouse, London 02/02/12

    In Photos: Nicolas Jaar - Roundhouse, London 02/02/12

    by The 405

    Photographer Eleonora Collini battled against heinous lighting conditions at Camden's Roundhouse to capture the prodigal genius of Nicolas Jaar, with Acid Pauli and Soul Keita supporting [read more]

  • Azari & III - Heaven, London 02/02/12

    Azari & III - Heaven, London 02/02/12

    by Tim Boddy

    In the summer of 2011, I had the fortune of getting the opportunity to see two groundbreaking acts that ultimately (and deservedly) illuminated many Album of the Year lists, in Azari & III and Nicolas Jaar - at Melt! Festival in rural old-East Germany. Though I then had the misfortune of missing both - the reasons somewhere between heinous stage clashes and festival excess shown in my etiolated, confused face. It has somewhat haunted me since. [read more]

  • Icarus - Fake Fish Distribution (X of 1000)

    Icarus - Fake Fish Distribution (X of 1000)

    by The 405 Guest Writer

    What makes FFD a remarkable work is the fact that it is actually being released and distributed in 1000 different variations – therefore the whole work has to be seen as an album of 8000 songs! [read more]

  • Lindstrøm - Six Cups of Rebel

    Lindstrøm - Six Cups of Rebel

    by Tim Boddy

    Fidgety Norwegian Hans-Peter Lindstrøm is flying solo once again after a four year absence, following successful yet hugely differing collaborations with with Prins Thomas and Christabelle. 2008's Where You Go I Go Too featured just the three tracks (with the longest at 29 minutes), and an LP of a continuos undulating nature that was more an instrumental smooth disco-tastic mix than your traditional album. [read more]

6th February

  • Lapalux - When You’re Gone [EP]

    Lapalux - When You’re Gone [EP]

    by Chris Woolfrey

    Lapalux is in demand. Stuart Howard, who files behind the name, already got people listening with 2011’s Many Faces Out of Focus and his new When You’re Gone EP impresses for much the same reasons: it's emotional, it's interesting, and it's dynamic. [read more]

  • Mark Lanegan Band – Blues Funeral

    Mark Lanegan Band – Blues Funeral

    by Daniel Lewis

    It's been seven years since Seattle troubadour Mark Lanegan released Bubblegum and whilst this time has been spent collaborating to great acclaim with the likes of Isobel Campbell, Greg Dulli (The Gutter Twins) and Soulsavers, as well as touching base with erstwhile cohorts Queens of the Stone Age, for devotees of Lanegan's work there’s nothing quite like the dark majesty of his solo output. [read more]

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