“Unexpected cold weather and snow cause untold mayhem and abject chaos across the entirety of the UK. Again. Roads blocked, airports closed, gig attendance at all time low.” Sigh, what a shame. more… “The Concretes”
So on to the stage saunters Dan Sartain in The Captain’s Rest, looking every inch the rock and roll rake that he is, both in stature and demeanour. more… “Dan Sartain”
Dan Sartain Lives! cries the album title and this doozy sounds not like the lurching, fetid, corpse of a reanimated zombie rock and roller but a shiny and brilliant, celestial rebirth in Dante’s Inferno. more… “Dan Sartain”
The Black Hand Gang, as everyone should know, were the spark that triggered the onset of the First World War. By plotting and eventually executing a rather important Austrian chap by the name of Franz Ferdinand decades of tension over territory in Europe came to a head in a fairly catastrophic way. Interestingly, Franz Ferdinand (the band, not the dead Archduke) occasionally used to play secret gigs under the pseudonym, Black Hand Gang.
more… “The Black Hand Gang”
A rollicking throw down of a tune that kicks in all rock-a-billy drum skiffles with jangly wee
guitar licks on top. more… “Woodenbox With a Fistful Of Fivers”
Sweet Jesus! Right Hand Leftʼs singer sounds a lot like Sting. Maybe Sting trapped in a cave what with all of that ʻatmosphericʼ reverb ladled on top of the vocals. more… “Right Hand Left”
Big Jimmy Singhʼs on the Maryhill Road was, and undoubtedly still is, brilliant for many, many reasons. Not least of these reasons is the fact that they used to sell six tins of icy cold, crisp and refreshing Miller for a snip at four pounds and fifty pence. more… “The Futureheads”
Shy Childʼs fourth album and the New York duoʼs ʻfeminineʼ album to counter balance
Noise Wonʼt Stopʼs more ʻmasculineʼ beats. more… “Shy Child”
Admittedly Iʼve never actually been to Ipswich but Echoes Fall seem suitably familiar with it to compare it with some confidence to a ʻcesspoolʼ. more… “Echoes Fall”
What fortuitous timing that Londonʼs Mahavira choose now to release their new E.P. ʻHalf Lightʼ. more… “Mahavira”