The small but mighty indie label Small Pond, based in Brighton, shows that alternative !music is very much thriving. This new compilation has a wide diversity of genres. There’s bright, anthemic indie pop from MaxwellTheBand with piledriving opener, ‘Bic Lighter’, Currls provide soulful /emo inspired indie with ‘April Fool’. Peach Season are another musical uContinue reading “Album Review: Small Pond- Emerging Vol 3”
Category Archives: Music
Five Times Top Of The Pops Was Worth Watching
I’m positively fossil aged, but back in the day, we had these nebulous concepts called “the charts”. This was when record companies received notification of which musical artists were selling the most singles. The Top 40 was thus reflected on a terminally naff TV show on the BBC, usually with teenagers grinning dementedly, dancing inContinue reading “Five Times Top Of The Pops Was Worth Watching”
LCD Soundsystem Meets Leigh Bowery…
Times are hard right now. Weather’s horrible, war rages across the globe, civil rights are being eroded, climate change becomes increasingly apparent on a daily basis. Our leaders aren’t helping, putting profit before people. Democracy is important, but so too, is resistance to the forces of oppression. At times like this, it’s hard not toContinue reading “LCD Soundsystem Meets Leigh Bowery…”
Lost In Music: The Cramps- Smell Of Female (Live At The Peppermint Lounge)
Feral, camp and outrageous, The Cramps‘ live album from 1983, was apparently tweaked a little (seemingly the audience screams were from a ‘bigger’ band) but still sounds fresh and vital. It’s definitely more playful than menacing. The line-up is Interior, Rorschach, Kid Congo Powers and Nick Knox. Classic line-up as far as I’m concerned. ‘YouContinue reading “Lost In Music: The Cramps- Smell Of Female (Live At The Peppermint Lounge)”
Overlooked Classics: Cat’s Eyes
Here’s something I think about a lot: female and male call and response always sounds sexy in music. Whether it’s Nancy and Lee, Marvin and Tammi, or MBV’s Kevin and Bilinda, there’s something that suggests simmering intimacy and eroticism. So it is with the debut eponymous album from 2011, Cat’s Eyes. Rachel Zeffira and FarisContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: Cat’s Eyes”
Gossip Are Back!!!
The inimitable queer indie pop trio Gossip have returned after an eleven year hiatus. Their forthcoming album, Real Power, out next Spring, sees them team up again with legendary producer Rick Rubin. Lead single ‘Crazy Again ‘ is a sweet soul electro pop tune, with Beth Ditto singing in her highest, softest voice, but thereContinue reading “Gossip Are Back!!!”
Film Review: Little Richard – King And Queen Of Rock ‘n’ Roll
As befits the legendary, lare pioneer of rock ‘n’ roll, Little Richard – King And Queen Of Rock ‘n’Roll is a wild ride.James House’s documentary for Arena is conventional in its linear structure- but Richard Penniman’s life was anything but. Born in Macon, Georgia in 1932, Penniman was moved by gospel singers he’d heard inContinue reading “Film Review: Little Richard – King And Queen Of Rock ‘n’ Roll”
The Future’s Here Today: Siblings
They take their influence from classic singer-songwriters like Leonard Cohen and are also inspired by folk and jazz, but I can also hear the tender side of PJ Harvey and a little shimmery shoegazing in this new EP, In Heaven, from Siblings. Based in South London, their majestic sound is underpinned by introspective lyrics andContinue reading “The Future’s Here Today: Siblings”
TV Review: Louis Theroux Interviews… Pete Doherty
“You’re looking at a sick man”, grins Pete Doherty, troubled co- founder of English indie band The Libertines. And it’s hard to disagree. His struggles with addiction have been legend in the UK, often overshadowing his music career. The British tabloids went wild during the band’s late nineties heyday, documenting heroin use, his relationship withContinue reading “TV Review: Louis Theroux Interviews… Pete Doherty”
Lucifer Over Lanarkshire: I Don’t Get Antony Szmierek
Hipster haircut- check. Banal rhymes- check Disaffected swagger-check. Now it’s time to release Antony Szmierek into the wild. Fly, Antony, fly, carried by the winds of fashion and massive hyperbole. Seriously, why do people love him so much? People are losing their shit over this posher Streets – Avenues maybe would have been a betterContinue reading “Lucifer Over Lanarkshire: I Don’t Get Antony Szmierek”
Hit The North 