ALBUM REVIEW: Beach House | Bloom
by Chris Familton Definitions of the word bloom include ‘the time or period of greatest beauty or artistry’ and the flowering of a plant. Both feel appropriate in terms of the title of the new album from Baltimore’s Beach House with the songs roaming through themes of living in the moment, self determination and the … Read more
ALBUM REVIEW: Grinderman | Grinderman 2 RMX
by Chris Familton Nick Cave and co aren’t known for sending out their songs for remixes but in light of the band’s recent dissolution this is perhaps a loosening of the reins, an opening of arms to collaboration and reinterpretation of songs from their 2010 swansong LP Grinderman 2. The first thing that catches the … Read more
ALBUM REVIEW: The Wedding Present | Valentina
by Chris Familton The Wedding Present are back with their eighth full length album and somewhat of a return to the sound of their glory years in the late 80s and early 90s. The band has always revolved around main-man David Gedge, he of the strangled vocal style and love song obsessive and on Valentina … Read more
ALBUM REVIEW: Lee Ranaldo | Between The Times And The Tides
by Chris Familton When news began to spread across the blogosphere that Lee Ranaldo had a new solo album coming out there would have been mixed reactions for fans of his work in Sonic Youth. Would this be a showcase for his esoteric experimental guitar-scapes (like 2008‘s Maelstrom From Drift) or a journey deeper into … Read more
ALBUM REVIEW: Iowa | Never Saw It Coming
by Chris Familton The boom in popularity of psych rock from Tame Impala to Wooden Shjips has well and truly filtered down to the emergence of new local acts like The Laurels and Melbourne’s Iowa. For a genre so firmly rooted in guitars and hypnotic rhythm sections there are surprisingly few bands who can take … Read more
ALBUM REVIEW: Charlie Horse | I Hope I’m Not A Monster
by Chris Familton Laughing Outlaw Records have already released some fine albums in 2012 and the latest is the debut from Charlie Horse. As the name suggests they are firmly in americana and country rock territory though not of the gentle strum and folk leaning variety. Instead they are riding a more ragged and parched … Read more
ALBUM REVIEW: dEUS | Keep You Close
by Chris Familton Belgian band dEUS are onto their sixth album in a career that stretches twenty years, yet they have made little impact in this part of the world since their first few albums in the second half of the 90s. Back then they were one of the bands that seemed to straddle the … Read more
ALBUM REVIEW: Bambino Koresh | Up And Left
written by Chris Familton The pervasive winds of nostalgia are blowing stronger than ever across pop music and electronica yet they haven’t subjected guitar music to quite the same blatant level of shallow regeneration. Indie and rock music is always recycling and self-referencing itself of course but it takes a great band to be able … Read more
ALBUM REVIEW: Xiu Xiu | Always
written by Chris Familton Never one to shy from displaying his emotions, Xiu Xiu’s Jamie Stewart returns with his eighth LP Always. The album title suitably sums up his continued obsessions with damaged emotions, the human body and oppression. He wraps it all up in what has become a trademark sound of dark electronica full … Read more
ALBUM REVIEW: Deep Sea Arcade | Outlands
written by Chris Familton Some bands arrive in a blaze of glory and media attention, still young and in their formative stage but with sparks flying and a need to get that initial brace of songs recorded and released. Others take their time to nurture the songs, tease them out and live within them until … Read more
ALBUM REVIEW: My Best Fiend | In Ghostlike Fading
written by Chris Familton Warp Records continue their foray into non-electronic acts with this debut release from Brooklyn natives My Best Fiend. In Ghostlike Fading may be made by a bunch of Americans but it has a decidedly English sound and mood. The songs swell and churn, wander and slow-burn with winding narratives that make … Read more
ALBUM REVIEW: Sinead O’Connor | How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?
written by Chris Familton After the recent and strange happenings in the life of Sinead O’Connor (alleged suicide attempts, advertised marriage and subsequent divorce) one could be forgiven for expecting a new album to be a train wreck from an artist on the slide. Remarkably the opposite is true as How About I Be Me … Read more
