What a difference two years make. Two years ago I was starting my first temp-job in London, having just moved into my first crummy flat. Meanwhile, Backwash were in a happy place according to the lyrics of their title-track. Two years on, I’m on my 9th temp-job, 3rd flat, and can hardly breathe any more […]
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Gosport based electro-goth three-piece, The Cancer Project, have been plying their industrial rock-metal sound in nearby Portsmouth for a couple of years, earning semi-final placements in a showcase competition as well as regular slots at The Wedgewood Rooms. Initial track, ‘Open’, kicks off with frantic drumming, spawned courtesy of singer Darren and his drum-sequencer. With […]
Active M, collectively known as ‘The Actives’, are a four piece band from London who you might have heard without realising it. With airplay on various radio stations, a music channel, and some spots on a DVD they’ve managed to slip in the back door with a grin. And slipping through my front door without […]
Following on from the rather successful ‘AOK’ album, Fleeing New York have returned with a double a-side in the form of ‘Up Up Up Up’ and ‘At Night’ – neither of which has graced the surface of a CD before this release. The first a-side in this alphabetical bottle-neck, ‘Up Up Up Up’, starts the […]
Dead!Dead!Dead! are back with their second EP and in keeping with their trademark arty / dark / pop approach, every track’s a corker. So enthralling is their vast sound and original style, that it’s a challenge concentrating on anything else while you’re listening to them. First song, the superlatively titled ‘Mightiest Melodrama of Them All’ […]
With some tasty erotic cover-art balanced by a title that falls a long way short of rolling off the tongue (something which the nipple in the picture seems to have no trouble doing) it’s impossible to predict what might be on this CD. However, there’s no need for any mystery or extensive investigation as I […]
Sion have played so many gigs over the past year the Ministry of Transport is considering levying an additional ‘band-van’ road tax on them. However, the extensive gigging has obviously honed their song writing and musicianship sufficiently for them to record a brace of tracks that are more than worthy of a mention. The first […]
When you get a record from a solo artist you just don’t know what’s going to be lurking inside the jewel case. When said musician has previously done the big band thing, the saxophone thing, and all sorts of in-between things – as David Aaron had – the mystery surrounding what’s on the disc is […]
With a gut-turning image of Kylie and Jason from their big-hair era, surrounded by a big heart, and carrying the title ‘Neighbours’, the outlook for this record from The Lights is poor. Are we to expect the bouncing theme tune cunningly re-cut for the 21st Century? Maybe it’s a jive-bunny medley of ‘Especially for You’, […]
Contagious Vibes have crafted a stylish soulful sound that transports you to a dimly lit smoky jazz club, where cool comes effortlessly. Of course, with a song entitled ‘Gangster Style’ and lyrics pertaining the drinking and gambling habits of a smooth criminal, the image they’re painting is clear. The lyrics are clichéd and determined to […]
Arriving from Belfast resplendent with a black CD, this The Betes Noires’ offering combines their first three EPs onto one handy disc, providing a retrospective of the past year and a bit. What’s interesting about cutting all these tunes to one CD is that it gives the listener a chance to hear exactly where they […]
Soma High are a Southampton trio with an atmospheric rock sound. Having formed in 2003 and worked their way to headlining Camden’s Barfly, ‘I Don’t Know Why’ is a three track demonstration of their multi-faceted sound. The title track explores territory well trodden by Radiohead, with vocals aimed in the higher registers. A dark sound […]
What can you say about Scarlet Soho that hasn’t already been said? Well, not much, because there are so many people talking about them! However, with one of the most instant songs from their album hitting the streets very soon, accompanied by an unreleased flip-side, something ought to be said about this strange collection of […]
The Half Rabbits are currently making waves on the Oxford music scene and seem to be doing a good job of getting noticed by some influential types a bit further afield. However, if, like me, you’ve not actually heard their music yet, you’ll also be wondering what all the fuss is about. However, unlike me, […]
The last time Shard sent us a CD they included a quirky biography and a collection of images as confusing as Israel’s 1998 Eurovision Song Contest winner. This time round they’ve included a quirky biography and a collection of photographs that would have a politician biting down on an orange in a matter of seconds. […]
On a muggy Monday night when the beer’s served in cardboard cups and the venue’s packed before nightfall, you know you’re in for a treat. First onto the stage at The Joiner’s were The Social, nonchalantly ambling straight into their Bravery-inspired set with little introduction. Complete with slicked back hair, black jacket, and crisp white […]
Harsh have an aggressive lo-fi garage-tock sound that belies their technical ability… and a collection of sub-three-minute songs that does the same job with their penchant for intense lyricism. However, the effect of these disguised qualities is that Harsh are layered like a frigid strip-poker participant; it doesn’t matter how many layers you peel away, […]