The new album from Mexican duo Mint Field , is evocative of 4AD big hitters like Cocteau Twins and His Name Is Alive, but with their own unique spin on the template. It’s gauzy, dreamlike and a little disconcerting, as the best Dream pop always is. Estrella del Sol’s vocals caress, while remaining unsettling. SheContinue reading “Album Review: Mint Field-Aprender a Ser”
Category Archives: Album
Overlooked Classics: Deerhoof- The Magic
You never know what you’ll be served by the mighty Deerhoof – will it be the melancholic strangeness of Milk Man, or the effervescent avant pop of Vs Evil? With The Magic, it’s both, and more. It’s widescreen Deerhoof, but still with that experimental side. It’s Deerhoof at angles, which is to be expected. ThisContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: Deerhoof- The Magic”
Album Review: Women In Revolt!Underground Rebellion in British Music 1977-1985
This brilliant compilation album, released to accompany the Tate Britain exhibition Women In Revolt! has a couple of bona fide UK punk classics in The Slits’ Typical Girls and X Ray Spex’ Identity, but there are also some gems from more obscure artists like Ludus , Poison Girls, Mo-dettes and The Gymslips, all of whomContinue reading “Album Review: Women In Revolt!Underground Rebellion in British Music 1977-1985”
Corinne Bailey Rae’s Musical Reinvention
Nobody saw this coming. The fourth album, Black Rainbows by Corinne Bailey Rae, is a fusion of furious riot grrrl inspired fury, Afrojazz and deep soul, a huge U turn from the singer-songwriter who once made nice, inoffensive Radio 2 jazz pop like Put Your Records On and Like A Star. . Erasure is furious,Continue reading “Corinne Bailey Rae’s Musical Reinvention”
Lost In Music: Siouxsie and the Banshees- Juju
I don’t think I’ve really written much about classic Siouxsie and the Banshees albums before, so thought it was time to rectify that. Juju is one of my favourites from my teens. I came to It late, probably the late eighties, as it had already been released in 1981, and I was too young toContinue reading “Lost In Music: Siouxsie and the Banshees- Juju”
Album Review: The Drums- Jonny
One of the most surprising albums of the year, Jonny by The Drums, is striking for many reasons. The album cover shows singer and main member Jonny Pierce crouched down, naked and seemingly praying in his parents’ house. The album is similarly raw, intimate and honest. Gone is the easy -breeziness of previous work, whichContinue reading “Album Review: The Drums- Jonny”
Album Review: Mary Lattimore- Goodbye,Hotel Arkada
Don’t let the title fool you – the fifth studio album from LA harpist Mary Lattimore isn’t a hippy-dippy concept album. Rather, it invites adjectives like “ethereal” and “otherworldly” . Very much a collaborative project, Lattimore has again created music that exists in liminal spaces, dense but delicate, and powerful even when calm. The blurringContinue reading “Album Review: Mary Lattimore- Goodbye,Hotel Arkada”
Overlooked Classics: The Kills- Keep On Your Mean Side (2003)
Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince, aka The Kills, arrived at a strange time for grunge/blues rock like lizards wriggling in a tin.. Indie sleaze, or whatever the tastemakers deemed it that week, was becoming passe, and genres were starting to blur, so a duo who came on like Royal Trux playing Beefheart were of courseContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: The Kills- Keep On Your Mean Side (2003)”
The Future’s Here Today: Screensaver
There are few things finer in life than hearing about a new release from Upset The Rhythm. The Australian rascals called Screensaver are described as “synth punks” and make energetic, fizzy music that throws you around and bites you like a chew toy. Decent Shapes, the forthcoming album, is released on October 20th, so that’sContinue reading “The Future’s Here Today: Screensaver”
Just Step Sideways: Pom Poko- Birthday
I considered this for “Overlooked Classics”, but then thought better of it. It’s not perfect – the title track isn’t great – but holy shit,otherwise… what a debut from the Norwegian quartet who Dstudied jazz composition at music school. It’s fierce, quirky and beautiful. Like a mash -up of Lykke Li and Battles, the mathContinue reading “Just Step Sideways: Pom Poko- Birthday”
Hit The North 