This review was originally written for Muso's Guide. Click the link above to read in full.
Monday, 19 May 2014
#289: Alkaine Trio - The Ritz, Manchester (22/4/14)
This review was originally written for Muso's Guide. Click the link above to read in full.
#288: Playlounge - Pilot
Album review: Playlounge - Pilot (2014)
This review was originally written for Muso's Guide. Click the link above to read in full.
#287: Manchester Orchestra, Club Academy, Manchester (11/4/14)
Gig review: Manchester Orchestra, Club Academy, Manchester (11/4/14)
This review was originally written for Muso's Guide. Click the link above to read in full.
Wednesday, 14 May 2014
#286: Introducing...U&I Top Ten (U&I Music Magazine - May Issue)
Somehow or another, a whole year has
gone by since I started writing for U&I and a lot has happened in
those 12 months; I graduated, got fatter, saw some amazing bands and
got fatter still. One thing which hasn't changed however, is the
constant outpouring of good, quality music that comes out of
Manchester. Now given that I can only feature one band a month,
there's been plenty of top acts that I've had to pass on, so it seems
only fair that I take this opportunity to big up some of the bands
which didn't quite make my column, but could have done quite easily.
Jeremiah Ferrari
With their
foundations firmly set in the traditional roots/reggae movement fused
together with elements of ska and calypso, Jeremiah Ferrari are a far
cry from Manchester's assumed indie heritage. Soulful vocals and
upstrokes make for an ultimate party band, but that shouldn't detract
from the solid song-writing and genuinely catchy melodies that
perpetuate the band's music. Their live shows too, are fantastic.
Check out: Jazz
Cigarette
The Gramotones
Another end of
the spectrum now, The Gramotones' sound is a rich and melodic pop
affair flecked with moments of solid indie and occasional camp
theatrics. Having recently earned themselves a support slot on Paul
Weller's forthcoming European tour, it's obvious that the band are
going in the right direction; their lavish vocal melodies are steeped
the '60s, affording the band a timelessness not often seen in such a
relatively young act.
Check out: M62
Feed the Kid
Feed the Kid
uphold an undeniable sense of the bucolic, their emotionally-driven folk
building on a same foundations as bands such as Bear's Den. Those
anticipating the Mumford and Sons branded arena folk will be
disappointed, however, as there's a definite and appealing roughness
at play too, which one can assume is an aesthetic decision given the
polish over the anthemic 'Fellaheen'.
Check out: Kerry
No Hot Ashes
Reasonably new
to the Manchester scene, No Hot Ashes fuse together funk with
infectious indie that's hard not to sit up and take notice of.
Championed by the illusive promoter/podcaster Mr Peeps it won't be
long before No Hot Ashes follow in a similar direction to the likes
of Puppet Rebellion; their music more danceable than Pup Reb's but
both equally as solid in execution. Expect big things over the next
few months.
Check out:
Skeleton
The Backhanders
The Backhanders first caught my attention towards the end of last
year, as much for their haircuts as for their melodic fusion of both
punk and mod sounds. Seemingly causing a bit of a stir on the
unsigned scene around Manchester at the moment, it's easy to see why.
As the band flit from Stone Roses/Oasis-esque heady brit-pop to
two-tone tinged punk, it's not hard to imagine a rowdy Manc crowd
thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Check out: Don't Let Your Man Know
Lucky T.
Jackson
Cheating a bit with this one, but the band, in this iteration at
least, haven't been together all that long. With some members
formerly of Manc band The Quangos, Lucky T. Jackson are fortunate
enough to have people with a vested interest in them almost right off
the bat. Having seen their debut gig at The Whisky Jar, I felt almost
obligated to include them; their infectious blend of contemporary
indie and sugary '60s harmonies proving too much of a draw not to
mention. Potential for a full column piece in the coming months for
sure.
