#245: King Blood - I've Got My Kicks So I Don't Feel

King Blood

I've Got My Kicks So I Don't Feel

February 7 2014 (self-release)

10/10


When I first reviewed King Blood's self-titled debut EP last year, the first thing I noticed about the duo was how little they seemed to need a bassist; their music, a lo-fi blend of psychedelia and surf-rock, just didn't seem to warrant the inclusion of one, and why should it? Fast forward six months, however, and with their second EP 'I've Got My Kicks So I Don't Feel', Aaron Powell and Robbie Day are no longer the enigmatic two piece they were. Instead they've enlisted the talents of Sam Hollis on bass, in a bid to really flesh this second record out.

This review was originally written for Little Indie Blogs. Click here to read in full.

#228: Patterns - Waking Lines

Album review: Patterns - Waking Lines (2014)

This review was originally written for Muso's Guide. Click the link above to read in full.

#226: Thee Oh Sees - Singles Collection: Vol 3

As a reviewer, it goes without saying that some of the music you’re tasked with writing about won’t always be to your taste. When this happens, it’s usually quite easy to be able to say why you don’t like it, and then go on to pick out some redeeming features of the record. What can also happen, though thankfully not all that often, is you’re given a record and, even after five or six listens, you still haven’t formed a solid opinion on the piece. One such album was Singles Collection: Vol 3 from San Fran psychers, Thee Oh Sees.

This review was orignally written for Far Out Magazine. Click here to read in full.

#224: Grizzly Bear - Shields: Expanded

Originally released in September 2012, Grizzly Bear’s Shields was a wonderfully rich album of lush compositions and textures. Musically it was an adventurous step for the band, expanding on the ground laid by three previous albums in almost every aspect; lyrically it saw the band expand even further, weaving a loose narrative thread deftly in to a dense patchwork of contemporary folk and neo-psych in what was an important decision for the band. “For this record, it was really important for us to try and make sure that lyrics had a weight to them and at least some sense of a narrative” proclaimed bassist and producer Chris Taylor “There were lyrics in previous albums that seemed to have no meaning whatsoever. And that always really annoyed me.” Fortunately for Taylor, it seems as if his wishes came true, as the lyricism across Shields manages to distil an almost feeling of both romantic and platonic distance, that always teeters on the edge of loneliness, without ever headlong in to the gaping abyss beneath. Now, fourteen months after the record’s initial release, the band have released Shields: Expanded, a collection of b-sides and remixes that never made the album’s original cut but are finally seeing the light of day.

This review was originally written for Far Out Magazine. Click here to read in full.

#210: Wooden Shjips - Back to Land

Having never been privy to the sounds and stylings of San Fran psych-rockers Wooden Shjips before now, I approached this review with some degree of caution. Not because I’m adverse to hearing something unfamiliar, of course, but because with words such as ‘experimental’ surrounding the band, one simply didn’t know what to expect. As it happens, however, Back to Land, the band’s fourth album, proves to be a far easier and more cohesive listen than anticipated; gone are the 8 minute freak-out jams of previous releases, allowing for a more streamlined, almost concise record, all the while keeping the band’s psy-soaked idiosyncrasies intact.

This review was originally written for Far Out Magazine. Click here to read in full.

#199: Tess Parks - Blood Hot

Album review: Tess Parks - Blood Hot (2013)

This review was originally written for Muso's Guide. Click here to read in full.