Tag Archives: music

Acts Of Fear And Love- Slaves Album Review

The bastions of middle class youth disillusionment return for a shorter, more consolidated and more heartfelt third outing, delivering what is without question their best record to date. AOFAL drops the Speakers Corner-shoutiness of their previous work in favour of something far more personal and emapthisable, dealing with themes of social media, self image, boredom, hate and good old fashioned break-ups too. Suddenly you’re not just screaming along with them, you’re in the same boat as them thematically too.

AOFAL also sees a welcome change in direction in sound. It’s more post-punky and original, though they haven’t lost their rough edge, which pokes its way through the album at all the right moments. The big punches come, however, when Slaves go off kilter and go quieter; ‘Daddy’ stands out in this regard. Though ‘Photo Opportunity’ kills it with the Weezer-esque structure and is anthemic chorus, which so effortlessly sums up life in the south east of England. Slaves arenÔÇÖt just moving on; moreover, theyÔÇÖre becoming cleverer with their sound, and wielding it with the same ferocity and dexterity as their lyrics.

A prominent online reviewer – whose opinion I’ve always respected but on this occasion I thoroughly disagree with – said that Slaves are a band who “just use punk as a fashionable veneer to make somewhat edgy, substance-free pop rock”. I’ll give him pop rock in regards to AOFAL given that it’s got plenty of singles potential and is far less abrasive sound-wise than previous Slaves records (just listen to ‘Cut And Run)’, but to call them “substance free” is an insult to the fact that Slaves have cornered a niche of the UK music scene and turned it into some of the best records of the last 5 years.

When you’ve grown up in the same sort of placer as Slaves have, Acts Of Fear And Love comes across as a record that just speaks your language. It’s personal not just in terms of its tone, but because it knows exactly what you’re going from. Oh, and it absolutely rocks at some points.

The Specialist Takeover is Here!

On Saturday, November 25th, we interrupt your regular programming to bring you 24 hours of SPECIALIST music!

Xpress Radio will be live for 24 hours to bring you a selection of some of the best tunes of all time. If COUNTRY makes your lines dance, if INDIE is your aesthetic, if DAD MUSIC (wait, what?!) is your jam, then Xpress Radio is the station for you! Tune in over on our LISTEN page throughout the day to hear your favourite genres.

We are putting ourselves through our paces in order to raise some money for our station. We are in the unfortunate position whereby our ancient equipment is giving up on us. In order to be able to continue broadcasting, we are relying on your generosity and love of radio.

You can read our full story on our GoFundMe page and donate to us there. Thank you for your generosity and enjoy the MUSIC!

SCHEDULE

SATURDAY
  • 12pm – Saturday Alternative /// Munro, Freyja & Emilia
  • 1pm – Sessions with Live Music Society
  • 2pm – Decade /// Jessica & Joanne
  • 3pm – Alt Rock Hour /// Vicky, Charlie & Rory
  • 4pm – International Groove /// Curtis & Ed
  • 5pm – Saturday Sport ‘Music’ Special /// Jack & Charlie
  • 6pm – House & Dance /// Gareth & Tristan
  • 7pm – Yeezy Takeover /// Emma
  • 8pm – Nostalgic Rock /// Michael & Charlie
  • 9pm – New Age Indie /// Keiran
  • 10pm – The Hardcore Show /// Ned
  • 11pm – Ska Hour /// Rachael
SUNDAY
  • 12am – Gaydio
  • 1am – Dad Music /// Sam & Emi
  • 2am – Local Music /// Meg
  • 3am – Indie Hour /// Anja, Jamie & Bethan
  • 4am – Early Morning Country /// Charlie
  • 5am – Wild Hour /// Liz & Danni
  • 6am – Video Game Soundtracks /// Ted & Megan
  • 7am – Bollywood /// Aditi
  • 8am – Boogie For Your Breakfast /// Michael
  • 9am – Mellow Pop /// Ned
  • 10am – Chilled Ibiza House /// Gareth
  • 11am – Thnks Fr Th Mmrs /// Takeover Rewind /// Jessica

Catch the highlights here!

 

Welsh Language Music Day // Dydd Miwsig Cymru

10th of February marks Welsh Language Music day, a time to celebrate music of all genres from all across Wales which are sung in Welsh. This year, Cardiff University Students’ Union’s Welsh Language Officer, Osian Wyn Morgan, teamed up with Xpress Radio to mark the occasion.

Throughout Friday, Xpress Radio played a selection of popular welsh music compiled into a playlist. See our playlist on SoundCloud

For all you welsh speakers (or just music lovers) check out the our specialist 2 hour welsh language music show from Aled Russell and Harri Hughes (see below)

[mixcloud https://www.mixcloud.com/xpressradio/y-ddau-fwydryn-welsh-language-music-day-dydd-miwsig-cymru-specialist-radio-show/ width=100% height=120 hide_cover=1 light=1]

FM Schedule

Just 3 days to go until we’re on 87.7FM across Cardiff! Here’s a sneak peek of our schedule!

