Harriette Pilbeam is the singer- songwriter behind Hatchie. This new release is effervescent dream pop, confident sounding, featherlight but with a little bittersweetness. ‘Lights On’ and ‘The Key’ have Cocteau Twins in the shimmering, chiming sound, while 80s and 90s jukebox favourites like Depeche Mode, New Order and St Etienne loom large, in the bigContinue reading “Album Review: Hatchie- Giving The World Away”
Category Archives: 2022
What has happened to theatre criticism?
What has happened to theatre criticism? It has been onn a downward spiral for years, anyway. It used to have its own special place in the newspapers, and the critic had the power to destroy (or to ensure a blockbuster success), but that probably only ever happened on Broadway or in the West End. Isn’tContinue reading “What has happened to theatre criticism?“
Dance Film Review: Rambert 2- Block Party
Canadian choreographer Megan Lawson has worked with Adele, Madonna and Katy Perry amongst others. Her new short film created in collaboration with the young dancers from Rambert Dance Company, Rambert 2, is called Block Party. It’s an eye-popping, vibrant and surreal film, with the colourfully attired ensemble rippling as one like a snake and topplingContinue reading “Dance Film Review: Rambert 2- Block Party”
EP Review: Eydis Evensen- Frost
Inspired by the unique landscape of her homeland, Icelandic composer/ musician Eydis Evensen has created effortless beauty here with new EP Frost . Minimalist but effective, her elliptical piano playing spirals around strings, creating an eerie soundtrack to the famous mountains, geysers and hills. Tracks like the swooning Svartnaetti and Dawn Is Near have anContinue reading “EP Review: Eydis Evensen- Frost”
Album Review: Erasers- Constant Connection
There’s definitely a trend at the moment for indie bands to emulate post-punk bands. I can hear traces of The Raincoats, Wire and Fatal Microbes in current popular bands like Dry Cleaning, Yard Act and Life. So it goes with the incredibly minimalist Erasers. The duo from Perth in Australia, comprised of Rebecca Orchard andContinue reading “Album Review: Erasers- Constant Connection”
Album Review: Horace Andy-Midnight Rocker
Adrian Sherwood is a legendary producer, and Horace Andy a legendary reggae singer, so it makes sense for them to team up again. But don’t call it a comeback, he’s never really been away. The shivery sweet vibrato is pushed to the fore here, with reworkings and new tracks alike. Opener This Must Be HellContinue reading “Album Review: Horace Andy-Midnight Rocker”
EP Review: Jackson Hill- Rabbit Feather
What a strange and beguiling debut from the Raleigh- based ambient musician and producer. Rabbit Feather weaves in and out of speakers. Its trippy strangeness is both unsettling and comforting. There’s a lullaby like fragility to Figment and Whatever Helps You Sleep At Night makes you feel encased in some kind of space PID, untilContinue reading “EP Review: Jackson Hill- Rabbit Feather”
Preview: Oceanallover – The Self Assembled, Drygate
Oceanallover are a brilliant, eccentric and visceral company who fuse performance art, dance, songs and pagan poetry. They’re an endlessly shapeshifting unit formed by Alex Rigg, not quite of this earth, yet rooted in nature. Now they’re taking their unique retrospective to Drygate on April 1st. In their own words … ” The first majorContinue reading “Preview: Oceanallover – The Self Assembled, Drygate”
Lost In Music: Otoboke Beaver-Pardon?
Obfuscation helps no-one. As we appear to be mired in a world of confusion, what could be more apposite than Otoboke Beaver and their brand new single Pardon? The mighty Japanese quartet are back, and this is the first single to be lifted from the forthcoming album Super Champon. A worldwide tour starts in theContinue reading “Lost In Music: Otoboke Beaver-Pardon?”
Album Review: Hinako Omori- A Journey…
Inspired by the practice of forest bathing, Japanese artist Hinako Omori’s new album breathes like new buds bursting into life. Created using scientific binaural sounds and more organic processes of field recordings, the album pulses with transcendental shimmering beauty. Tracks like Levitation see Omori’s modular synth patterns resemble chirruping birds, while her voice soars onContinue reading “Album Review: Hinako Omori- A Journey…”
Hit The North 