There’s no doubt that the band can charm an audience. It is perhaps fitting that the Cardiff leg of Clean BanditÔÇÖs autumn tour passes by The Great Hall on a Saturday night. Despite the curious m├®lange of adults on a night-out, and teenage girls who canÔÇÖt quite manage to get served, the crowd is buzzing with the diluted visions of hedonism that only a weekend … Continue reading Live Review: Clean Bandit, The Great Hall
The Flaming Lips are as bizarre as they are enduring. The Flaming Lips are as bizarre as they are enduring. Their heady mix of dreamy synth-pop, acidic sampling and crushing walls of sound has been around for almost three decades, and thereÔÇÖs still no sign of slowing down. Their most recent endeavour – a cover of the BeatlesÔÇÖ eighth studio album Sgt. PepperÔÇÖs Lonely Hearts … Continue reading Review: The Flaming Lips-With A Little Help From My Fwends
‘Putting pistols in faces’. El-P and Killer Mike have teamed up for a sequel to what was, for many, one of the finest rap albums of 2013. Aptly titled Run the Jewels 2, the album kicks off in a similar vein to the previous project, with a menacing bass line and notions of ÔÇÿputting pistols in facesÔÇÖ. ÔÇÿBlockbuster Night Part 1ÔÇÖ is all barely controlled … Continue reading Review: Run The Jewels-Run The Jewels 2
Less immediate pop music. After a fairly tame first album from KindnessÔÇÖ Adam Bainbridge, the release of Otherness sees a more coherent statement. Here, he continues to build on his industrious reputation as a pop artist, tightening up his sound to produce a sense of clarity in search of creating pop music that is, what he describes as, ÔÇÿless immediateÔÇÖ. The album features a star-studded … Continue reading Review: Kindness-Otherness
This genre is where Taylor belongs and most likely, will be staying for future music. You might wonder how global superstar Taylor Swift can top Red, the 2012 album that sold over 1.2 million copies in just its first week. Whilst it may have been hard to follow, Taylor has more than risen to the challenge; country roots have been stripped away and 1989 emerges … Continue reading Review: Taylor Swift-1989
They deserve all the luck and success that they are sure to amass. ‘Menagerie Melodies’ is the publically audible inception of solo musician, Son Joan. An EP comprising of four grunge laden, psychedelic tracks that are available through Quatre Femmes Records. How did this intriguing project come about? “I started writing about 2 years ago with the intention of starting a solo project. The songs … Continue reading Interview: Son Joan
┬á Twin Atlantic meet and exceed expectations. On Sunday 2nd November, Glaswegian four-piece Twin Atlantic took to the stage in Y Plas at Cardiff UniversityÔÇÖs Student Union with fantastic support from Essex boys Nothing But Thieves and fellow Scotsmen, The Xcerts. At around 21:15 it was finally time for what weÔÇÖd all been waiting for; Twin Atlantic hit the stage. Having seen the boys play … Continue reading Live Review: Twin Atlantic
Another reckless Uni band ready┬áto inject 500mg of pure, unadulterated fun into the UKÔÇÖs music scene is Childhood. Another reckless Uni band ready┬áto inject 500mg of pure, unadulterated fun into the UKÔÇÖs music scene is Childhood. Having taken on festivals from Reading/Leeds to IOW’s Bestival, we discuss their biggest aspirations before their support slot with Johnny Marr at The Great Hall (and with the man … Continue reading Interview: Childhood
A room full of Johnny Marr fans┬áis moved to tears. YouÔÇÖre likely to recognise Johnny Marr through his diverse history: being crowned NMEÔÇÖs Godlike Genius; his work with some teeny-tiny band Mancunian band back in the 80ÔÇÖsÔǪ or a recent two (stupefying impressive) solo albums, the latter of which he happens to be midway through touring as he blesses the ground of CardiffÔÇÖs Great Hall … Continue reading Live Review: Johnny Marr
The best new and upcoming artists to look out for this month… Dream Beach No label involvement, no blog premiers and no A&Rs; Ryan HemsworthÔÇÖs Secret Songs venture is every new musicianÔÇÖs dream. A chance to be heard by 20,000 followers with no compromises and no strings attached, Secret Songs brings the best and brightest in new electronic music to the forefront. Dream Beach, one … Continue reading new/newydd – November
