Words by Alex PayneArtwork courtesy of Ian Cheek PR AustraliaÔÇÖs premier Britpop band, DMAÔÇÖs, are back with a bang for their third full length, The Glow. Threatened by the success of their first two albums, both of which are unabashed homages to mid-90ÔÇÖs Britpop, the three piece have begun to expand their sound, and explore new sonic influences. DonÔÇÖt get it twisted – clear nods … Continue reading Album Review: ‘The Glow’ by DMA’s
I have a troubled relationship with The 1975. When I first encountered their work, I was somewhat dumbfounded on how anyone could enjoy it. It was unlike anything IÔÇÖd ever heard before and was profoundly weird. In the following years, I grew to love their music, having seen them live on a few occasions. This, however, has always been matched by a somewhat distaste for … Continue reading Notes On An Unconditional Form – Review
By Maja Metera The world gets darker than we all would like to admit. It is full of tragedy, broken hearts, self-hatred and sickness. Mania is one of two phases of bipolar personality disorder which is also known as manic depression. This album is the first in HalseyÔÇÖs career that she, suffering from that disease, has ever written manic. It is one written ÔÇ£By Ashley … Continue reading ‘Manic’, Halsey: Review
By Craig Strachan Craig’s rating: 4/5 Pixies tune back into the weirder side of their minds with twelve tracks that favourably embrace the dark and the creepy in their first album since 2016. Beneath the Eyrie is the bandÔÇÖs seventh studio album and first with bassist Paz Lenchantin as a fully bonified member after Kim DealÔÇÖs exit from the group in 2013. The album details … Continue reading ‘Beneath The Eyrie’, Pixies album review
By Kate Waldock The Australian music scene strikes again. City Calm Down are about to release their newest album, ÔÇÿTelevisionÔÇÖ, on the 23rd August. The band is composed of vocalist Jack Bourke, Sam Mullaly on the keyboard, Jeremy Sonnenberg on bass, and Lee Armstrong on the drums. They have already released the singles, ÔÇÿFlightÔÇÖ, ÔÇÿStuck (on the eastern)ÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿTelevisionÔÇÖ from their album to … Continue reading Album Review: ‘Television’, by City Calm Down
By Emily Jade Ricalton Rating: 9/10 EveryoneÔÇÖs favourite punk dynamic duo, Laurie Vincent and Isaac Holman, are back with a four-track EP after the release of their third studio album just last year. And, I must say, what a short, yet sweet come back it is. In comparison to ÔÇÿActs of Fear and LoveÔÇÖ, SlavesÔÇÖ ÔÇÿThe Velvet DitchÔÇÖ screams with a powerful energy that … Continue reading ‘The Velvet Ditch’, by Slaves
By Craig Strachan ‘Tallulah’ is out on the 9th August 2019. Put it in your calendars! Craig’s rating: 3.5/5 The Welsh rock band Feeder have released their 10 th studio Album Tallulah this month and their first studio effort since the release of All Bright Electric in 2016. Originally from Newport, this effort has been described by vocalist Grant Nicholas as a ÔÇ£classic Feeder … Continue reading Album Review: ‘Tallulah’, by Feeder
By Ioan Lee Ioan Rating:┬á9.6/10 IGOR is Tyler, The CreatorÔÇÖs fifth studio album, and comes at a time where the California based artist is at his most popular ÔÇô the success of his previous record ÔÇ£Flower BoyÔÇØ propelled him into multiple end of year lists and increased his already apparent popularity internationally. So, what does Tyler release when all eyes are on him to … Continue reading Album Review: IGOR, by Tyler, The Creator
By Emily Jade Ricalton After five years since the 2014 release of their Grammy award winning album, ÔÇÿTurn BlueÔÇÖ, the Black Keys have made an anticipated return with their brand new album, ÔÇÿLetÔÇÖs RockÔÇÖ, but has it been worth the wait? Receiving a 7-rating from Pitchfork magazine, the album seems to have impressed fans of the Austin-based band, despite their lack of dedication to … Continue reading Album Review: ‘Let’s Rock’ by The Black Keys
By Kate Waldock On the 12th┬áJuly, DMAs are set to release an album of their MTV unplugged set. MTV Unplugged had something of a reboot in 2017, after almost 20 years without the programme. DMAs are the latest among a line of great musicians to grace the series, and they did not disappoint. The Australian trio, made up of Tommy OÔÇÖDell, Johnny Took, and … Continue reading DMAs album review: MTV Unplugged Live
