The Canadian artist’s eighth album is a real labour of love, with contributions from Luz Elena Mendoza of Y La Bamba on the mellifluous, twisty duet’Ways Of Losing’ and LANKUM’s Cormac Mac Diarmada playing violin and viola on ‘Feel Life’. ‘Dyed ‘ feels like a folky jazz incantation with a psychedelic undertow and her newContinue reading “Album Review: Ora Cogan- Formless”
Category Archives: Review
Film Review: Tramps!
The natural reaction to a conservative era is to reject it, subvert it entirely and aim higher. So it was with the “New Romantics”, the movement which gave us Boy George, Michael Clark, Duran Duran, Leigh Bowery, Marilyn, Visage and Spandau Ballet. These stylish, freaky rebels were part of a loose “family” of club kidsContinue reading “Film Review: Tramps!”
Overlooked Classics: Common Holly- Playing House
There are some artists who make albums that should have been huge. Better known by her stage name Common Holly, Brigitte Naggar is a Canadian musician from Montreal.As Common Holly, Naggar has released two full-length albums, but her debut is so underrated it beggars belief. It’s so fully formed, it’s astonishing. Naggar’s first album, Playing House, was releasedContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: Common Holly- Playing House”
Album Review: Mammoth Penguins -Here
You just can’t keep a good indie trio down. Cambridge scamps Mammoth Penguins ‘ new album fizzles with effervescent energy. Emma Kupa, Tom Barden and Mark Boxall have returned with music that is irresistible, straight out of the traps, racing forward and never looking back. Their trademark grungy indie, and Kupa’s sweet, youthful voice, hasContinue reading “Album Review: Mammoth Penguins -Here”
Album Review: Gossip- Real Power
Gossip ‘s return was announced with little fanfare, as the best surprises always are. But, while they’re always great to see live, this new studio album is something of a disappointment. Rick Rubin is on board as producer, which ironically may be the problem. It often sounds too glossy, as though sonically airbrushed. The moreContinue reading “Album Review: Gossip- Real Power”
From The Skinny Archive… Matthew Bourne ‘s Swan Lake In 3D
★★★★★ Review by Missy Lorelei | 27 Jun 2012 This ravishing production from Sadler’s Wells in London is at once contemporary and utterly timeless. Bourne’s re-telling of the classic ballet has more than a slight Freudian overtone to the narrative; the adult Prince (touchingly portrayed by Dominic North) has mother issues; is seduced by aContinue reading “From The Skinny Archive… Matthew Bourne ‘s Swan Lake In 3D”
Overlooked Classics: Julian Cope- World Shut Your Mouth
This is the album, not the song. That can be found, of course, on Saint Julian. World Shut Your Mouth marked Julian Cole’s transition from Teardrop Explodes pin -up,to eccentric solo artist. And there are a couple of would -be TE tracks on here (Pussyface’ and ‘Metranil Vavin’) but in the main, it’s Cope flyingContinue reading “Overlooked Classics: Julian Cope- World Shut Your Mouth”
Album Review: Corridor -Mimi
Mimi, named after lead singer Jonathan Robert’s cat, is Corridor’s fourth album. It’s effervescent, sometimes melancholic, sometimes hopeful, but always dynamic. The Montreal band sing in French, and draw from both European and American influences. It’s apparent on tracks like ‘Mon Argent’, which fizzles with Krautrock energy, before going all glitchy and dissonant. This isContinue reading “Album Review: Corridor -Mimi”
Album Review: Adult Jazz- So Sorry So Slow
This album is heady, intoxicating and heavy. It takes a while to settle into certain rhythms, before turning, at times almost imperceptibly, into different genres, moods and textures. Once you allow yourself to let it just embrace you though, it pays dividends. Post-rock, fused with avant pop, it’s elusive but gorgeous. With Harry Burgess’ sweet,Continue reading “Album Review: Adult Jazz- So Sorry So Slow”
Album Review: Sinkane-We Belong
Sudanese- American Ahmed Gallab, who records as Sinkane, reflects the global village in this glorious new album, his eighth. Whether joyful and gospel inflected (Come Together, We Belong) disco workouts (the campy How Sweet Is Your Love) or songs of resistance (Everything Is Everything, and the fiery standout track Invisible Distance) which feel like anContinue reading “Album Review: Sinkane-We Belong”
Hit The North 