Category: Music

Culture, Music

Utopia review: Festival of Voice turns imagination into reality

by Andrea Gaini ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà IÔÇÖve always been fascinated by the idea of a utopia. A magic place where everything is just perfect, everything is consistent and pure, there are no mistakes and people are simply happy. In my head, utopia meant ÔÇÿimpossibleÔÇÖ. Something that would never happen in this world. But then, I met Utopia, the show-gig curated by Charlotte Church, and realised what utopia … Continue reading Utopia review: Festival of Voice turns imagination into reality

andreagaini
Culture, Music

Susanne Sundf├©r + Novo Amor review at the Festival of Voice

by Maxwell Modell ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå Novo Amor The night opened with Welsh singer-songwriter Novo Amor (ails of Ali Lacey), who skilfully provided a beautiful performance built on the foundation of vocal harmony and gorgeous, airy, guitar tones. His quietly emotional delivery added weight to the atmospheric music to create a mesmerising sonic experience. Ali Lacey himself was self admittedly nervous being a Cardiff based musician who … Continue reading Susanne Sundf├©r + Novo Amor review at the Festival of Voice

andreagaini
Culture, Music

Gruff Rhys review: #FoV2018 bringing out the voices of Wales

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå by Jessica Heap To start the evening we were treated to H. Hawkline, a Welsh singer-songwriter not dissimilar to Rhys himself and from my seat, almost identical bar a maroon shirt. Perfectly timed, Hawkline delivered multiple songs with no introductions to fit as many in as possible, including 3 whose lyrics were written that morning. As a solo act, Hawkline offered a different sound … Continue reading Gruff Rhys review: #FoV2018 bringing out the voices of Wales

andreagaini
Culture, Music

Camille O’Sullivan shines at Festival of Voice with her new show “Cave”

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà by Maxwell Modell There is something uniquely beautiful about the love we have for musicians and their music. Over time they become some of the most important emotional figures in our lives, remaining prominent through lifeÔÇÖs highs and lows. They never leave our sides, never question us and always embolden us. Yet, this relationship is entirely unrequited and internal. As such, it is something … Continue reading Camille O’Sullivan shines at Festival of Voice with her new show “Cave”

andreagaini
Interview, Music

ÔÇ£Being an artist is fuckedÔÇØ – a conversation with milo (the rapper)

Interview by Rowan Lees After publishing a short summary piece for my Issue 168 of Quench, I have since sat on this full interview recording for almost two months. The conversation changed my life. I left the venue in a daze, my phoneÔÇÖs battery voice-noted to its death, and walked for a solid half hour stunned by the unreality of it all. I eventually began … Continue reading ÔÇ£Being an artist is fuckedÔÇØ – a conversation with milo (the rapper)

Aaron Roberts
Music

Facing The Music – The State of Mental Health in Music

Words by Rowan Lees   Musicians are some of the best placed people to speak about mental health.┬á Hectic tour schedules away from home, life spent constantly in the public eye, and a constant pressure to be ÔÇÿdroppingÔÇÖ new material arenÔÇÖt exactly a recipe for mental acuity. Music Minds Matter found that musicians are three times more likely to be suffering from mental health issues … Continue reading Facing The Music – The State of Mental Health in Music

rowanlees
Album Reviews, Music

Tranquillity, Base, Hotel + Casino Album Review

  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

charlieminett
Live Reviews, Music

LIVE REVIEW: Kele Okereke @ Clwb Ifor Bach 26/04/18

Words by:┬áLuisa De la Concha Montes Last Friday, Kele Okereke played at Clwb Ifor Bach with an acoustic set in an intimate environment, which is quite contrasting to what he is normally associated with, as the front man of Bloc Party. Many fans still remain unaware that for the last eight years, he has been quite invested in developing his solo career.During an interview back … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Kele Okereke @ Clwb Ifor Bach 26/04/18

rowanlees
Live Reviews, Music

LIVE REVIEW: Akala @ The Globe Cardiff 22/04/18

Words by Rowan Lees Akala made his long awaited return to Cardiff after last year’s succesful Clwb Ifor Bach gig, bringing with him a host of impressive support acts. Proceedings began with Deacon (whose interview with Quench you can read here) who gave a commanding performance on the tricky first slot of the night. We heard the brooding debut ÔÇÿNo EvilÔÇÖ and the crowd fully … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Akala @ The Globe Cardiff 22/04/18

rowanlees
Music

GIRLI @ Clwb Ifor Bach this Saturday!!!!

