CD / Digital Reviews
Review: Cardinals – Straight Outta Polygon E.P.
Comfortably snuggling on the musical spectrum in between the sounds of Brand New and Explosions in the Sky, exciting Southampton prospects ‘Cardinals’ are guaranteed to command your attention in 2011. At a glance, the band is understated, in fact their coy stage presence is one of their charms; there is a feeling that the music [...]
Review: Radiohead – The King of Limbs
Strange circumstances surrounded the release of Radiohead’s eighth studio album, their first since 2007’s In Rainbows: namely that one minute it wasn’t there, the next it was: The King of Limbs arriving silently on the morning of February 18th with only a few days warning and absolutely no orthodox promotion. It’s a move typical of [...]
Review: Wise Children – Absence & Reunion
Opening with a clackety, Tim Burton-esque music box which quickly gains momentum and complexity, the second release from this relatively unknown artist has taken a turn to a higher form of production, spreading out into a louder, more colourful soundscape. Using understandable but very compelling chord progressions, there are about four ‘real’ songs if you [...]
review: Arp Attack EP
The 4 track demo placed in my hands personally by singer Frankie after an explosive live set was always going to be heavily scrutinized. I enjoyed the comical, gender balanced front cover photography by Zoe McGarry. Formerly known as Jazica, Arp Attack are renowned for being an electro-laced guitar band with strongly transferable songs (as [...]
Review: The Quails – Master Of Imperfection
Firstly it has to be said that ‘The Quails’ is not the most original or inspiring of bands names, it’s one that sees them risk becoming lost in the sea of similarly prefixed bands and gives no hint of the music behind the name. Â Bland name aside however, closer inspection of the album reveals a [...]
Review: Gideons Demise – Kiss My Temper
Gideon’s Demise first album promises much and just about delivers. Because I was sent the mp3 files I’m not sure what the first track is, however let us assume its Watch The Sun.  Starting with a hooky guitar lick and classic Bonham drumbeat.  It snakes its way along through peaks and troughs of heavy memorable [...]
Review: Frank Turner – Rock & Roll EP
I’ve never been one to shy away from my love of Winchester’s Frank Turner. From his days fronting the ear splitting Million Dead through the ‘Folk Troubadour’ times when armed with nothing but an acoustic guitar, a train ticket and bucket loads of charm he would play to any who would spare an ear to [...]
Review: Bullit – Get With It EP
If so called ‘Britpop’ is dead, clearly nobody has told Bullitt….they list among their influences The Who and The Police, and certainly the rock-reggae fusion of Sting and friends is here in spades, along with Pete Townshend’s ear for a good hook. Opening track ‘Get With It’ possesses more than a hint of ‘Black Sea’ [...]
Review: SomaHigh -Something About You EP
SomaHigh have always been a band to wear their influences on their sleeves. The Southampton quartet began life a few years back with more than just a nod to Muse in their sound. Something About You is a pacy track which emanates No-one Knows era Queens Of The Stone Age. More than technically proficient, it’s [...]
Review: Skunk Anansie – Wonderlustre
With new album Wonderlustre confirming that Skunk Anansie’s ‘hiatus’ is well and truly over, the band go out on the road this month to remind everyone what a stunning live band they are. Whilst not particularly new and original in terms of the songwriting itself, Wonderlustre is a mature offering from a band with a [...]
Review: Dirty Pavor – (hands) EP
Winchester band Dirty Pavor have been notching up the gigs this year and now recently released their first EP – the two track (hands) Some songs (and music reviews) are just too long, and go on far longer than is needed to keep your interest. Short, sharp, to the point - that’s whats needed. The (hands) EP [...]
Review: Chickenhawk – Modern Bodies
Leeds based Chickenhawk have been a favourite of mine since they sent me an early demo some considerable time ago. I can’t normally justify writing about ‘out of town’ bands unless they have something very special to offer; then of course I’ll find any angle to justify writing about them for a South Coast based [...]
Review: Sabretooth Dream – “Missiles”
Seven-strong Sabretooth Dream are the best thing yet to come from the flourishing Bournemouth University music scene. With the institution expanding rapidly in the last few years, more and more creative types are drawn to the south coast- which can only be a good thing for local music. The band may have been together less [...]
Review: Stick In A Pot – When Monsters Arrive EP
Brighton based lo-fi folk rock band Stick In A Pot’s recent E.P. is worth checking out as Chris Morley has discovered… What’s in a name, you may very well ask? Well now, here’s your answer; not a lot! With a name like that you could be forgiven for thinking you were about to hear some [...]
Review: The Ryan O’Reilly Band – The Emily EP
By Andy Lloyd-Williams My ex-girlfriend used to tell me Ryan O’Reilly was too try-hard and couldn’t sing properly. Well I still like him and we’re not together anymore so let’s get on with the review! ‘Emily’- the title track- is a brilliant song- it was a pleasure to see the boys perform it live a [...]