Music Reviews
-
Swervedriver Raise / Mezcal Head (Reissues)
In the post-grunge nadir of the early nineties Swervedriver's first two albums – 1991's Raise and 1993's Mezcal Head – should have sealed their reputation as one of the finest British bands of the era. For a variety of reasons, they didn't. If ever a band deserved a re-appraisal it's Swervedriver.
David Coleman raves down... -
Andrew Bird Noble Beast
Does Bird's latest stand up to last year's fantastic Armchair Apocrypha?
Kevin Walker soldiers on... -
Phosphorescent To Willie
On To Willie, Phosphorescent sends a love letter to the American Outlaw himself Willie Nelson and proves that cover albums don't always have to suck.
Andy Stewart listens to new old songs... -
A Camp Colonia
Mix one part Cardigan with one part Shudder to Think. Add some Guided By Voices and Joan As Policewoman and finally, sprinkle on some Smashing Pumpkin to serve. Could A Camp be the collaboration of 2009 or is Colonia a recipe for disaster?
Joe Rivers reviews... -
Antony and the Johnsons The Crying Light
If The Crying Light serves to remind us of anything, it is that Antony’s voice is indeed too stunning and too pure to be obscured with electro-charged synth beats and sweaty bodies.
Conor McKay reviews... -
MV and EE with the Golden Road Drone Trailer
Drone Trailer is the kind of record that could easily be shelved as a “nice enough” roots rock exercise, but the more it spins, the more it reveals itself as a rich emblem to the signature alloy of poise, wonder, and itching expansion that has typified MV and EE's post-Tower Recordings work.
Tom Whalen heads out toward the drone... -
Bon Iver Blood Bank
Melancholy gives way to shades of optimism as Bon Iver delicately expands his sound on his new EP, while retaining a sense that these songs were created in a time forever ago.
Apart from a subjective opening paragraph, Cara Nash reviews objectively… -
Gang Gang Dance Saint Dymphna
Slipped out by Warp during the tail end of 2008, the Brooklyn experi-mentalists have struck gold on their most compulsively engaging album yet.
Jody White gets all starrey-eyed... -
Maus Haus Lark Marvels
Lark Marvels, debut album from San Francisco's experi-sextet, Maus Haus, could be a response to the challenges imposed by Battles a couple years ago. Or, it could just be a really good album.
Sean Caldwell marvels... -
Geskia Silent 77
Mixing organic-sounding yet assumed electronica with hip hop and technical breakbeat, Geskia stands among Minotaur Shock, Four Tet, Autechre, cLOUDDEAD and Boards of Canada as one of the leading artists in the alternative electronica genre.
Miguel Morelli reviews...