FM Schedule-2

 

From The Archive: Sounds From S┼Án

It’s S┼Án┬átomorrow, so we thought we’d bring you a selection of coverage from the Xpress archives to get you even more psyched!

Sound of S┼Án 2012: Podcast #1

Sound of S┼Án 2012: Podcast #1

The first instalment of Xpress Radio’s foolproof guide to S┼Án Festival 2012. Jo Southerd chats to Greta Isaac, and we hear what Huw Stephens has to say.

Listen

Sound of S┼Án 2012: Podcast #2

Sound of S┼Án 2012: Podcast #2

This podcast features artists from the Saturday 20th October line-up, plus session tracks from local band Denuo, and S┼Án Presents artist Rachel Sermanni.

Listen

Al Lewis - Battles

Al Lewis – Battles

For S┼Án 2012, Xpress Radio took over the top floor of ‘The Promised Land’ and managed to get some awesome sessions from the bands playing at the festival.

Listen

Al Lewis - Treading Water

Al Lewis – Treading Water

For S┼Án 2012, Xpress Radio took over the top floor of ‘The Promised Land’ and managed to get some awesome sessions from the bands playing at the festival.

Listen

Paper Aeroplanes - Fable

Paper Aeroplanes – Fable

For S┼Án 2012, Xpress Radio took over the top floor of ‘The Promised Land’ and managed to get some awesome sessions from the bands playing at the festival.

Listen

Paper Aeroplanes - This Land Won't Shake

Paper Aeroplanes – This Land Won’t Shake

For S┼Án 2012, Xpress Radio took over the top floor of ‘The Promised Land’ and managed to get some awesome sessions from the bands playing at the festival.

Listen

Fossil Collective - Let It Go

Fossil Collective – Let It Go

For S┼Án 2012, Xpress Radio took over the top floor of ‘The Promised Land’ and managed to get some awesome sessions from the bands playing at the festival.

Listen

Fossil Collective - River's Edge

Fossil Collective – River’s Edge

For S┼Án 2012, Xpress Radio took over the top floor of ‘The Promised Land’ and managed to get some awesome sessions from the bands playing at the festival.

Listen

Clock Opera - Belongings

Clock Opera – Belongings

For S┼Án 2012, Xpress Radio took over the top floor of ‘The Promised Land’ and managed to get some awesome sessions from the bands playing at the festival.

Listen

Clock Opera - The Lost Buoys

Clock Opera – The Lost Buoys

For S┼Án 2012, Xpress Radio took over the top floor of ‘The Promised Land’ and managed to get some awesome sessions from the bands playing at the festival.

Listen

From The Archive: Various Cruelties - Chemicals

Various Cruelties – Chemicals

For S┼Án 2012, Xpress Radio took over the top floor of ‘The Promised Land’ and managed to get some awesome sessions from the bands playing at the festival.

Listen

Various Cruelties - She's The One

Various Cruelties – She’s The One

For S┼Án 2012, Xpress Radio took over the top floor of ‘The Promised Land’ and managed to get some awesome sessions from the bands playing at the festival.

Listen

Greta Isaac in Session

Greta Isaac In Session

Greta Isaac performs ‘It Comes and Goes’ at 10 ft. Tall. Greta is a Welsh singer-songwriter whose folk music is inspired by the likes of Laura Marling and Bon Iver.

Listen

Rachel Sermanni in Session

Rachel Sermanni In Session

Rachel Sermanni visited Xpress ahead of her gig at 10 ft Tall as part of her tour, following the release of her album ‘Under Mountains’. Here she performs ‘Breathe Easy’ and ‘Waltz’.

Listen

Xpress Does The Fests 2014

This summer, we’ve been to Greenman, Victorious, Festival Number 6, Bestival and Strawberry Fields. Hear some exclusive interviews as we help you relive those summer vibes.

Greenman Festival

Greenman Festival 2014

Xpress Radio’s coverage of Greenman Festival featuring Boy and Bear, 9Bach, Valleyers, Jess Morgan, Famy and Fiona, who organises Greenman.

Listen

Strawberry Fields

Strawberry Fields 2014

We sent Zach Hughes, Danielle Wickham and Emily Stratford to Strawberry Fields 2014. They caught up with George Barnett, Catfish and the Bottlemen and Lostalone.

Listen

Victorious Festival: Part 1

Victorious Festival: Part 1

In the first of our three-part mini series from Victorious Festival 2014, Jess Campbell and Kieran Lewis chat to Eagle and Weeks, Felt Tip and Imperial Mammoth.

