What sort of music review website would we be if we didn’t dance on a few creative graves? Music in 2016 had its fair share of letdowns, and, with the best intentions in the world, we’ve identified some standout face-plants. Success is a brittle thing. ANDRÉ The Hope six Demolition Project // PJ Harvey As… Read more »
ANDREW 16.12.02016 I was immediately intrigued by Glass Animals from the first listen of “Gooey” off their debut album, Zaba. Between the soft warm synth bassline and the airy atmosphere the track was wrapped in, something felt distinct from similar bands. The rest of the album didn’t disappoint either, and I particularly enjoyed the… Read more »
ANDRÉ 28.10.02016 Let’s face it, Halloween playlists can be awful. “Monster Mash”, “Ghostbusters”, theme tunes from dated horror flicks… hell, even “Thriller” has become tainted. As a tasteful alternative, here lies a less conventional collection of frightening contemporary songs. Tracks that are fantastic in their own right, but flourish in an ambience of horror. More treats than tricks, I… Read more »
FRED 14.10.02016 Oasis’s infamous 1997 mad fer it cocaine extravaganza, Be Here Now, was re-released today, joining last week’s documentary about the band’s early years—Supersonic. Both have generated press, which has got me thinking about the group. I have a lot of time for Oasis, which is fairly easy to get away with. I’m also quite fond of Be Here Now, which… Read more »
ANDREW 05.08.02016 Taken from the mid-2000s comedy series of the same name, Green Wing does quirkiness exceedingly well. Trellis’s soundtrack for the series takes influence from jazz, latin, and classical music and melds them together with electronica and hip-hop techniques to produce an odd, but enjoyable fusion. It being a soundtrack, many tracks pass by pretty… Read more »
ANDREW 25.07.02016 Inspired by American doo-wop—though in my opinion the Cuban influences far improve upon the genre—Los Zafiros were a close harmony group hailing from Cuba. Bossa Cubana is a re-release of 17 tracks from their 9 year lifespan which includes some great Cuban instrumentation and tight unison vocals. Highlights include the fidgety title track “Bossa… Read more »
ANDRÉ 22.07.02016 This is the first in a series of articles in which we reflect on video game soundtracks. The pieces examine the musical content of the score and analyse the effects it has on the game. The music of The Legend of Zelda ranks amongst the most iconic in gaming history, capturing the imaginations of millions of… Read more »
ANDRÉ 11.07.02016 Richard James has been ‘back’ for a couple of years now, and I’m still struggling to comprehend it. His influence never ceased during his years of inactivity: on the contrary, he has grown into an enigmatic, enlightening symbol of electronic music. 2014’s Syro was a greatly satisfying return, serving as proof that he’s still ‘got… Read more »
FRED 27.06.02016 In the latest of an ongoing dialogue about revenue and copyright in the music industry, Big Name Musicians released a petition last week directed at the United States Congress. ‘THE DIGITAL MILLENIUM COPYRIGHT ACT IS BROKEN AND NO LONGER WORKS FOR CONTENT CREATORS’ is the all-caps gist of their concern. A worthy and important… Read more »
ANDRÉ 06.06.02016 Upon hearing the mundane misfortune of 2013’s Comedown Machine, I couldn’t help but wonder how such a decline had occurred in The Strokes. It seemed inconceivable that this was the same band who authored one of the most outstanding debut albums in contemporary music; a record responsible for the birth of… Read more »