Category Archives: Album

Overlooked Classic: Von Sudenfed- Tromatic Reflexxions

Or rather, MES and Mouse On Mars’ gnarly side project. Mark E Smith never liked to be second -guessed, and he had of course worked with Coldcut, so his collab with electronic pioneers Jan St Werner and Andi Toma was another delightful surprise. Smith added his addled poetry to their thick, distorted beats and itContinue reading “Overlooked Classic: Von Sudenfed- Tromatic Reflexxions”

Lost In Music: These New Puritans- Inside The Rose

I was wrong about this album at the time- I only gave it four stars when I reviewed it in The Wee Review. It’s a five star album. It’s a masterpiece, start to finish.George and Jack, I was wrong. From the Reichian percussion of opening track ‘Infinity Vibraphones’ to the languid eroticism of the titleContinue reading “Lost In Music: These New Puritans- Inside The Rose”

Overlooked Classic: Fantomas- The Director’s Cut

Imagine your favourite film scores, chopped up and put into a blender. That’s basically the ethos of the brilliant second Fantomas album The Director’s Cut from 2001. It’s a millennium mashup like no other. Essentially a bonkers supergroup, comprising Faith No More’s Mike Patton, Buzz Osbourne from The Melvins, Slayer’s Dave Lombardo and Trevor DunnContinue reading “Overlooked Classic: Fantomas- The Director’s Cut”

Album Review: Guttersnipe- Extinction Burst!

Who better to reflect the massive divisions in the UK than mighty noise duo Guttersnipe? Scything guitar, knock down drums, screaming synth combine in a hellish void-bound maelstrom. They redefine noise, immolate you in their sound, grip you and squeeze. It’s tantrum music, music that squeals its opposition until it no longer can.’Alive On TuesdayContinue reading “Album Review: Guttersnipe- Extinction Burst!”

Overlooked Classic : Bat For Lashes- Two Suns (2009)

For me, Natasha Khan is a much overlooked singer songwriter. Bat For Lashes- her main musical project – are in that lovely sweet spot between classic songwriter and more experimental musician. I was thinking lately how she never quite gets her dues. It’s possible that she’s too strange for the Dua Lipa crowd, yet tooContinue reading “Overlooked Classic : Bat For Lashes- Two Suns (2009)”

Archive Review: Aldous Harding -Designer

Aldous HardingDesigner New Zealand singer-songwriter’s third album is sublime New Zealand-based Hannah Harding – who records as Aldous Harding – kicks down the doors of perception, like her druggy writer namesake. In her case, though, it’s the limitations of folk music that she skews. This, her third album, finds her on haunting and beautiful form. PJ Harvey memberContinue reading “Archive Review: Aldous Harding -Designer”

Just Step Sideways: Dean Friedman – “Well,Well”, Said the Rocking Chair

Billy Joel , Billy Schmoel. New Jersey legend Dean Friedman is where it’s at, kids. Too funky to be a crooner, too silly to be MOR, he occupied a strange position in the rock music galaxy in the seventies. Some of his music was confessional singer -songwriter, a la Elton John; some was like aContinue reading “Just Step Sideways: Dean Friedman – “Well,Well”, Said the Rocking Chair”

Overlooked Classic : Ben Golomstock- Stories From the Moon

The late composer, DJ and musician Ben Golomstock created an album with some of his friends, and it’s glorious: a melee of Miranda Sex Garden style enchanted rock and the more classical, cinematic side. Having joined Miranda Sex Garden early doors, this album Golomstock co-wrote with his collaboraters can’t help but lean into the gothicContinue reading “Overlooked Classic : Ben Golomstock- Stories From the Moon”

Overlooked Classic: Lisa Germano- Lullaby For Liquid Pig

Multi-instrumentalist Lisa Germano could have been dismissed as another “whisper singer”, but for the fact she can really sing, write and play. She always mines the saddest, most traumatic parts of her soul and turns them into eerie beauty. Dark night of the soul art can often be self-indulgent or mawkish, but Germano deals inContinue reading “Overlooked Classic: Lisa Germano- Lullaby For Liquid Pig”