The Memory Band – On The Chalk (Our Navigation Of The Line Of The Downs)

By Kenny McMurtrie

May 22, 2013

The Wicker Man & Stonehenge – two things you can bet are in most peoples’ top tens of ‘things you associate with folk music’. Cliches though have to begin somewhere but, just because this very enjoyable album starts off with a song that brings the aforementioned film to mind and its release was marked by band leader Stephen Cracknell taking a three day walk to the latter stone feature, that doesn’t mean this has all ben done before. … Continue Reading

Sparrow And The Workshop – Murderopolis

By Rob Aldam

May 22, 2013

There has always been a touch of the theatrical about Glasgow’s Sparrow and the Workshop. Their previous outings Crystals Fall and Spitting Daggers mixed playful folk with a sleazier rock side. The Irish/American, Welsh and Scottish trio seem to have grown into their sound since they began back in 2008. Murderopolis sees any tentativeness or uncertainty dissipate to be replaced by a strong sense of direction and focus. They seem to have finally shaken-off the shackles of nostalgic pining and found their own true voice.

… Continue Reading

The Hot Five

By Tom Fake

May 22, 2013

The Hot Five – My views on five tracks that have attracted my interest in any given week, usually with an older track thrown in the mix for something a bit different. Tracks usually concentrate on pop/rock releases, but really focusing on anything and everything that comes my way. … Continue Reading

The Baptist Generals – Jackleg Devotional To The Heart

By Nicko Ruddock

May 21, 2013

After 10 years of hiding away under what we can only assume was a rock, Indie folk ensemble The Baptist Generals are back with a new album; Jackleg Devotional to the Heart is a beautiful collection of acoustic numbers which step outside the boundaries of contemporary pop music. By lacking the usual fear that they might ‘do something wrong’ The Baptist Generals have allowed their music to move up to a higher plateau above the norm. The entire album boasts an organic, warm vintage sounding production which is akin to the hiss laden tracks recorded back in the ‘60s; a production choice which suits the folk vibe right down to the ground.

… Continue Reading

Bob Mould, Oran Mor, Glasgow

By Kenny McMurtrie

May 21, 2013

Bob Mould’s Silver Age album, by rights, should have been in my Top 20 of 2012. Having unfortunately not managed to hear it until February 2013 it missed out. As returns to form go though you’d be hard pressed to find a better example within the last 18 months. Tonight therefore promised to be somewhat special. … Continue Reading

The Fall – Re-Mit

By Tom Bolton

May 21, 2013.

A new album from The Fall is an event anticipated, expected even, by many. When Mark E. Smith finally stops making records, entirely against his will of course, we will feel his absence much more keenly than that of Margaret Thatcher or Alex Ferguson.  He may have outlasted both, but its evolution that has kept him going for so long.  The Fall’s sound is always unmistakable but never predictable. … Continue Reading

Suuns, XOYO, London

By Russell Watson

May 20, 2013

Field Report – Field Report

By Alistair Seaton

May 20, 2013.

These days a backstory seems to be obligatory for any debut album expecting to receive attention, and in this sense Field Report doesn’t disappoint.  It is a vehicle for Christopher Porterfield (of which Field Report is an anagram of his surname), a former member of DeYarmond Edison, the band that also used to provide a home for Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) and future members of Megafaun, Phil and Brad Cook. Given this pedigree, his self-titled debut sounds much as you might expect: folky, rootsy and slow-paced. Sparse and predominately acoustic, it also deploys splashes of synths in a way not dissimilar to the recent Phosphorescent album. … Continue Reading

Hooded Fang – Gravez

By Richard Wink

May 20, 2013

An unlikely early contender for album of 2013, this review will be more a plea attempting to convince you to give it a listen then anything else. When Toronto’s Hooded Fang released Tosta Mista it was weighed down slightly by some unnecessary filler, but it did carry some pointed clues to the future, a whiff of psychobilly, sixties surf and dumb psychedelia. … Continue Reading

Festival Coverage : Isle Of Wight Festival

By Kenny McMurtrie

May 20, 2013

The Isle Of Wight Festival these days hardly needs any extra advance promotion, given its association in the public consciousness with the original three events of the same name and the pedigree established over the 11 years since its revival by the Solo Music Agency. This year’s festival takes place from 13 to 16 June and at time of writing major acts such as The Stone Roses, Bon Jovi, The Killers and The Boomtown Rats have been confirmed along with smaller ones such as Kodaline, Imagine Dragons, Rizzle Kicks and Imperial Teen.

A weekend’s adult camping comes in at £185 but you can view the whole range of ticketing options by clicking on the festival name at the start of this article.

John Giddings of the organising team took time out from his packed schedule to answer a few questions we sent his way:- … Continue Reading