By Max Modell ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà When BearÔÇÖs Den released Islands, in 2014, they had an immediate impact on me with their emotive acoustic sound. A well-crafted, nostalgic album, it was the beginning of a relationship with BearÔÇÖs Den which has defined my musical life. While Islands had the BearÔÇÖs Den identity, the sonic pallet of the album felt familiar. This changed with the release of Red … Continue reading Review: BearÔÇÖs Den – So That You Might Hear Me
By Sam Cotter Created and crafted by the clubs of Lyon, Folamour released his highly anticipated second album ÔÇÿOrdinary DrugsÔÇÖ, at the start of February, on his newly founded record label For Heaven Use Only (FHUO). ÔÇÿOrdinary DrugsÔÇÖ, an 11 ÔÇô track soulful ÔÇô space ÔÇô Jazz ÔÇô house ÔÇô infusion, epitomises an artist with a fervent attitude and devotion towards his music. This latest … Continue reading Album Review: Ordinary Drugs by Folamour
By Alex Payne ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Nathan Warnes is back with a brief four track foray into the world of Christmas music, reimagining some of the nationÔÇÖs most treasured hymns in an alternative rock context. Titled ÔÇ£With UsÔÇØ, this latest EP is very clearly influenced by other Christian pop-rock acts, such as davidcrowderband and Aaron Shust, although it isnÔÇÖt immediately apparent what differentiates Nathan from them. Sonically, … Continue reading Review: Nathan Warnes – With Us
By Rowan Lees ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà Ghetts caused shockwaves at the end of August with the release of the ÔÇÿBlack RoseÔÇÖ video, beginning with a heartbreaking sample of his daughter asking ÔÇ£Daddy, how comes thereÔÇÖs no dolls that look like me in the shop?ÔÇØ the song and video go on to heartfully explain and explore the sensitive issue of colourism in black communities. It seemed a world … Continue reading Review: Ghetts ÔÇô Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament
by Ellis Garamszegi The release of DrakeÔÇÖs latest album, Scorpion, broke all sorts of records – hardly surprising considering the excitement a Drake album release generates these days. In terms of streaming records, it was the first album ever to reach one billion streams in a week. Yet, I certainly canÔÇÖt recall a Drake album dividing opinion as Scorpion has. I for one found it … Continue reading Review: Drake – Scorpion
By Isabel Cosford ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå NMEÔÇÖs ÔÇÿUnder the RadarÔÇÖ winners Pale Waves are releasing their brand new album My Mind Makes Noises on September 14th, which is anticipated to ripple through the charts next month. If you havenÔÇÖt already heard of them, Pale Waves are a mix between Swedish pop duo Icona Pop with The 1975 who also look a bit like a gothic rock group. … Continue reading Review: Pale Waves – My Mind Makes Noises
It took the Arctic Monkeys 5 years to make a come-back. Tranquillity, Base, Hotel & Casino is unexpected, different and an excitingly mysterious album. ItÔÇÖs an evident new step in their career. TheyÔÇÖve grown up and their songs have grown with them. Their new piano-driven, retro vibe, witty lyrics mark the start of a new era for the Sheffield group. The 70ÔÇÖs-like opening track, … Continue reading Tranquillity, Base, Hotel + Casino Album Review
Brooklyn trio Sunflower Bean first burst onto the scene in 2016 with their debut full-length record, Human Ceremony, which gave us an abundance of starry-eyed and jangly psych-pop gems, boasting a myriad of retro influences. Now they return with sophomore album Twentytwo in Blue, released March 23rd on Mom + Pop Records. Whilst each band member is still only twenty-two (hence the album title), their … Continue reading Sunflower Bean Twentytwo In Blue Album Review
American born singer songwriter Khalid stormed his way into the music scene in 2016 with his first single ÔÇ£LocationÔÇØ, and in 2017 he released his debut album American Teen. His distinguished and refreshing sound of contemporary R&B, infused with soul, is making waves throughout the music industry; earlier this year he supported Lorde on her worldwide tour, and it has recently been announced that he … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #24 Khalid – American Teen
ÔÇ£The Far FieldÔÇØ, Future IslandÔÇÖs fifth studio album was released at the beginning of April. Every time a band I like announces an upcoming new album, I try not to get too excited: IÔÇÖd rather have low expectations and then be positively corrected than the other way around. With this perspective in mind I heard the album for the first time while I was still … Continue reading Musical Advent Calendar #23 Future Islands – The Far Field