Words by Jessica Heap What could possibly be better than having a pink glitter filled party on a Saturday night? Nothing? Then IÔÇÖll see you at Clwb Ifor Bach on 14thApril. Having first discovered GIRLI during a YouTube exploring session I havenÔÇÖt looked back since. Mixing both fluffy pop with insightful and at times hard-hitting lyrics; GIRLI (real name Milly Toomey), has found a niche … Continue reading GIRLI @ Clwb Ifor Bach this Saturday!!!!

erinbrown
Music

Don’t miss Let’s Eat Grandma @ Undertone, Cardiff this Thursday!

Words by Erin Brown After catching LetÔÇÖs Eat Grandma back in 2016 at CardiffÔÇÖs very own S┼Án Festival and then again at Bestival 2018, I am ecstatic about their upcoming visit to Cardiff this Thursday! Put on by S┼Án,┬áLetÔÇÖs Eat Grandma will be taking to the stage at CardiffÔÇÖs Undertone this Thursday the 12th of April. Made up of two teenage, lifelong friends with an … Continue reading Don’t miss Let’s Eat Grandma @ Undertone, Cardiff this Thursday!

erinbrown
Music

LIVE REVIEW: Turbowolf @ Trinity Arts Centre, Bristol

Words by Max Taylor Fresh off the release of their megalithic new an album, ┬áTurbowolf returned to their home town of Bristol on Thursday night for a spectacular, celebratory sold out show at the Trinity Arts Centre on the 15th of March. BristolÔÇÖs Trinity Centre, an old church currently undergoing renovation, has only recently been opened for gigs, and its size and layout are ideal … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Turbowolf @ Trinity Arts Centre, Bristol

erinbrown
Album Reviews, Music

Sunflower Bean Twentytwo In Blue 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

charlieminett
Music

PREVIEW: Zak Abel @Thekla 21st March

If you arenÔÇÖt already hooked on Zak AbelÔÇÖs soulful tones, you are about to be. The young musician released his debut album in October 2017, and that was after having already lent his distinct vocals to one of Tom MischÔÇÖs most popular trip-hop and jazz inspired tracks ÔÇÿBeautiful EscapeÔÇÖ. Now fast-forwarding to March 2018 Abel is about to begin touring with his impressive debut album. … Continue reading PREVIEW: Zak Abel @Thekla 21st March

rowanlees
Music

ALBUM REVIEW: Turbowolf- ‘The Free Life’

Words by Max Harley Taylor Bristol band Turbowolf return with their third album The Free Life, where the band feel fully at home with their signature, amalgamous sound which blends seemingly every genre of guitar music into one psychedelic, gratifying and beefy auditory stew. The bands 2015 sophomore album Two Hands was a delirious, desert trip, which established many of their staple sounds; driving guitars … Continue reading ALBUM REVIEW: Turbowolf- ‘The Free Life’

erinbrown
Live Reviews, Music

Live Review: Everything Everything @Colston Hall, Bristol, 5/03/18

By Luisa De la Concha Montes Days before Everything EverythingÔÇÖs concert in Bristol, we were panicking. The starting date of the tour was supposed to be in Dublin, but because of the weather, the band had to postpone it. On top of that, they also had to cancel and postpone their gigs in Norwich and Birmingham. So, there we were, continuously (and a bit desperately) … Continue reading Live Review: Everything Everything @Colston Hall, Bristol, 5/03/18

rowanlees
Live Reviews, Music

LIVE REVIEW AND INTERVIEW: Himalayas @ Clwb Ifor Bach

Words by Naomi Kensall Himalayas finish their eight-gig UK tour with a homecoming gig at Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. The indie-rock band formed in 2015 and released their debut EP ÔÇÿEcstasyÔÇÖ, in 2016 with a highly positive response. They have grown rapidly since, establishing their own sound over the last three years. Made up of Mike Griffiths on lead guitar and vocals, Joe Williams on … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW AND INTERVIEW: Himalayas @ Clwb Ifor Bach

erinbrown
Live Reviews, Music

Live Review: Fickle Friends @The Globe 26/2/18

Formed in Brighton back in 2013, Indie pop band Fickle Friends have been establishing their place in the live music scene for some years now.┬á Kicking off the first night of their current tour in the Globe on Albany Road on the 26th February, their bright and energetic set showed that this band know how to work a crowd.┬á┬á The combination of the synth pop … Continue reading Live Review: Fickle Friends @The Globe 26/2/18

rowanlees