Check out: This Particular Girl
Stolen Haven
Having seen Stolen Haven live a couple of times now, I know for a
fact that they're one of the most promising live bands coming up in
Manchester at the moment; their solid no nonsense indie earning them
support slots with the likes of Puppet Rebellion. While their overall
sound is nothing new, the confidence they have in themselves makes
for some solid song-writing that just can't be ignored. Quiet on the
release front of late, we can presume new things will emerge later
this year.
Check out: Decent Shoes
The Lottery
Winners
'Born in Salford, raised on romance' proclaims the Facebook page of
The Lottery Winners, and from the first moments of hearing their
bubblegum indie-pop, it's obvious how true that is. This is a band
who don't so much wear their heart on their sleeve as wave it on a
flag above their heads. You can almost imagine that this is what
Morrisey might have sounded like had someone introduced him to
Prozac.
Check out: I Only Want to Be With You
The Bluntskins
Not quite the usual fare here, The Bluntskins are one of Manchester's
best hip-hop outfits who make their appreciation of cannabis culture
known. Made up of two rappers, Bill Sykes and Cheech, and completed
by producer DJ Pro P, the trio use a mixture of beats, bars and
samples, resulting in a heady combination that just begs to blaze to.
The lyrical content might not be to everyone's tastes, as might not
the fractured but expertly mixed backing tracks, but for those who
appreciate a little indulgence from time to time, or just like some
good old fashioned hip-hop, then they could do far worse then
checking out The Bluntskins.
Check out: High As A Helicopter
Kult Country
Part
of Sways Records, (whose roster once boasted MONEY), Kult Country are
a band without boundaries. Their music, though hard to pin down,
draws from the likes of My Bloody Valentine, but isn't completely
indebted to them, fusing together shoegaze and noise with elements of
sparse post-punk and futuristic techno. It's an odd combination, but
it's an exciting one, and we can hope to see far more of them this
year, as they aim to follow in the footsteps of their previous label
mates.
Check out: Slowburn
Monday, 12 May 2014
#285: Art Trip and the Static Sound - Nothing is Static
Art Trip & The Static Sound
Nothing Is Static
May 19 2014 (Fiasco Recordings)
7.5/10
Having first heard Art Trip & The Static Sound a little over a year ago and having thoroughly enjoyed their second release 'EP2', I approached their debut full length full of anticipation, and given the time in between my experiences of the band, I was expecting the few creases that marred my last experience to be ironed out by now. As it happens, I was half right. 'Nothing Is Static' feels like it has more direction than Art Trip's previous releases and benefits from it massively. However, there are times -mainly during the first half - when the production, though intentionally lacking in polish, is so lo-fi that it stops adding to the record's overall DIY aesthetic, and actually detracts from it instead.
Friday, 9 May 2014
#284: Morning Smoke - In Euphoria (EP review)
Morning Smoke
In Euphoria
May 4 2014 (Stray Cat Records)
9/10
Sometimes contrary to popular belief music journalists don't mind being wrong; in fact, we can actually quite enjoy it, especially if it means that a band followed from almost their outset have defied expectations and are slowly transforming into the band you knew they could be, despite a pretty negative first impression. For me, one such band is Brighton's Morning Smoke, a five-piece who blur the lines of contemporary indie and nu-gaze, and whilst they're not without their foibles, the way in which they've progressed over the course of the last 12 months really can't be sniffed at.
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
#283: Ring Ring Rouge - Head Full of Fog
Ring Ring Rouge
Head Full of Fog
April 28 2014 (Jack To Phono)
6.5/10
Upon first listen, Ring Ring Rouge seemed to me to be the pop equivalent of methadone; a substitute tailor-made to appease anyone who thinks it's been too long since the last Keane record. Scratch below the surface, however, beneath the stadium-sized choruses that go hand in hand with the stadium-sized clichés, and 'Head Full of Fog' proves to be a fairly accomplished album that's shaped around a variety of influences. As a result it's nothing original, but that doesn't mean to say it isn't without merit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)