A test of a great album is how it lasts the test of time. When this review appeared in is this music?’s top 100 albums of all time (#21) it was no more than a memory to some, perhaps from a scratchy vinyl version from a record fair, or a cassette passed on by a younger sibling. Now, it’s available once again, more… “Scars”
Issue 25 with Idlewild, Biffy Clyro, Aereogramme, Future Pilot AKA, Aidan Moffat, The Royal We, Malcolm Middleton, The Rapture, Kid Canaveral, Howling Bells, Black Wire, The Primary 5, & Say Dirty Records plus FREE 12-track CD!
albums: Amphetameanies, Klaxons, Endrick Bothers, IV Thieves, Octogen, Kristin Hersh, Pilotcan, &`Husky Rescue… single releases from`DeSalvo, Long Blondes, Beatnik Filmstars, Ege Bam Yasi, Ambulance, Grim Northern Social, & The Hussy`s
Wanting to buy a back issue of is this music?
Read on… more… “is this music? – back issues payment page”
“How do we sound out front?” ask Bearsuit, with good reason. “Charming” comes back the riposte, though with the less helpful addendum “but shambolic”. Bearsuit are after all known for their offbeat and off-kilter pop. more… “Bearsuit”
Stereotypically, Billy Bates is a big bloke with a big voice. Which he uses to great effect in the tunnel-like Cabaret Voltaire, his opening ‘number’ more like Thom Yorke calling from a minaret – a rambling, nagging vocal sound, over stuttering flamenco guitar. Alan Elmslie is enlisted to add some rhythmical structure to the tunes, the percussionist plays strange percussion (a gamelan? a soil-sieve?) and his weird techniques draw great whoops from the rapidly growing crowd. more… “Amplifico / Fortunate Sons / Billy Bates”
In the launch of a new acoustic tour in 2007 – to feature such luminaries as Emma Pollock, BMX Bandits and My Latest Novel – the lineup of acts on this launch night wasn’t too shabby either, with three acts lining up to entertain dedicated fans and industry scenesters alike. more… “James Yorkston / Popup /Yellow Bentines”
Aberfeldy, The Long Blondes, Dananananaykroyd ,We Are The Physics, Malcolm Ross, Xvectors, Pat Nevin, Great Money Trick, Low Miffs
Spare Snare, Bright Eyes, James Yorkston, The Low Lows, Dresden Dolls, Odeon Beat Club, Desert Hearts, Hot Club De Paris, Clinic, 1990s, Le Reno Amps, King Creosote, New Order, Graham Coxon, De Rosa, Indian Summer, Sunno))), :).
“It’s ok, they’re just the support band,” says the guy in front of me, disparagingly. The ‘support’ are Foxface, and the guy in front has cloth ears. more… “Roddy Woomble and friends”
Ah, those crazy Dutch people. Usually when a band tour with reduced personnel they stick the drums on a backing tape, and sing, stage front, Pop Idol-style. in Holland they clearly do things differently, so Bas Jacobs takes to the drumkit rather than stage-front and, one-man-band-style, sings, percusses and amusingly tries to trigger the guitar parts with his feet. more… “Pfaff”
“This is from our first album ‘A Thin Red Line’ offers Ally Palmer, guitarist in TV21. What he omits to mention is that ‘`This is Zero’ is (1) from their only album, and (2) that both band and LP are celebrating over 25 years in the business. TV21 are back, and, whisper it, they have a NEW SONG! ‘Last Man Standing’ in fact opens the set and undoubtedly catches much of the 40-somethings in the audience by surprise, given that many know the lyrics to just about everything else played tonight. As singer Norman Rodger points out, ‘`If we’d said it was a new song, you’d all have gone ‘`ech”`. more… “TV21”