Review: The Staves @ Gorilla 03/05/13
Photo: Dan Massie, 2013 We’re well acclimatised to The Staves‘ live brilliance, and yet, we just keep coming back for more. Whether it’s the clever quips the sister trio and their band make in between songs, or the actual songs themselves, The Staves are hands down one of the best live bands about these days. We arrive early to catch support Sivu (a.k.a. James Page)’s set, which is accompanied by two stellar string players.... Read More
Review: Washington Irving Album Launch @ King Tut’s 30/04/13
Homecoming shows are the best. Were it possible to see every band in a room full of their biggest and oldest fans on a landmark occasion, it’s likely even the most dire of bands could pull off a good show. But it’s not a feat that’s as easy as it seems when variables are brought to the table. For one, a Scottish, more specifically a Glaswegian, homecoming show is going to be near unbeatable in terms of energy and passion in both... Read More
Review: Night Beds @ The Soup Kitchen 17/04/13
Photo: Oresti Tsonopoulos, 2012 Night Beds‘ first appearance in Manchester was one we were extremely happy to have encountered. Following the group’s extremely effective slot on Later…With Jools Holland, The Soup Kitchen’s cellar venue is slightly more full than it would have originally been with a fresh spate of listeners. Farewell Jr (Nick Rayner) opened the evening with his frank blend of music. Having seen Rayner and co... Read More
Review: Nomads//Joe Banfi
Nomads is Joe Banfi‘s second EP but you’d be forgiven for thinking it was his tenth due to its emotional and instrumental precision and intensity. Nomads encapsulates a lot of complicated themes; isolation, frustration and distance being a handful, and the acuteness with which Banfi articulates his ideas is astounding. Despite having heard title track ‘Nomads’ countless times since first coming across Banfi, the song... Read More
Review: Women//Underwater Seacreatures
American duo, and TLS favourite, Underwater Seacreatures have been harbouring a little something that’s been on our wishlist for a while now. Said little something is Women, a full length Bandcamp-released collection of supreme songs about subjects such as anticipation and the ladies. A great range of synths and electronic programming has been used across Women to create a wide variety of tones, made obvious on the album’s opening... Read More
Review: Keaton Henson @ The Mitchell Library 07/02/13
Photo: via Sound Influx Keaton Henson is currently playing a string of gigs comprising of new material from forthcoming album Birthdays and songs from last year’s Dear… in interesting and alternative venues in Britain’s bigger cities. Last week he performed two sell out shows in the Mitchell Library’s Jeffrey Room, a beautiful gallery that runs across part of the library’s top floor in the front of the building. Henson opens with a stunning,... Read More
Review: Mull/Alek Fin
We missed Alek Fin‘s release of the Mull EP last December but as the phrase goes, better late than never. There’s something to be said for 2012′s penchant for gaudy, percussive music, which is unfortunately ongoing. Alek Fin’s subtle approach to the alternative subgenres of electronic music is a much needed respite from all too obvious song structures and progressions. All four of the EP’s tracks have flourishes of genius... Read More
Review: Same Old Story//Ed Black
Liverpool-based Ed Black releases his debut EP Same Old Story later this month. After interviewing him last year, we were keen to hear more of his bright, distinctive work. Same Old Story opens with the sprightly ‘Easier Said Than Done’, a song which displays Black’s deft use of rhythm and arrangement. From the song’s minimal beginnings, to its larger, more dynamic chorus, ‘Easier Said Than Done’ proves to be a... Read More
Review: Running to the North//Harry Ridgway
‘Running to the North’ starts the EP off on a brisk and driven note that pushes through lyrics that would otherwise be disheartening to a promising, forward facing atmosphere. The EP’s title track reflects an aspect of escapism that Harry Ridgway’s lyrics condone, saying, “Tell your God you’re fine…and find which man is to blame” despite the motivation of said escapism being fear. Personal favourite, ‘Wake’ instantly brings down... Read More
Review: Fragrant World//Yeasayer
Reviewing records of bands such as Yeasayer is often a losing battle if you’re trying to appease everyone’s opinion and save someone the hassle of actually listening to said record themselves. This is something attributable to the subversion that Yeasayer’s music undergoes during the writing process, making any lines of reference or distinction near impossible to generalise about. All the better for it I say. Fragrant World, as the title might... Read More