A couple of years ago I discovered an album called Gold Fever by Little Hurricane. The record was dirty, bluesy and at times slightly distorted, but the songs were also melodic with a lyrical honesty that was refreshing. As a duo featuring drums and guitar playing their own brand of dirty blues Little Hurricane were always likely to be compared to bands like the Black Keys, … [Read more...]
Stop Making Sense – Talking Heads
“Hi, I’ve got a tape I want to play.” So begins the journey into one of the most incredible concerts ever committed to celluloid and its brilliant accompanying soundtrack. Stop Making Sense begins with David Byrne walking out on an empty stage devoid of any set or backdrop. As the camera follows his feet towards the lone microphone stand at front stage centre he places a boom … [Read more...]
Low Lays The Devil – The Veils
If you love the Black Keys as I do chances are you're going to dig this. Low Lays The Devil comes wrapped in a vamped organ, slightly distorted guitar and thumping beats - all of which sound like they've been poured through a fuzzed out filter with a muddied production that puts this track somewhere between the Mississippi delta and the devil down below. Singer/songwriter Finn … [Read more...]
Elevator Operator – Courtney Barnett
Courtney Barnett is an interesting phenomenon. Whilst certainly not yet a household name, she commands the respect of her peers, the music press and many fans, including the likes of Ellen DeGeneres and Jimmy Fallon. With just one album and a couple of EP’s under her belt she has already played major musical festivals like Glastonbury and been nominated for Grammy, Brit and … [Read more...]
Open The Door – Guy Garvey
Late last year Elbow front man Guy Garvey took a sabbatical from his lifelong musical cohorts to explore some new territory with a solo album. And while Courting the Squall did at times veer into familiar Elbowesque eloquence with Garvey’s whimsical “I’m just a working class lad out of sync with the world at large” poetic lyricism it did manage to avoid the grandeur of Elbow’s … [Read more...]