Lindsey Buckingham – a soothing balm for troubled times: Album Review
Lindsey Buckingham is his first solo album in ten years, a defining statement of the artist and his journey through the turning point of the idyllic Sixties, and on through to his legendary work as a Fleetwood Mac. It stops there but it is intoxicating enough.
Elvis Costello – Spanish Model: a classic revisited
Elvis Costello reworks his 1978 classic, This Year’s Model. Released at the time of the punk and new wave explosion in the UK the original version was his second album and the first to feature The Attractions as his band. The combination of Pete Thomas’ powerful drums, Bruce Thomas’ melodic bass lines and Steve Nieve’s […]
Carrie Newcomer – Until Now – topical folksongs wrapped in kindness: Album Review
Carrie Newcomer brings us her latest album, Until Now, a collection of finely played and intimate folk songs. The lyrics reflect on the current challenges in the world from a Quaker perspective, with rich imagery from the natural world and observations of the day to day.
Mako Road – Stranger Days: cool kiwi vibes on a debut album
Mako Road release their debut album close to four years from their first single. They make it a good one. The Cantabrian-to-Wellington quartet have an immediately familiar Pacific Dub Reggae signature to their music, but they branch out and expand from there.
Julia Bardo – Bauhaus, L’Appartamento (Wichita Recordings): Album Review
Julia Bardo, an Italian singer-songwriter has given us a gem of a Pop debut. Drenched in the atmosphere of The gold star, Girl-Group-Beatles-Byrds axis; tapping into the Jet Age Sound.
Vikae – Moon City Review – A cool and consuming single
Vikae continues to radiate in her artistic progression. The Indie Pop innovator, aka Veronika Bell has released the fourth song from the forthcoming debut album Inferno.
Sulfate Godzone (Flying Nun Records): Album Review
Sulfate has deliver an album of dark themes for troubled times. The album also has a heart of majesty – seductive more than openly confrontational.
Steve Gunn – Other You (Matador) Album Review
Steve Gunn has released a steady stream of high quality guitar based albums over the last decade and his latest release, Other You, is his sixth and his best yet.
Tidal Rave – Albumette (Fishrider) Album Review
Tidal Rave, Wellington Indie Pop outfit, drop a very interesting sophomore album that pushes many of the buttons from around the time of the Punk Explosion. Like the stars you see at night, the actual physical elements have long gone but the light continues on. What Pete Townshend really meant when he sang Hope I […]
Chvrches – Screen Violence (Liberator Music)
Chvrches fourth album, Screen Violence, recaptures the distinctive indie-electronica of their first two albums after a disappointing third album, where they went went for a more mainstream pop sound.
Troy Kingi Releases Black Sea Golden Ladder (Allgood Absolute Alternative Records): Album Review
Troy Kingi continues to evolve and mutate as he reaches album five of his Ten Discs in Ten Genres in Ten Years musical odyssey.
A Place to Bury Strangers – Hologram (Dedstrange): Album Review
A Place to Bury Strangers drop a highly enjoyable and easily accessible EP Hologram on us. New York City noise merchants deliver great atmospheric Indie Pop as everything rises up like a slow-building tsunami to wash over us all.
Wanda Jackson – Encore (Blackheart Records): Album Review
Wanda Jackson presents her final, Wild Gift of Rock’n’Roll. Encore is her farewell album.
James McMurtry – The Horses and the Hounds (New West)
James McMurtry is back after a seven-year break with an album as strong as anything he’s done. It’s The Horses and The Hounds.
Kendall Elise – Let the Night In (Album Review)
The themes of Let the Night In, the second album, by Kendall Elise are big and universal but the stories in Elise’s lyrics are personal and specific. Musically it moves between intimate acoustic folk, confessional country and blues and upbeat pop and rockabilly whilst always maintaining a consistent sound. Elise’s vocals are powerful, and reflect […]
Age Pryor Releases Invisible Lines (Album Review)
Age Pryor releases a new collection that feels like music made Level 4 lockdown: reflective, hopeful and ultimately uplifting. His first solo album in 14 years, Invisible Lines offers superbly delicate vocal tracks and a rich range of influences: alt folk, jazz and pure pop. And even a little rap.
Sierra Ferrell – Long Time Coming (Rounder) Album Review
Sierra Ferrell’s Long Time Coming has, indeed, be a long time coming. So, was it worth the wait?
Album Review: Lorde – Solar Power (Universal)
Lorde delivers Solar Power, four years after her Melodrama. We take a first listen and are impressed.
Martha Wainwright – Love Will Be Reborn (Cooking Vinyl)
Martha Wainwright has released her new album, Love Will Be Reborn. It’s been five years since Martha’s previous studio album and there have been some hard times since then, but you can’t keep a good Wainwright down.
Album Review: The Killers – Pressure Machine (Island)
This latest from The Killers comes quickly on the back of last year’s Imploding The Mirage, but it definitely doesn’t sound rushed.