Album Review: Chet Faker – ‘Built On Glass’

Despite the relative rapidity of Chet FakerÔÇÖs growth in stature since dropping that ÔÇÿNo DiggityÔÇÖ cover back in 2011, the Melbournian has continued to develop on his own terms. Following recent collaborations with Flume, this debut is just the second release of FakerÔÇÖs solo career following 2012ÔÇÖs ÔÇÿThinking in TexturesÔÇÖ EP. FakerÔÇÖs love for jazz is clear from the offset, and the infectious bass line … Continue reading Album Review: Chet Faker – ‘Built On Glass’

Tom ConnickApril 25, 2014April 25, 2014Leave a comment

Preview: Jealous Lovers Club & Juxtaposed Microfest, Gwdihw Caf├® Bar, 04.05.14

May 4th 2014 brings with it the inaugural Jealous Lovers Club Microfest. Taking place across two stages at CardiffÔÇÖs Gwdihw Caf├® Bar, the festival will be a showcase of Jealous Lovers ClubÔÇÖs musical mantra, with Playlounge, Nai Harvest, Radstewart, Woahnows, Olympians and a whole load more filling out the diverse bill, topped by the return of indie-popÔÇÖs best kept secret Tellison, in their first Cardiff … Continue reading Preview: Jealous Lovers Club & Juxtaposed Microfest, Gwdihw Caf├® Bar, 04.05.14

Tom ConnickApril 25, 2014April 25, 20141,762 Comments

Album Review: Superfood – ‘MAM’

B-town four piece Superfood have released ‘Mam’ to the masses, and fans of fellow Brummie bands like Peace will fall head over heels in love with their short and sweet EP. Having supported Drenge and the aforementioned Peace on tour last year, 2014 sees the quartet hit the road with Wolf Alice in late Spring. In tow, will be their newly recorded tracks. ÔÇÿTVÔÇÖ is … Continue reading Album Review: Superfood – ‘MAM’

Tom ConnickApril 21, 2014480 Comments

Live Review: Johnny Foreigner and Radstewart, Clwb Ifor Bach

The jewel in Cardiff’s independent venues crown is slightly under packed on this monumental Friday night. It’s been four years since Johnny Foreigner have graced the stage of Clwb Ifor Bach and their committed following seem committed to them and them alone. Those who have bothered to arrive early for the supports mingle around the bar as Totem Terrors take to the stage, boasting lovely … Continue reading Live Review: Johnny Foreigner and Radstewart, Clwb Ifor Bach

Tom ConnickApril 21, 2014April 22, 2014Leave a comment

Album Review: Manchester Orchestra – ‘Cope’

Most wonÔÇÖt have ever given much thought to the simple word ÔÇÿcopeÔÇÖ. Manchester Orchestra have. ÔÇÿCopeÔÇÖ explores every avenue of meaning it possesses, the simple power of one word best epitomised by the succinct branding of this album. Always lyrically strong, AtlantaÔÇÖs finest have stepped up their game with this album finalising a journey of struggles with life, death and everything in-between spanning four studio … Continue reading Album Review: Manchester Orchestra – ‘Cope’

Tom ConnickApril 21, 20141,470 Comments

Live Review: Manchester Orchestra, The Fleece Bristol

ItÔÇÖs been 3 years since Manchester Orchestra have hopped across the pond, and the excitement is palpable in the sold out crowd packed into the Fleece for tonight, the first show of their tour promoting new album ÔÇÿCopeÔÇÖ. The Fleece is a curious venue, with its metal struts jutting up from ground to ceiling at every few metres, and to begin with you wonder how … Continue reading Live Review: Manchester Orchestra, The Fleece Bristol

