Quench Music let you know what theyÔÇÖre looking forward to in the coming year Newcomer: L├Ñpsley As we enter the New Year, speculation surrounding the next big thing in music begins. Last year saw the rise of the solo artist, which is set to continue throughout 2015. For fresh take on the increasingly overworked formula add L├Ñpsley to your playlist. The 18-year-old singer songwriter … Continue reading On The Lookout: 2015
From FKA twigs to Bombay Bicycle Club and Death From Above 1979 to Caribou, Quench Music round up the records that made 2014┬á Death From Above 1979 ÔÇô The Physical World┬á After ten years of hiatus, Sebastien Grainger and Jesse F. Keeler returned with second album, The Physical World, following up to ÔÇÖ04s YouÔÇÖre a Woman, IÔÇÖm a Machine. Not forgetting their once hardcore … Continue reading Quench Music’s Albums of 2014
We weigh in on the Spotify debate; was Taylor right to take her music away from the worldÔÇÖs largest music streaming service? Country star turned pop giant Taylor Swift reached the coveted platinum mark for her newest album, 1989. Selling nearly 1.3 million copies in the first week, the album is expected to have the largest first week sales since Eminem sold 1.3 million … Continue reading Feature: The Spotify Debate
The best new and upcoming artists to look out for this month… PALMISTRY ThereÔÇÖs something incredibly appealing about PC music and PALMISTRY has got it spot on. From swooning vocals dripping in distortion to blipping synth lines, this London based producer comes bearing a musical escape you wonÔÇÖt be able to turn down. With a full-length debut album knocking around on Soundcloud thereÔÇÖs ample to … Continue reading new/newydd – December
Jade Attwood reviews Augustines at The Globe… With both floors of The Globe packed to the rafters from the outset, support act Arkells start the evening off. Procuring a distinctly mixed age crowd, the Canadian rockers have a task on their hands to get the mood right. But, with constant witty interaction and angsty enthusiasm, the band certainly create a buzz in the previously sombre … Continue reading Review: Augustines – The Globe, 04/12/14
Ahead of their support slot in CardiffÔÇÖs Great Hall, Rachel Cunliffe and Louis Browne caught up with Olly and Emre from Years & Years to discuss synthesizers, celebrity fans and singing in the shower. Your sound seems to span numerous eras and styles; OllyÔÇÖs vocals are warm and soulful and have an almost nostalgic 90s feel to them, but then the production is modern and … Continue reading Interview: Years & Years
Words To The Blind sees two of LondonÔÇÖs most exciting alternative bands, the post-punk institution Savages and Japanese noise rockers Bo Ningen, perform simultaneously. At the heart of this 38 minute long experimental track is the early 20th century art movement Dadaism, in which artists valued and expressed irrational thought through visual chaos and unconventional structures. Words To The Blind finds the practice of automatic … Continue reading Album: Savages & Bo Ningen – Words To The Blind
ItÔÇÖs been a bit of a musical rollercoaster for The Kooks; with a slippery on-record slope since finding an incredible debut inInside In/Inside Out, theyÔÇÖve been hanging by a thread for the past few albums. But, having ownership over the odd tune to keep them in contention has helped with 2014 seeing them pick up the slack with their fourth LP┬áListen.┬á Walking On Cars bring … Continue reading Live: The Kooks – The Great Hall – 22/11/2014
On a night where they’re competing with the Welsh rugby team for punters, there’s a worry that The Gaslight Anthem could play their joint largest ever show to a half-full room. Indeed, during openers BaysideÔÇÖs angst-punk set, the throng was barely ten deep with many electing for the seating at very back of the arena. The veteran New Yorkers pound through a half-hour set characterised … Continue reading Live: The Gaslight Anthem – Cardiff Motorpoint Arena 22/10/14
We review Bristol’s premier electronic and alternative music festival, Simple Things… How To Dress Well ÔÇô Colston Hall 1 The Colston Hall has an unwelcome habit of swallowing up anything that steps inside it; itÔÇÖs no secret that it takes something, or someone, special to counteract its consuming capabilities. Tom Krell is an unassuming man, not the sort youÔÇÖd expect to kill a crowdÔÇÖs chatter … Continue reading Review: Simple Things – 25/10/14
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
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
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
Twin Atlantic impressed with their cracking debut full length, ÔÇÿFreeÔÇÖ.┬á Since then, the amount of interest focused on their follow up has increased with every year that has gone by. The boys from Glasgow have coped with this unexpected pressure with ease. There are no second album nerves apparent anywhere on ÔÇÿGreat DivideÔÇÖ. The album is confident and cohesive. There is a clear sense of … Continue reading Review: Twin Atlantic – Great Divide
FKA twigsÔÇÖ debut album ÔÇÿLP-1ÔÇÖ is not as humble as the title would suggest. Tahliah Barnett letÔÇÖs her music do the talking without need of a fancy title. The ethereal intro of ÔÇÿPrefaceÔÇÖ takes the listener almost to another dimension; angelic vocals are backed with a deep bass and a dark, beautiful, dreamlike feeling (more so than words) is explored. This aura is very present … Continue reading Review: FKA twigs – LP1
Biffy ClyroÔÇÖs B-side compilation album, ÔÇÿSimilaritiesÔÇÖ, is not a waste of time. ItÔÇÖs not a cheap money spinner that tides keen fans over until the next album cycle. It’s a demonstration of the hugely prolific and profound songwriter, frontman Simon Neil, and an exceedingly professional band doing exactly what they do best. The very nature of a compilation dictates that ÔÇÿSimilaritiesÔÇÖ is not as coherent … Continue reading Review: Biffy Clyro – ‘Similarities’
International tensions are increasing, conflict has provoked much political debate, and whatÔÇÖs more, the UKÔÇÖs general election is fast approaching. It is the time for celebrity cynics and anarchists to force their views upon us, increase their tabloid exposure, and make some money. Unsurprisingly, Morrissey has released a new album. While the opening lyric, ÔÇÿWorld Peace is None of Your BusinessÔÇÖ, does not provide the … Continue reading Review: Morrissey – ‘World Peace Is None Of Your Business’
With little time left to wait for PlaidsÔÇÖ self-titled debut album, punk fans may now rejoice. Unlike their scuzzy low-fi contemporaries in the DIY scene, Plaids have managed to refract their energetic songs through a prism of crystal clear production. The result is twelve tracks that fans of post-hardcore will relish. The theme of ÔÇÿspaceÔÇÖ ties the record together and the lack of song titles … Continue reading Review: Plaids – Plaids
Joyce Manor have delivered an unpretentious belter of a record. Storming past at a breakneck nineteen minutes long, the Californian bandÔÇÖs third full-length almost ends too soon. More arty than pop-punk and more hectic than plain olÔÇÖ indie, ÔÇÿNever Hungover AgainÔÇÖ forms somewhat ironically the perfect soundtrack to days spent drinking with your buddies. Themes of regret seem to permeate the record and as frantic … Continue reading Review: Joyce Manor – Never Hungover Again
