I remember the first time I heard Jeff Buckley singing. I was hanging out at my then boyfriend Paul ‘s flat. He’d just bought the album. I sat frozen in my seat, jaw dropping. I perused the album cover: the impossibly beautiful man in a sequinned coat, looking soulful and untouchable, clutching an old-fashioned microphone.Continue reading “Grace at 30”
Category Archives: Album
Album Review: Masayoshi Fujita- Migratory
Inspired by the endless wonders of nature, and in particular the flight paths of birds, Japanese vibraphonist and marimba player Masayoshi Fujita has created a beautiful, meditative album here, with enough left turns to stop it fading into the background. In that sense, it’s a post-ambient work. ‘Tower Of Cloud’ is hypnotic and dreamy, butContinue reading “Album Review: Masayoshi Fujita- Migratory”
Album Review: Lili Holland-Fricke and Sean Rogan- Dear Alien
This debut is a glorious thing indeed, bringing some much needed sunshine as days get colder. The duo, both based in Manchester, recorded the album in Greenwich, and it’s both melodic and full of improvised energy. Sleepy, feline cellos mesh with tape loops and it’s Holland -Fricke’s unique approach to cello playing that feels soContinue reading “Album Review: Lili Holland-Fricke and Sean Rogan- Dear Alien”
Overlooked Classics: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds – From Her To Eternity
Debut albums rarely feel as raw as From Her To Eternity. The Birthday Party had dissolved pretty messily, amid drug abuse and ego problems, so Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds could have toned things down a little in order to hit that commercial paydirt. Ha, as if. Cave was far too independent, too contrarianContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds – From Her To Eternity”
Album Review: Dummy- Free Energy
Dummy’s new album, Free Energy, is perfect for moving to, or moving around cities to. It hits the sweet spot between experimentation and melodic indie pop. The Los Angeles band, comprised of Emma Maatman, Alex Ewell, Nathan O’ Dell and Joe Trainor, feel very much of the zeitgeist, as well as timeless. ‘Nine Clean Nails’Continue reading “Album Review: Dummy- Free Energy”
Album Review: Molchat Doma- Balaya Palosa
The Belarus trio, who recently relocated to Los Angeles, have crafted a subtle and complex piece of darkwave here. It’s music which is perfect for travelling home on trains as dusk gathers in crowded cities. Take your pick which city. This album is concrete and neon, dark and ominous. It’s rather beautiful too. The plethoraContinue reading “Album Review: Molchat Doma- Balaya Palosa”
Lost In Music: This Mortal Coil
Formed by 4AD bosses Ivo Watts-Russell and John Fryer, This Mortal Coil made some of the most sublime, prescient music ever. Not everyone was keen. AR Kane dismissed them as simply “people in black clothes with shaved heads” and the second album by the collective , the dense,sprawling Filigree and Shadow (also my favourite) wasContinue reading “Lost In Music: This Mortal Coil”
Album Review: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds- Wild God
And lo, Nick Cave and his band of Bad Seeds did release their most epic, commercial album thus far. ‘Conversion’ is cinematic, bolstered by a heavenly choir. ‘Frogs’ is similar, and the title track is some kind of attempt to glean joy from adversity. Obviously, there’s some personal stuff in there: O Wow O WowContinue reading “Album Review: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds- Wild God”
Album Review: Geneva Jacuzzi – Triple Fire
LA musician and performance/visual artist Geneva Jacuzzi has a lot of heat around her…pun intended. It’s clear that she’s ambitious and talented, her synth pop sound coming over like she chewed up and spat out the entire eighties decade. So there’s a Warholian flavour to brand new album Triple Fire . Opener ‘Laps Of Luxury’Continue reading “Album Review: Geneva Jacuzzi – Triple Fire”
Lost In Music: Cocteau Twins – Treasure
Elizabeth Fraser and Robin Guthrie may have said to the British music press, “Treasure was such an abortion. I hated it”, but the 1984 classic is still one of the band’s best-selling, best-loved studio albums. Originally, this, their third studio album, was to be produced by Brian Eno, but the band’s Robin Guthrie took thatContinue reading “Lost In Music: Cocteau Twins – Treasure”
Hit The North 