The Bowie Show last night at the Golders Green Hippodrome was a bit of a leap into the unknown – both in terms of the venue and the performance. However creative director Simon Gwilliam’s vision shone brilliantly, brought to life by his Goon Squad: a young, vibrant cast of musicians and dancers with technical skill…
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The ‘dark side’ of the Calder valley allows no light during winter, and its draining effects on the human soul are more than just myth. There’s a bleakness that is all-encompassing, settling over the moors and deep valley sides, while residents hunker down and await spring. But drawing inspiration from the stark beauty of this…
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The last album Ignorance in 2021 convinced us that Tamara Lindeman and her band are producing some of the most interesting and original music at the moment. We reviewed Atlantic, a single from the album, thus: “It is a startling, unusual and brooding work, elegantly arranged with a lush expansiveness yet suffused with tension. A…
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The first phase of the Margate Summer Series lineups has been announced. The series will return to Dreamland in 2025, spanning rock, reggae, electronica and pop. Supergrass take the stage on Friday, 20th June, alongside special guests Jake Bugg and The Coral. On Saturday 12th July the Margate Reggae Festival takes over Dreamland. Headlined by UB40…
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This has been an exceptional year for new releases of all genres with perhaps a leaning towards shoegaze/dream-pop on this list. Bill Ryder-Jones got the year off to a great start with the inspired Iechyd Da while Father John Misty’s Mahashmashana slipped in as a late November closer and is perhaps my album of the year.…
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Kaleidoscope festival, the family event situated on the slopes of Alexandra Palace park in north London, has just made its first announcement, and it’s Faithless doing a full live show for the headliner on their spectacular main stage. Also appearing: Goldie, Eats Everything, Sara Cox, Sleeper, DJ Spoony, Beatles Dub Club and ‘R’ Voices choir. Two…
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W.H. Lung and Pem at Islington Assembly Hall, 21st November 2024. Even the capacious stage at Islington Assembly Hall looked a little too small to contain Joe Evans, W.H. Lung’s enigmatic vocalist. Whether launching himself over to the barrier or doing his sideways crab style dance manoeuvre, he’s a passionate, high energy front man. The songs…
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On rare occasions, a piece of music is released that exists in a sphere of its own, defiantly unique and refusing to be slotted into this or that genre. Something that stops you in your tracks. The just-released To Cry Out in the Wilderness by Scions on Idée Fixe Records is such an album, a…
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Magnetic Skies’ vinyl album launch for their first album Empire Falling, took place at venue 229 London, based at Great Portland Street. With synth-rich anthemic tracks that radiate an emotional landscape from euphoria to darkness, the band’s tracks are enhanced by powerful synths and Simon Kent’s vocal prowess. The band opened with Fading Lights, following…
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Some bands are meant to be seen live and W H Lung is right up there. The energy that bounces from stage to crowd and back again is electric, especially with dynamic and expressive front man Jo Evans prowling the stage. For their third album, Every Inch of Earth Pulsates, it’s that live experience that…
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