Credit: LCN Photography We review Cardiff’s premier music festival, DimSwn… Seazoo – Clwb Ifor Bach On entering the downstairs of Clwb Ifor Bach, you could be mistaken for thinking that youÔÇÖd been transported into eighties era Top Of The Pops. ItÔÇÖs a fact that Seazoo point out as they finish up their sound check. Bathed in atmospheric blue and green lights that befit the bandÔÇÖs … Continue reading Review: DimSwn
Cavalry┬ástorm at┬áLe Pub and leave victorious. One band┬áin a slew of many, local boys Cavalry take to the stage┬áof Newport’s iconic┬ávenue as part of the current Save Le Pub campaign. In a quest to raise the necessary funding so that the venue can insulate their roof and remain in operation, bands have been forgoing payment, while putting on awesome shows. Tonight is no exception. After … Continue reading Live Review: Cavalry, Le Pub
Tom Reeder reviews Fear Of Men at Clwb Ifor Bach Monday night, and as openers The Echo and The Always materialise on stage, the audience of Clwb Ifor Bach remain scattered, drawn instead to their beer and gossip. It doesnÔÇÖt take long for The Echo to steal their attention, though, and after the opening song, everyone is listening intently. ItÔÇÖs never easy to open a … Continue reading Live Review: Fear Of Men, Clwb Ifor Bach, 29/09/14
A thoroughly impressive release. SBTRKT, the self-taught masked producer, returns with his second album, Wonder Where We Land. This release sees a move away from the cheerful dubstep-meets-garage of the first album, and towards a much edgier and almost otherworldly sound. One feature that has been kept, however, is the regular collaboration, including bringing┬áback┬áSampha, and Jessie Ware from the first album. The former features on … Continue reading Review: SBTRKT-Wonder Where We Land
Charlie Mock chats to Turbowolf pre-Simple Things Festival… You’ve been working on album two over the last few months – how’s it all coming along?┬á I think it’s been a few years but a few months sounds better. The good news is that it’s finished, the bad news is that it’s so good that it will sour everything that’s ever been. What can we expect … Continue reading Interview: Turbowolf
Ahead of Lonely The BraveÔÇÖs co-headline show at CF10, Louis Browne sat down┬áwith Bush and Ross from the band to discuss public showers, GCSE results and why┬áthey class their sound as ÔÇÿdoom-popÔÇÖ. Quench Music (QM): So youÔÇÖre four days into the Big Cheese tour with Marmozets, how has it┬ábeen so far? Andrew Bushen (bass): Brilliant, yeah great fun thanks. QM: This year has seen you … Continue reading Interview: Lonely The Brave
The sheer span of their set is impressive. After Manchester OrchestraÔÇÖs first UK gigs in 3 years proved a success in┬áApril, the swift announcement of a following string of British dates in October and the┬áre-imagining of their newest record ÔÇÿCopeÔÇÖ came as a surprise. According to the bill, Bad Books, a band made up of Manchester Orchestra,┬áKevin Devine and drummer Ben Homola would be … Continue reading Live Review: Manchester Orchestra, CF10
India Thomas had a chat to Sam Macintyre and Jack Bottomley from Marmozets ahead of the Cardiff date of their co-headline tour with Lonely The Brave. Quench Music (QM): Debut album ‘The Weird And Wonderful MarmozetsÔÇÖ is finally out, are you guys glad for it to be here at last? Jack (J): Very hyped and relieved that itÔÇÖs finally out. ItÔÇÖs been a long winding … Continue reading Interview: Marmozets
Lucy Woodham catches up with Ella Eyre ahead of her first solo UK tour┬á SheÔÇÖs known for being the voice behind tracks with Rudimental, Bastille and Naughty Boy and as the 20 year old Londoner with the big hair, but after the release of her third EP ÔÇÿComebackÔÇÖ, Ella Eyre is finally coming into the limelight as one of the UKÔÇÖs leading female solo artists. … Continue reading Interview: Ella Eyre
The best new and upcoming artists to look out for this month… Ryn Weaver ÔÇÿItÔÇÖs not what you know, itÔÇÖs who you knowÔÇÖ isnÔÇÖt always the best motto to live your life by. Unless youÔÇÖre Ryn Weaver, that is. When she ÔÇÿran intoÔÇÖ friend of a friend and producer of more huge pop hits than you can shake your finger at, Benny Blanco, on Tinder … Continue reading new/newydd – October
