Ever the shapeshifter, it’s hard to believe Patrick Wolf has been making solo music for two decades now, so youthful does his appearance seem. Yet, here he stands having weathered many storms, both personal and professional. Indeed, thunderstorms as metaphor feature in this, his most recent EP. In many ways, The Night Safari feels likeContinue reading “EP Review: Patrick Wolf- The Night Safari”
Category Archives: Music
Shonen Knife are 40!
Once described by uber-fan Kurt Cobain as “pop, pop, pop music” , the legendary Osaka trio Shonen Knife are celebrating forty years in the business. Naoko Yamano, sister Atsuko Yamano and Risa Kawano are the current line-up, with the most recent album Our Best Place garnering huge acclaim. Often described as “the Osaka Ramones”, theContinue reading “Shonen Knife are 40!”
The Mumfordisation of Indie
I call them “Lammo bands” (with no disrespect to Steve Lamacq whatsoever, he’s a nice fella) . You know them, the wholesome side of indie. More Jonas Brothers than Joan As Police Woman, more Marcus Mumford than Mark E Smith, they are ubiquitous. They really are. They’re indie with the edges sanded off, nice folksContinue reading “The Mumfordisation of Indie”
Lost In Music: Sofia Kourtesis- Madres
It’s one of the singles of the year. Rising dance music star Sofia Kourtesis fuses samples of dialogue with eclectic music and field recordings, and the result is sparse but elegant and urgent. Madres is beautiful, a warm, 3 am embrace in a sweaty club. It’s dedicated to mothers everywhere, in whatever form they take.Continue reading “Lost In Music: Sofia Kourtesis- Madres”
Lost In Music: The Fall- Spoilt Victorian Child
The riff is unmistakably Brix, the snarl typically Mark. One of The Fall’s mid-period gems, Spoilt Victorian Child, taken from fan favourite This Nation’s Saving Grace from 1985 references colonialism, the Cottingley Fairies hoax, the kids’ book The Tiger Who Came to Tea, and typically entitled behaviour of the rich. I’m still not sure ifContinue reading “Lost In Music: The Fall- Spoilt Victorian Child”
Why ‘Surfer Rosa’ is still the tits!
Never mind Nevermind: for me, the albums that signified that the 90s were going to be musically exciting were by Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine and Pixies…amongst others. Everyone raves about Doolittle and it’s perfectly fine, but for me, Surfer Rosa is still perfection. Originally, it was to be titled Gigantic after the glorious songContinue reading “Why ‘Surfer Rosa’ is still the tits!”
Lost In Music: Janet Jackson – Rhythm Nation
Before the all-time conquering Beyonce, there was Janet Jackson. Prior to Rhythm Nation, she’d been something of a sweetie pie, the wholesome, apple- cheeked kid sister to Michael, forever in his shadow. A few good singles aside, she hadn’t really resonated in the UK . But, teaming up again in 1989 with super-producers Jam andContinue reading “Lost In Music: Janet Jackson – Rhythm Nation”
Album Review: Katie Gately- Fawn/Brute
The third album from American experimental artist Katie Gately has an illustration of two characters on the cover reminiscent of a Harlequinade. This seems apposite for a record that’s full of strange characterisation. Each title is one adjective only. Again, fair enough, as there are whispers, whoops and dark, nefarious threats lurking in corners. ForContinue reading “Album Review: Katie Gately- Fawn/Brute”
Aladdin Sane at 50
If Ziggy was Cary Grant, Aladdin Sane was Peter Fonda. Recorded between December 1972 and January 1973, this iconic album, Bowie’s sixth, still feels like a deconstruction of fame and the American Dream from an outsider’s perspective. It’s experimental, as exemplified by Mike Garson’s wayward jazz piano on the wild title track. He goes maniacallyContinue reading “Aladdin Sane at 50”
New Release: PJ Harvey- A Child’s Question, August
Ahead of her forthcoming tenth album, PJ Harvey releases this, her elegiac and beautiful new single, A Child’s Question, August. Working with Flood and John Parish, this bodes well for the album. It’s stunning, with a churning lyricism. The video was created by renowned photographer Steve Gullick, and actor Ben Whishaw provides backing vocals. ItContinue reading “New Release: PJ Harvey- A Child’s Question, August”
Hit The North 