Tom ConnickApril 21, 2014401 Comments

Live Review: Wild Beasts, Bristol O2 Academy

After the release of two critically acclaimed albums this year from East India Youth and Wild Beasts, the pairing made for a live show that was an ensemble of soaring synths. As East India Youth took to the stage, William Doyle was not held back by the nightÔÇÖs first of many sound issues, with his performance showcasing why he is much more than just a … Continue reading Live Review: Wild Beasts, Bristol O2 Academy

Tom ConnickApril 21, 2014Leave a comment

Interview: Bombay Bicycle Club

Bombay Bicycle Club frontman Jack Steadman sits down with Jade Atwood and a cuppa to discuss ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’ and the band’s immediate future. With a highly successful UK tour, a number one album and positions on some of the biggest festival line-ups under their belts, Bombay Bicycle Club have arguably reached the highest peak in their career thus far. It seems everything … Continue reading Interview: Bombay Bicycle Club

Tom ConnickApril 15, 20141,475 Comments

Interview: Skindred

Alec Evans talks to Benji Webbe of Skindred ahead of their Newport Helicop-tour show at Newport Centre Your last shows were part of the Soundwave Australian touring festival. How do Australian crowds compare to the UK, particularly Wales? Benji Webbe: Yeah, that was good fun, that was real good fun. We played on a great stage with bands like Clutch and Chino from the DeftonesÔÇÖ … Continue reading Interview: Skindred

Tom ConnickApril 10, 2014April 6, 20142 Comments

Album Review: playlounge – ‘pilot’

ÔÇÿpilotÔÇÖ is the debut album from the London based duo playlounge [they like lowercase, IÔÇÖm not just being lazy ÔÇô ed]. The opening track, ÔÇÿi am a lionÔÇÖ shows you instantly what this band are about. Noise. Lots and lots of noise. Its starts the album with such enthusiasm screaming a very loud ÔÇÿHELLO WEÔÇÖRE HEREÔÇÖ but yet is so rhythmically sound it keeps you … Continue reading Album Review: playlounge – ‘pilot’

Tom ConnickApril 10, 2014April 6, 20147 Comments

Album Review: Radstewart – ‘Wiccans and Beatlemancers’

RadstewartÔÇÖs debut EP proper, ÔÇÿWiccans and BeatlemancersÔÇÖ is as confident and catchy an indie pop record as youÔÇÖll hear this year. The Cardiff boys have garnered a great deal of interest lately and ÔÇÿWiccansÔÇªÔÇÖ serves to continue their rise to indie royalty in the ÔÇÿdiff. The EP starts with a riff very similar to The Pixies garage classic ÔÇÿWhere Is My Mind?ÔÇÖ This may be … Continue reading Album Review: Radstewart – ‘Wiccans and Beatlemancers’

Tom ConnickApril 9, 2014April 10, 2014Leave a comment

Album Review: Johnny Foreigner – ‘You Can Do Better’

If youÔÇÖve spent the last seven years blissfully unaware of the melodic noise-pop sounds common to Johnny Foreigner records, then describing ÔÇÿYou Can Do BetterÔÇÖ as exactly what you would expect is nothing more than an empty remark. If, on the other hand, youÔÇÖve followed the band from the beginning, then you shall not be disappointed. Having admitted taking inspiration from the favourites of their … Continue reading Album Review: Johnny Foreigner – ‘You Can Do Better’

Tom ConnickApril 9, 2014April 6, 20146 Comments

Live Review: Chvrches, Cardiff Solus

ItÔÇÖs hard to know what to expect from a band like CHVRCHES. When the band consists of essentially two guys behind keyboards and a singer, one might not expect much of a performance from the live show. In some ways this is true, but at the same time they are somehow completely mesmerising. This probably has a lot to do with the combination of the … Continue reading Live Review: Chvrches, Cardiff Solus

