Orbital, Picture House, Edinburgh

By Kenny McMurtrie

December 02, 2012

Not a lot seems to have changed in the 15 years since I last saw Orbital but they’ve certainly got louder. Tonight’s set was delivered at ear-ringing volume, particularly ‘Beezledub’ & ‘Lush 3’, and the crowd couldn’t get enough of it. Called back at the end of the show for two encores the Hartnoll brothers were clearly moved by the rapturous appreciation and having as good a time as the heaving mass they were leading along. Add to this mix a first class visual array and a myriad of well used mini spotlights and you come away with a gig of the highest calibre. … Continue Reading

In Pictures: Calexico, London, HMV Forum

Here’s a few photos from Calexico’s recent show at London’s HMV Forum. The band’s latest album, Algiers, is out now via City Slang. All photos by Richie Soans (@RichSoansPhotos). … Continue Reading

Factory Floor, London, Tate Modern

Factory Floor at the Tanks, Tate Modern, by Will Taylor

By Greg Salter

August 25, 2012

Down at the Tate Modern on London’s Bankside, The Tanks – the gallery’s newest exhibition space, reclaimed from the old power station’s oil tanks – opened recently to a bit of a mixed reception. By and large, critics loved the space itself, developed by Herzog and de Meuron, though many were a little disappointed with how the first installations were presented. You can put all that down to teething problems perhaps – give the gallery and curators time and they’ll find the best way to utilise the Tanks’ dark and frequently disorientating spaces.

As part of their launch, a number of interactive events have been taking place for a few weeks now and, on Saturday, Tate Collective staged a performance by Factory Floor. The London-based trio’s performance was hypnotic and visceral, suggesting that this might be the kind of event the Tate might want to revisit consistently with their new space. … Continue Reading

Scissor Sisters w/ Little Boots, London, Shepherd’s Bush Empire

Scissor Sisters

By Nia Thomas

May 16, 2012

Scissor Sisters returned to the stage at Shepherd’s Bush (or “Shepherd’s Minge” as Ana Matronic lovingly referred to it) last week to preview songs from their new album Magic Hour.

Support act Little Boots kicked off the evening with a set of old singles alongside songs from her next album. Opening with the song that brought her to early attention, ‘Stuck on Repeat,’ and first single ‘New in Town,’ both receive an enthusiastic response from the audience. It’s a shame that the crowd’s enthusiasm is not matched. Little Boots, known for her skills as a songwriter as much as a pop star, doesn’t seem to be completely comfortable with herself onstage which is where so many of her contemporaries excel. She then performs two new songs ‘Headphones’ and ‘Every Night I Say a Prayer,’ the latter sounding like a great Kylie song with handclaps galore. Both showcase a more disco direction. Songs like ‘New in Town’ and ‘Remedy’ remind the crowd that Little Boots knows her way around a great song even if she doesn’t make an original mark on them. She closes with ‘Shake,’ similar, in many respects, to ‘Stuck on Repeat’ in its icy electro flavour, which suits her more than the pure pop she co-writes so well. … Continue Reading

In Pictures: Bombay Bicycle Club, London, Alexandra Palace

April 28, 2012

A few beautiful snaps from Bombay Bicycle Club’s recent headline show at London’s Alexandra Palace. Support on the night came from Lianne La Havas and Rae Morris. All photos by Alex Kavanagh. More of Alex’s work can be found at http://www.alexkavanagh.com.

… Continue Reading

Lloyd Cole, Amsterdam, Amstelkerk

Lloyd Cole

By Matt Brown

March 15, 2012

When referencing back pain and disappointing t-shirt sales as the enduring memories of this tour, Lloyd Cole tends to perpetuate the perception of a ‘grumpy old man’ persona. However with a bucketful of charm and self-deprecation he treads effortlessly on the right side of endearing without veering off into self-pity. … Continue Reading

In Pictures: The Black Keys / Band Of Skulls, Edinburgh, Corn Exchange

The Black Keys by Julia Stryj

By Julia Stryj

February 4, 2012

Last Saturday I woke up with a huge smile on my face in anticipation of what should be a fantastic gig by The Black Keys and Band Of Skulls in the evening. When it started snowing just before lunch time I was getting worried I might not make it up to Edinburgh for the evening, but gladly the snow stopped and I set off early to get there in time for doors opening. … Continue Reading

D’Angelo, London, Brixton Academy

D'Angelo

By Joel Stagg

February 3, 2012

Back last autumn when I purchased tickets to see D’Angelo at the slightly generous price of £40 a pop, the normal feelings of excitement and anticipation rubbed shoulders with some less usual ones. D’Angelo’s so-called sabbatical since the year 2000 when he dropped Voodoo, inhabited by well-publicised dalliances with drugs, alcohol abuse, rehabilitation in Antigua and dalliances on the wrong side of the law, led to a certain morbid curiosity and also a sense of trepidation. It seemed I wasn’t alone when the comedian Kojo, who hosted the evening, asked of the audience – “How many of you came just to see if he still looks the same?” … Continue Reading

Owen Pallett, Eindhoven, Catharinakerk

Owen Pallett

By Stef Siepel

Eindhoven is radiant due to all the city lights that have been placed for the Glow festival. Massive amounts of people are ant-like finding their way through the city center, which is bending if not breaking. In the midst of it a huge church is crowded by a throng of people, who see light coming from the House of the Lord and think, Well, maybe there is something in the church that has to do with Glow. So people hoard around the entrance, most of them being told that, in fact, this is a ticketed event. A gig, no less. It is, namely, the end of Owen Pallett’s two-and-a-half year world tour, which he concludes with orchestra. … Continue Reading

Twin Sister, Edinburgh, Sneaky Pete’s

Twin Sister, By Kenny McMurtrie

By Kenny McMurtrie

Keen as mustard to be on stage for the capacity crowd here tonight Twin Sister delivered note perfect renderings of such numbers as ‘Champy’ and set closer ‘All Around And Away We Go’, along with a couple (including the encore) of duets between just Andrea (looking a tad over-dressed for the event) and Eric. Undoubtedly a nice bunch, their music comes across well in a live setting but one couldn’t help but feel that it would be even better appreciated without having the band actually visible as a point of reference. … Continue Reading