It’s hard to believe that this is only the second studio album from tenor saxophonist Nubya Garcia, such is her effortless sounding, voluptuous playing and compositional skill. The range of moods here, too, often takes others a lifetime to perfect. ‘Clarity’ for example, is a slow-burning dreamscape with a hypnotic melody line. The shimmering ‘Solstice’Continue reading “Album Review: Nubya Garcia – Odyssey”
Category Archives: Music
Overlooked Classics: The Cure – Faith
Pornography is often referred to in The Cure’s early eighties trilogy (which also includes Seventeen Seconds) as a classic, but I think their third album, Faith, is absolutely divine, and overlooked. Far from being as miserable as painted, it’s actually pretty diverse in scope. There’s the anthemic ‘Primary ‘, shimmering majesty of ‘The Funeral Party’Continue reading “Overlooked Classics: The Cure – Faith”
Lost In Music: The Cure – Alone
There’s a sense of real finality to The Cure’s first single in sixteen years. “This is the end of every song that we sing”, sings Smith in that teary register that’s moved legions of fans for decades. The vocals don’t kick in for minutes, and we’re in the majestic, melancholy terrain of Disintegration. ” WeContinue reading “Lost In Music: The Cure – Alone”
Grace at 30
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”
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”
New Release: Kim Deal- Crystal Breath
*Klaxon* Attention, good people of Earth! American indie goddess and Breeders/Pixies icon Kim Deal has a new solo album forthcoming in November, and the second single to be lifted from it, ‘Crystal Breath’, is absolutely brilliant. See the video here, it’s glitchy, it’s itchy, and you’ll want to shake your bones to it. Nobody LovesContinue reading “New Release: Kim Deal- Crystal Breath”
The Glorious Surrealism of The Lovely Eggs
Everyone knows eggs are the best way to start the day. So whenever life is challenging and…well.. pretty shit, I turn to Holly Ross and Dave Blackwell, aka Lancaster psych punk duo The Lovely Eggs. The uncompromising, fiercely DIY indie band, who are also a married couple, make surreal, day-glo music with absurdist nursery rhymeContinue reading “The Glorious Surrealism of The Lovely Eggs”
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”
Lost In Music: Lil Mama- Lipgloss
Forget Lil Kim, Lil Mama is way cooler. She’s the epitome of sass. How cool is she? Tom Waits joined Iggy Pop as a guest on his 6Music radio show recently, and they both took turns going, “What you know ’bout me?” after playing this. It was very funny. I love this track and video,Continue reading “Lost In Music: Lil Mama- Lipgloss”
Hit The North 