Month: September 2007

God, it must be nice in California. Scrap that – it must be perfect, really, mustn’t it. We’ve not been, not physically, though after imbuing a near half century’s worth of popular culture from or influenced by it we have a firm fantasy land in our head populated by undying rays of sunshine, waves crashing against golden sands, breathtaking desert vistas, geysers, film stars lolling on lilos in swimming pools full of narcotics, orange groves for sustenance and carefree days Continue Reading

So, who stole the sun from Devastations’ heart? Alright, granted, last year’s sophomore album ‘Coal’ wasn’t exactly KC & The Sunshine Band. It was maudlin to its weeping core, contemplative, indulgent, but it was all of this set to a dusky sunset, life and hope existing just over the horizon, comfort found in poetry, occasional catharsis found via the distortion pedal. It was latter-day Nick Cave on keys and in the confessional, Johnny Cash and Chris Isaac looking after the Continue Reading

This is not a Mclusky record. But it almost is, and if that’s not good enough for you then would you mind if I took your temperature? How many fingers am I holding up? Can you feel me jabbing this biro into your ear? While nutter bassist John Chapple was the first to make a racket after Mclusky split with the hit-and-miss-but-still-a-reasonable-laugh (we-suppose) Shooting At Unarmed Men, Andy Falkous – who many probably consider Mclusky’s engine room, with his demented Continue Reading

This is the third Menomena album, although we’re fairly certain we won’t be delving into their back catalogue to find their origins, not after this introductory experience. The point is, you see, that this album is as close to faultless as an experimental – or probably more to the point giddy, adventurous, unrestrained – US indie-pop album can be. We don’t want them going and ruining it all with any early wobbles, not when we can avoid it. On one Continue Reading

What other kinds of things are smooth, eh? Well there’s peanut butter for one, then there’s the frothy, foaming head of a pint of Irish Stout, no end of girly moisturizers, porcelain plates, sweet, blended fresh fruit beverages and, of course, babies bottoms. And then this, a moist, non-stick and occasionally uplifting blend of savvy Latin beats, slithery time-signatures and wibbly, wobbly jazz noodles. On the one hand there’s Domu (Dominic Stanton) scratching a living on tight production skills and Continue Reading

Not in fact the 13th king of independent Judah as you might have thought, but smoothy soul Phily based Beat Society member, Hezekiah back with his sophomore album, ‘I Predict A Riot’ – a silky smooth peace offering of luxurious, horizontal rap, smoky hip-hop beats and a generous dose of funk. Raised in a musical family just outside of Philadelphia and fostering a not unworthy predilection for the likes of Otis Redding, Bo Diddley and God (in that order), the Continue Reading

Graduated in Illustration and English Literature at the University of Westminster, Crowborough, Sussex rapper, Jehst was a member of short-lived UK hip-hop supergroup Champions of Nature, along with the likes of Lewis Parker, Supa T, Profound and Apollo prior to founding YNR Records. It’s said that after moving to Huddersfield Jehst experienced the bleak realities of the post-industrial north, which was to influence his incisive lyrical style and put him alongside UK rappers like Klashnekoff, Yungun and Braintax, as well Continue Reading

Can’t say I was aware of the film before, but Hallam Foe is a Scottish drama film directed by David Mackenzie based on the novel written by Peter Jinks and premiered at the Berlin Film Festival on February 16, 2007 where the movie competed for the Golden Bear for Best Motion Picture. The film won the Silver Bear for Best Music. And so it bloody well should have bearing in mind that the film’s soundtrack is comprised entirely of music Continue Reading

The man suffered a cerebral haemorrhage and yet he still comes bouncing back with the goods. Not even a 15 year hiatus stuck in the chart wilderness stopped former Orange Juice leader, Collins following up his ’82 hit, ‘Rip It Up’ with ‘A Girl Like You’ in ’94 and now in 2007 – he’s back back back – and what’s more he gets better every time he returns. Collins precluded the album with ‘You’ll Never Know (My Love)’ a gorgeous Continue Reading

Since 2001, secretsundaze has been at the forefront of the UK underground scene and set the standard for Sunday daytime parties. They were one of the first UK promoters to book international acts including Steve Bug, Luciano, Guido Schneider, Matthias Tanzmann and Dan Ghenacia, as well as hosting more established artists including Carl Craig and Ricardo Villalobos – booking them into (sometimes illegal) venues, not usually the norm for such events.   Six years since its inception and after hosting summer Continue Reading