Ukrainian born, New York based singer-songwriter Lana Mir’s self-titled debut album is an assured and welcome slice of summery indie-pop. Full of influences like Portishead, St Etienne and her Unfiltered Records label mates The Postmarks the album is remarkably consistent… Continue reading
After years playing in a variety of folk bands Somerset musician Nick Parker has finally gone solo and served up an excellent debut album ‘The King of False Alarms.’ Although listed as ‘acoustic, folk and country’ on his Myspace page… Continue reading
Ra Ra Riot have resolutely failed the second album test with The Orchard, delivering a well produced offering that is sadly too light on quality song writing. The key to Ra Ra Riot’s success so far has been the blending… Continue reading
Getting a cover version right is no easy task. For every ‘Man Who Sold The World’ by Nirvana or Devo’s take on (Can’t Get No) Satisfaction there’s this bunch of duds. Continue reading
In an era of where jolly synth pop seemingly rules, it is refreshing to occasionally hear some loud, squealing, introspective guitar music for a change, especially when it is so expertly delivered by the likes of The Twilight Sad. The… Continue reading
After last year’s excellent album Heretic Pride, The Mountain Goats 17th album The Life of the World To Come is a little disappointing. Granted, it has its high points, but while Heretic Pride was teaming with stand out tracks, The… Continue reading
After a fantastic run of critical successes in the 1990s, Idaho indie-rockers Built to Spill’s most recent two albums Ancient Melodies of the Future(2001) and You in Reverse (2006) fell flat in comparison. The momentum built up with their debut… Continue reading
In a good night for gigs (The Fiery Furnaces were playing just across town) it was irresistible to see two of the best rated new acts play together, in one of my favourite venues, for a paltry £7.50. Fanfarlo were… Continue reading
The Borderline isn’t the right venue. It feels too small for a band who produced an album as good as Checkmate Savage. It is also an example of a venue that has a pillar in front of the stage. That… Continue reading
Luke Haines is one of the lost figures of modern British music. His first album with The Auteurs, New Wave, was as good as anything else that came out of the British pop explosion in the mid-90s and he released… Continue reading