Tom ConnickApril 8, 2014April 8, 2014Leave a comment

Interview: Deaf Havana

Dillon Eastoe quizzed Deaf Havana frontman James Veck-Gilodi ahead of the band’s show at Cardiff’s Great Hall on April 15th. Grab the last few tickets here. Your UK tour kicked off last night, without giving too much away what can we expect from a Deaf Havana show in 2014? A lot of sweating! ItÔÇÖs a bit more of a show now as opposed to just … Continue reading Interview: Deaf Havana

Tom ConnickApril 8, 2014April 8, 2014Leave a comment

Live Review: Manic Street Preachers, Cardiff Motorpoint Arena

The area around the Motorpoint Arena seems surprisingly quiet for the Manic Street Preachers’ only Wales show of their ÔÇÿFuturologyÔÇÖ tour. ItÔÇÖs slightly funny to think that the largest throng in the city centre is currently outside the Cineworld to meet Russell Crowe when one of the countryÔÇÖs finest ever musical exports is gearing up for a show a few hundred yards away. Inside the … Continue reading Live Review: Manic Street Preachers, Cardiff Motorpoint Arena

Tom ConnickApril 8, 2014April 6, 2014Leave a comment

Live Review: Franz Ferdinand, O2 Academy Bristol

About ten minutes in to Franz FerdinandÔÇÖs gargantuan 90 minute set I am struck by how bizarre a situation I have found myself in: watching Alex Kapranos and co rocking out to a full O2 acadamy. In 2014. Minus ten years and perhaps this would seem normal, but a feeling of sheer nostalgic pleasure proves impossible to resist. I suppose Bristol agreed, a hungry crowd … Continue reading Live Review: Franz Ferdinand, O2 Academy Bristol

Tom ConnickApril 8, 2014April 8, 2014Leave a comment

Album Review: Sky Ferreira – ‘Night Time, My Time’

The long awaited album by Sky Ferreira has finally arrived. After four unreleased albums, it has been an arduous journey for the 21 year old in creating Night Time, My Time and the result is a raw and rocky affair. The cover artwork features a topless Ferreira standing in a shower, a deviation from the squeaky clean pop star her label wanted and this sets … Continue reading Album Review: Sky Ferreira – ‘Night Time, My Time’

Tom ConnickApril 8, 2014April 8, 2014Leave a comment

Interview: Of Mice and Men

Alec Evans chatted to bassist/vocalist Aaron Pauley from Californian metallers Of Mice & Men, ahead of their sold out GB Live show at Cardiff’s Great Hall. You are currently touring the USA with the UKÔÇÖs Bring Me the Horizon. Are they a good band to have as touring partners? Aaron Pauley (Bass, clean vocals): Oh, absolutely! ItÔÇÖs funny too, because weÔÇÖre from California so our … Continue reading Interview: Of Mice and Men

Tom ConnickApril 7, 2014April 6, 20141 Comment

Live Review: Bombay Bicycle Club, The Great Hall – Cardiff

Spring is finally descending, the sun is beginning to shine; that means one thing, itÔÇÖs time for everyone to realise how much they love Bombay Bicycle Club again. Fitting then that they should pop down to the Great Hall to showcase their impressive new album, ÔÇÿSo Long, See You TomorrowÔÇÖ. The theme of the show is made immediately clear; ÔÇÿwe are not the same Bombay … Continue reading Live Review: Bombay Bicycle Club, The Great Hall – Cardiff

Tom ConnickApril 7, 2014April 6, 2014Leave a comment

Album Review: Rodrigo Y Gabriela – ‘9 Dead Alive’

Rodrigo y Gabriela are now on their fifth album. Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela QuinteroÔÇÖs instrumental Mexican guitar duo have built up a promising following ever since the release of debut re-Foc in 2002, gaining a cult following after playing on the streets of Dublin, resulting in second album Rodrigo y Gabriela reaching number 1 in IrelandÔÇÖs album chart while it only reached 53 here in … Continue reading Album Review: Rodrigo Y Gabriela – ‘9 Dead Alive’

Tom ConnickApril 7, 2014April 6, 2014Leave a comment