Reviews

Events

Birthmark - Antibodies

by Ayesha Linton-Whittle

Side projects are often short-lived. Their existence is a mere attempt at creating music away from their regular band either for inspiration or to prove they can do it alone. Although not quite having surpassed his band Joan Of Arc's 16-album discography, 3 albums into his solo career, Nate Kinsella's Birthmark is still going strong, releasing the vehement Antibodies. [read more]

Sons of Noel and Adrian - Knots

by Chris Woolfrey

If Knots was an album of classical music it might be called 'Variations'. Sons of Noel and Adrian has, with this new LP, produced something which augments a central idea; emotionally and structurally the songs offer the same feeling successively and the album doesn't 'progress' so much as offer several perspectives on a theme. [read more]

Pariso - Nothing Beyond Everything After

by Emma Garland

If you've been on the internet recently, you may have spotted '#UKSWELL' plastered over just about every social networking site. Not unlike the tongue-in-cheek way in which 'The Wave' is used in reference to the likes of Touché Amoré, La Dispute, Defeater etc, '#UKSWELL' essentially signifies a coalescence and mutual appreciation between a cluster of bands on the same wavelength - most of which are affiliated with Tangled Talk and/or Holy Roar. [read more]

My Bloody Valentine - Reissues

by Richard Kavanagh

After many years of talking about it, Kevin Shields finally came up with the goods. Isn't Anything, My Bloody Valentine's debut album and (most importantly) Loveless, their Magnum Opus have been remastered by the shoegaze genius that created them in the first place. As well as the albums, Shields has turned his eye to the EPs that span 1988-1991. [read more]

Denison Witmer - The Ones Who Wait

by Barnabas Abraham

A collection of songs about loss and love, brought together with warmth and passion from a very delicate place, The Ones Who Wait is a rewarding listen full of charm. Stripped back compared to Denison Witmer's earlier work, often the arrangements are rich without every feeling crammed with too much orchestration or unnecessary background filler. [read more]

Actress - R.I.P.

by Tom Baker

Dance music, and all consequent sub-genres thereof, is primarily an extroverted style of music. It's about impressing people enough to get them to, well, dance. What's interesting is that the few true geniuses working in electronic music - from Kraftwerk to Daft Punk to Burial - are complete introverts, going so far as to hide their true identities from the public. [read more]

Zammuto - Zammuto

by Ryan Stanley

One of the reasons The Books were such a great group was that they created music that was wildly unique and experimental, yet still immediate, fun, and, for the most part, accessible. And while it may be a bit unfair to immediately compare Nick Zammuto’s new self-titled project, Zammuto, to his old band, it’s worth noting that he brings that same talent for creating simultaneously interesting and exciting music to this new album, also titled Zammuto. [read more]

Lone - Galaxy Garden

by Hugh O'Boyle

I recently read an article in a newspaper about nostalgia. The column played around with the different concepts of the theme, and looked at whether humans still have the capability of revisiting fondly cherished moments and taking pleasure from past memories. Of course, this conjured up the question in my own head; musically, are we still capable of capturing such distinct events and taking solace from them? [read more]
Death Grips - The Money Store

by David Zammitt

Death Grips flatly describe The Money Store's cover art as, "an androgynous masochist on the leash of a feminist sadist who's smoking." On the meaning of the barren, colourless sketch, they go a little deeper: "We consider ourselves feminists, we fiercely support homosexuality, transparent world leadership, and the idea of embracing yourself as an individual in any shape or form." It's an image full of dichotomies and it sets the context for an album with an all-embracing mutant manifesto. [read more]

Kwes – Meantime   [EP]

by Toby McCarron

You can't exactly describe music man Kwes as lazy. With a new EP out on legendary electronic label Warp, Meantime comes off the back of extensive experience working with some of British music's biggest and brightest. Producing Speech Debelle's second record ' Freedom Of Speech', a joint project with oddballs Micachu & the shapes imaginatively titled 'Kwesachu' and even a stint producing for last year's DRC music project alongside Damon Albarn... [read more]

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Blood Orange - 'I'm Sorry We Lied'

Blood Orange (aka Dev Hynes) has released the video to fan favourite 'I'm Sorry We Lied'
Teen Daze - 'Treten'

Teen Daze has unleashed an aquatic themed video for 'Treten'
The Stone Roses play first show in 16 years [Watch]

Watch a clip of 'Made of Stone' from their first show in 16 years.
Lianne La Havas - 'Is Your Love Big Enough?'

Lianne La Havas has released a video for 'Is Your Love Big Enough?'