Listen

Victorious Festival: Part 2

Victorious Festival: Part 2

In the second episode of our three-part series from Victorious Festival 2014, Jess and Kieran meet the internet sensation and multi-talented singer-songwriter Kelvin Jones.

Listen

Victorious Festival: Part 3

Victorious Festival: Part 3

It’s the final part of Xpress Radio’s highlights from Victorious Festival 2014. What better way to finish than to interview the sensational Just Millie and Lewis Watson?

Listen

Festival Number 6: Part 1

Festival Number 6: Part 1

Bethan Lyons was at Festival Number 6 in Portmeirion and had a chat to Alexis Taylor, Swnami and Toy.

Listen

Greenman Festival

Festival Number 6: Part 2

Bethan Lyons brings you more highlights from Festival Number 6 2014, including interviews with Childhood, London Grammar and Telegram.

Listen

Festival Number 6: Part 3

Festival Number 6: Part 3

In the final part of our Festival Number 6 coverage, Bethan Lyons chats to Temples and Los Campesinos!

Listen

Bestival: Part 1

Bestival: Part 1

Chloe Allen and Jess Campbell were at Bestival 2014, and chatted to some of the best emerging artists around, including Bipolar Sunshine and Plastic Mermaids.

Listen

Bestival: Part 2

Bestival: Part 2

Jess and Chloe were backstage at Bestival’s BBC Introducing stage. They spoke to Go Swim, Lake Komo and Nai Harvest. Rob Da Bank also made a guest appearance.

Listen

Bestival: Part 3

Bestival: Part 3

In the final part of our Bestival 2014 highlights, Chloe and Jess talk to Happyness and MNEK. It’s the last part of our 2014 festival highlights and we’ve loved every minute!

Listen

Strawberry Fields

First thing thatÔÇÖs important to know about this festival, which also makes it very appealing for amateur festival goers, is its size. With two main stages, a couple of camping fields and a variety of food vendors, it is a small and manageable small festival. However, in these few fields the organisers of this event manage to fit in an awesomely diverse offering of entertainment. ThereÔÇÖs comedy acts to be found in the Orange Tree tent, exciting musicians on the Main and Strawberry Jam stage and even some dodgems for the hardened carnies. Dani, Zach and Emily were fortunate to catch up with a variety of artists that performed at Strawberry Fields. They found that all bands were united in their profound humbleness and willingness to share their experiences of festivals and comments on upcoming work. A massive shout out to Baz, one of the on-site managers that helped them out enormously, arranging interviews and offering guidance around the site across the weekend. Sadly, ÔÇÿhurricaneÔÇÖ BerthaÔÇÖs remnants blew through Leicesteshire on Sunday afternoon and called the Festival off early, meaning the cancellation of the eagerly anticipated Goldie Lookin Chain did not grace the main stage. Apart from that, a faultless weekend and a highly recommended festival!

 

By Zach Hughes

Victorious Festival 2014

 

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On the weekend of the 23-24th of August Kieran Lewis and I headed to Portsmouth for the magical Victorious Festival!

From the Nevada Acoustic Stage to the Seaside Stage we not only saw loads of great performances, but we caught up with a plethora of acts throughout the weekend; including Kelvin Jones, Imperial Mammoth and Lewis Watson.

Being from Portsmouth myself, I was surprised to see the transformation of Southsea seafront into a fully capable festival. The response to the festival was extremely positive; perfect for festival go-ers looking for somewhere different to families wanting the festival experience from a friendly, smaller and less hectic environment than one would get at Bestival, for example and catered for everyone with the local food stalls to the pop up fashion tents, to of course, the music.

One really intriguing area was the ÔÇ£Casemates StageÔÇØ, a variety of acts performed on this tiny platform which you were greeted with upon entry with a general acoustic and Bluesy sounding act playing a set from 11am. For bands such as Eagle & Weeks this resounded with a HUGE audience response as they covered the headliner Dizzee RascalÔÇÖs ÔÇ£BonkersÔÇØ, drawing in more of a crowd than the nearby Nevada Stage.

However, we spent most of our time over by the Seaside stage, which unsurprisingly was the closest location to the Seafront with the area dominating the Bandstand and a lovely view of the water. For many acts, such as Felt Tip and The Van Susans, this gave the opportunity to play on a much larger stage than they were familiar with. I thought this was brilliant to see and evidently gave these smaller bands a helping hand in regards to gaining new fans being the most popular stage regarding audience size.

My ÔÇ£OneÔÇÖs To WatchÔÇØ from Victorious include:

Kelvin Jones (of Good Morning America fame

Felt Tip (who have been on the Topshop/Topman playlist)

Kassassin Street (psych-rock with a Southsea cult following who will be snapped up v.soon)

Lewis Watson (who was also a very lovely guy)

Van Susans (folky and stuff)

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All content written by Jessica Campbell