Alice Severin is starting a series looking at some great unsung and unsigned bands, who are on the cusp of wider recognition. First up, UK duo Portrayal. Rob Tranter and Joe Crook hail from the West Midlands and are producing stellar electronic music. They’ve been noticed by BBC Introducing, and are putting out an album … Continue reading Unsigned discoveries – my interview with UK band Portrayal
On his album America Dan Deacon explored themes around the vast landscape of the states, borrowing from what at moments was like a mix of marching bands and American genres of music run through a filter of electronics that concluded with a four part ode to the country. And while Deacon is a stalwart member … Continue reading My review of Glass Riffer – the new album by Dan Deacon
I'm snowed in here, although not as much as I'd hoped. Yesterday, I trekked out across the wild tundra of New York City, snow beginning to swirl around, turning the park and the streets into a temporary stage set of true winter, where beasts of buses clank along with their chains, and everyone is wrapped … Continue reading Drenge new music!
Pete Lawrie Winfield, who hails from Cardiff, has a background in film and an interest in soundtracks that he has turned into an experimental mix of genres, with bandmates James Gordon and Elliot Wall. Using words that sometimes sound as though they were taken straight from a personal journal, computerized brooding sounds, and music mashed … Continue reading Review of A Lesson Unlearnt – the album from Until the Ribbon Breaks
DNKL are three musicians from Sweden – André Laos, Claes Strängberg and Jonatan Josefsson. How did they spend their summer? Well, part of it playing big music festivals like Roskilde, Way Out West, and the Berlin Music Fest, while earning praise from all corners. Somehow, they also managed to find the time to create their … Continue reading My Review of Wolfhour by DNKL
Asleep Versions, the new EP, is the slowed down re-workings of four of the tracks off of Immunity. Jon Hopkins sold out the Royal Festival Hall in London just a few weeks ago, and accumulates accolades, whether it is for his work with other artists, on film soundtracks, or on commission to accompany modern dance … Continue reading Review of Asleep Versions – Jon Hopkins
One fan wrote, “I can’t waittttttt!” And the wait is nearly over. Haerts have been making hearts, at least some of them, beat faster, with last year’s release of ep Hemiplegia. Since then, they’ve been working on their self-titled new album due to finally be released on October 27. Apparently their name was misspelled to … Continue reading Review of the new album by Haerts
Zola Jesus is back. Nika has stepped forward once again to remind us of her own vision. Taiga was mixed in Los Angeles with co-producer Dean Hurley who has worked with David Lynch, but the songs were written in the wilderness. Zola Jesus has called them accessible, and in comparison to older songs like Vessel, … Continue reading Review of Taiga – Zola Jesus
Julian Casablancas said at Coachella that the new music was meant to alienate the right people. If that meant that all those who have been convinced of their need for a succession of shiny happy pop songs to get them to work and who wish for the early days of the Strokes with the same … Continue reading Review of Tyranny – Julian Casablancas and the Voidz
Laetitia Sadier, most well known for her presence in Stereolab, is a vocalist and musician who has always inspired respect and a sense of wonder among her fans. The new album, Something Shines, continues to offer an artistic space unlike any other. A constant theme has been the works of Guy Debord and the Situationists, … Continue reading Review of Something Shines – Laetitia Sadier
