Singles of the Week: Valentine’s Day, 2011.

Valentine’s Day. A time for smug couples, couples who secretly hate each other (but will have steak and Asti Spewmante by candlelight anyway), or for watching Bridget Jones whilst you get steadily drunk and maudlin in flannel pyjamas. Or, of course, tutting at the OBVIOUS commercialism behind the cards, making sick noises at snoggers in the cinema and reading some piffle what I wrote about this week’s singles. Tunes, not men, obvs. YOU DECIDE. … Continue Reading

Singles of the Week: January 10th 2011

It’s that time again! My turn to review the singles. Although don’t take my advice as read; I spend most of my time walking around Manchester listening to ABBA. This week, pretty girl voices, dancing, third rate R’n’B and why I think psuedo-punk is rubbish.

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Singles of the week! With I Blame Coco, May68, Tender Trap, Best Coast, Jamiroquai and more…

It’s my turn to do the singles this week. I’ll probably just hate everything and go back to listening to ‘Whip My Hair’ on repeat instead. Especially Jamiroquai. ENJOY!

I Blame Coco – ‘In Spirit Golden’ (Island)

Because I know Coco is Sting’s daughter, when she sings, I can’t help thinking “She sounds like Sting on lady pills.” But her voice actually does sound like a girl version of Sting’s, right down to the annoying quavering. The backing track is awfully 80s, and not in a good way- in a Little Boots/Europe way. NEXT. … Continue Reading

Sharon Van Etten – Epic

Sharon Van Etten - Epic

To Muso’s Guide, Sharon Van Etten is a name synonymous with putting the trauma that comes with heartbreak into songs that ache with feeling. Whilst her debut, Because I Was In Love, explores this subject in a sparse, minimalist manner, Epic suits its name- it’s an altogether more grandiose affair that leaves you brooding for hours after the initial listen. It’s not in any shape or form easy to pin down, but that just makes it even more beguiling. … Continue Reading

Salem – King Night

Salem - King Night

The music press have been collectively slipping in their own juices over a clutch of new genres this year. We’re probably all sick to the back teeth of hearing about chillwave now, and when I first heard the term ‘witch house’ being used, I thought I was going a bit mental. Supposedly, Salem are leaders of the coven, and their debut King Night is certainly bewitching, although sometimes not for the right reasons. … Continue Reading

Robyn – Body Talk Pt. 2

Robyn - Body Talk Pt. 2

Robyn’s musical career has actually spanned three decades, spawning five other albums and a Eurovision Song Contest pre-selection in her native Sweden, yet it wasn’t until 2005’s eponymous release Robyn that she began to gain acclaim in the UK. At the start of 2010, Robyn announced that she would be releasing three brand-new albums this year – the stuff of dreams for both her mainstream and underground fans, yet enough to make others take a step back and wonder if she’s up to the challenge. … Continue Reading

Islet – Celebrate This Place

Islet - Celebrate This Place

When a band is so new that they’re on their first release, it can be difficult to write about them. It’s even harder when Islet are a band that are almost impossible to track down online. Unusually for 2010, there’s no MySpace page, no Facebook link to ‘like’, and no philosophical rambles from the band on Twitter – fabulous in one sense, because it brings back the idea of a band being inaccessible and mysterious. It’ll probably annoy most of the music press because they can’t have a cheeky looksy on Google to pad out a feature, mind. Following the release of their free EP given away as part of Turnstile’s ‘Bento’ series, Celebrate this Place serves to further deepen the intrigue that surrounds Islet. … Continue Reading

Pomegranates – Everybody, Come Outside!

Pomegranates - Everybody Come Outside!

If you’re anything like me, just the mere mention of the word ‘winter’ will make you long for hot, sunny days and mountains of ice cream. Instead, endless months of rain, freezingness and shapeless knitwear are ahead. As SAD sets in, the perfect antidote is always a dose of summery indie-pop, isn’t it?

Pomegranates step up to this mood-altering challenge pretty well with their UK debut, Everybody, Come Outside! As soon as the insistent drumming of the title track begins, along with the order to “COME OUTSIDE!”, you want to stop whatever it is you’re meant to be doing and play out.

Allegedly, Everybody… is meant to be a concept album, based on the idea of a young bloke leaving home before being abducted by a time traveler, in a space ship called ‘Coriander’. Sometimes the very idea of a concept album can be off-putting, and one involving time-travely funny business might turn off some potential listeners straight away. Thankfully, Pomegranates are SO ACE that they’re able to pull it off without diving into cheese territory. … Continue Reading