The London band Cranes are often overlooked when people talk about early nineties indie bands. They’re something else altogether, often labelled Goth, industrial, neo – classical, shoegazing or dream-pop. The truth is, they are all of these things, and their own unique thing. Formed by siblings Alison and Jim Shaw, the band could grind, orContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: Cranes- Wings Of Joy”
Category Archives: Music
Andy Rourke, You Were Wonderful
It would be remiss of me not to pay tribute to the wonderful Manchester musician Andy Rourke, bass player for The Smiths.It’s a desperately sad loss. The Smiths meant so much to me and my generation. His death was announced yesterday. He died aged just 59 from pancreatic cancer. Tributes have been paid by Morrissey,Continue reading “Andy Rourke, You Were Wonderful”
The Peel Sessions: PJ Harvey
John Peel was the first DJ (as was so often the case) to play PJ Harvey, and she recorded some of his favourite sessions for him over the years. The compilation -from 1991, to his untimely passing in 2004- has some of her best work, completely raw and unadorned. There’s a cheeky cover of theContinue reading “The Peel Sessions: PJ Harvey”
Bye, Bye B52s
With their wild wigs, wicked wig-outs and smarter than they seemed lyrics, the Athens, Georgia legends The B52s are doing their farewell tour (at least, for now). Rock lobsters are (possibly not) provided. But before we say “Ciao”, here are a few examples of what made them so great: those killer harmonies, sci-fi sirens, surfContinue reading “Bye, Bye B52s”
Lost In Music: Deadletter- The Snitching Hour
Okay, maybe indie isn’t dead, after all. Deadletter have made one of the best singles of the year here. Like The Cribs and The Zutons, with a pinch of The Jam in the bassline, this is a belter. The Yorkshire band are on their way. It’s caustic, catchy as hell, and there’s a nod toContinue reading “Lost In Music: Deadletter- The Snitching Hour”
Favourite Cover Versions: The Fall- Lost In Music
The Fall never did anything by the book, and their covers are always fun (more of which later) so what a delightful surprise it was when I heard this for the first time, aaaaaages ago. MES took Sister Sledge ‘s Disco classic by the lapels and shook it, until all the glitter fell off. HisContinue reading “Favourite Cover Versions: The Fall- Lost In Music”
Lost In Music: PJ Harvey – To Bring You My Love
Recently, Ezra Furman said in a podcast that her ideal bar would have PJ Harvey ‘s To Bring You My Love on the jukebox. That sounds like perfection to me. Harvey’s third album, released in February 1995, was a startling departure from her previous brittle albums, Dry and Rid Of Me . A more febrileContinue reading “Lost In Music: PJ Harvey – To Bring You My Love”
The Future’s Here Today: McKinley Dixon
We’ve got Little Simz and Loyle Carner, America has Kendrick Lamar and Frank Ocean, and now, future superstar, McKinley Dixon. Fusing jazz, gospel and hip hop , the young rapper has eclectic tastes. He was born in 1995 in Richmond, Virginia, and is now based in Chicago. Eloquent, humble and funny, his music addresses theContinue reading “The Future’s Here Today: McKinley Dixon”
The Future’s Here Today: Uh
The Irish London duo Uh inhabit an exciting place: they play electronic music influenced by the likes of Cabaret Voltaire as much as techno. Siblings Fionnuala and Duncan Kennedy make euphoric, wild and experimental sounds, with Fionnuala’s extraordinary, emotive vocals soaring as the layers of synth build. Their live sound points to something truly unique.Continue reading “The Future’s Here Today: Uh”
Album Review: Alison Goldfrapp- The Love Invention
Alison Goldfrapp as disco diva? The new Kylie, maybe? She’s always had that side to her, the head-rush of the dancefloor, glitter ball, spike heels and the 5 am walk of shame. But on her first solo studio album without Goldfrapp bandmate Will Gregory, she fully indulges her inner Donna Summer. Co- created with RichardContinue reading “Album Review: Alison Goldfrapp- The Love Invention”
Hit The North 