What If Birds Aren't Signing They're Screaming (3:03)
The World Is Looking For You (5:05)
Swell Does The Skull (5:51)
Review: It may be open to debate how ironic that title is - the New Zealand-born singer-songwriter Harding insists that it's not. But the fact that this record isn't overburdened by elated atmospherics takes nothing away from a quietly powerful, reflective and charismatic piece of work. PJ Harvey comparisons (particularly in relation to 'White Chalk') are bound to present themselves, especially with longtime Peej collaborator John Parish on board, but 'Party' is a dark gem with a lustre all its own. not to mention brio, humour and subtlety to spare.
Review: It's been a turbulent four-year period leading up to the release of 'No No No' for Zach Condon, including a divorce, a breakdown and a period in hospital in Australia for exhaustion. Yet surprisingly, he appears to have arrived at the other side with what may be his most uplifting and direct record to date. Far from the orchestrated, nostalgic laments of his earlier work, 'No No No' evolved from songs written as a piano-led trio, and is a short and sweet work dominated by understated '70s pop style arrangements, representing a reinvention that strips back to the radiant melody that was always at the heart of his music.
Review: It's not hard to understand why people so often ignore album release blurb. Sales-y, hyperbolic, and on more than the odd occasion rather poorly written, it's hardly required reading in order to get the most out of the record. That is unless it's Big Thief's 'Two Hands', a collection of music that genuinely makes more sense when you know the back story. For one thing this long form offering is arriving just months after its predecessor, which is always either the sign of a band that don't need big ideas to facilitate rapid-fire output, or a band that have so many big ideas they literally can't stop the momentum. This is a case of the latter. Timescale aside, "Two Hands" genuinely feels as though it was born in the Badlands, epic songs that invoke endless vistas across barren settings in a way that makes you feel as small as you actually are in a global context. Like cosying up in a log cabin away from the chilly endless dark of a desert night.
Review: Word of a sixth album from Big Thief comes with their latest track 'Vampire Empire'. First debuting live on Stephen Colbert's Late Show in March 2023, its lyrics express an inner conflict at "vampire empires", of the tendency for relationships to err towards toxic, parasitical and contingent mindsets and a rallying cry for infinite and unbroken loves. A fixture of their many live shows for at least a good few years now, we're pleased to finally be seeing the official release of this gem.
Review: "The album that put Bon Iver on the map is back, this time on limited white vinyl stretched across two LPs. This originally minimal, heartbreaking 9-tracker - that dealt with the shock of Vernon's best friend Heath Ledger's death, among other events - is now rounded off with 5 alternate recordings, 3 of which are stripped-down live takes on the album tracks 'Wash', 'Beth/Rest' and 'Hinnom, TX'. The remaining two come from elsewhere; 'I Can't Make You Love Me' and 'Babys', like the others, were recorded at AIR Studios by Justin Vernon and his bandmate Sean Carey, on grand pianos and vocals only.
Review: Kim Deal didn't waste any time in making The Breeders a vital force of their own rather than a mere Pixies side-project. By the time their second album Last Splash landed in 1993, they had struck gold with a sharply focused strain of noisy indie rock that was equal parts daring and fun. 'Cannonball' was the universally-adored hit which landed The Breeders in the wider consciousness, but there's so much more to the album than that summery blast of guitar squall. Just fast-forward to 'S.O.S.' and you'll hear a strikingly familiar lick of distorted wail which became a bedrock for a certain UK rave group's biggest hit. This 30th anniversary edition spreads the album out on double vinyl with a bonus red 12" featuring a previously unreleased version of 'Divine Hammer' sung by J Mascis.
Review: Lucinda Chua is currently based in South London and is a singer, songwriter, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. She crafts elegant and emotive music mainly using her voice and cello, plenty of effects units and draws on ambient for her inspiration. What results is atmospheric and intimate music that is utterly enchaining as this album on 4AD proves across ten tracks that come after she spent an intensive period studying Chinese dance forms. Lead single 'Echo' is a pop song about ancestral trauma that walks a thin line between respect for the past and the hope and freedom of a new future. It's captivating indeed.
Review: The Moon and the Melodies, a collaboration between Cocteau Twins and ambient pioneer Harold Budd, stands as a unique gem in both artists' discographies. Originally released in 1986, this ethereal album is now being reissued on vinyl, remastered from the original tapes by Robin Guthrie. Unlike anything else the Cocteau Twins ever produced, this record blends their dreamlike soundscapes with Budd's serene, improvisational piano work. The result is an atmospheric journey, at once intimate and expansive. Tracks like 'Sea, Swallow Me' shine with Elizabeth Fraser's otherworldly vocals, intertwined with Guthrie's shimmering guitar and Raymonde's grounding bass, creating a sound that feels both familiar and entirely unique. Instrumentals like 'Memory Gongs' and 'The Ghost Has No Home' highlight Budd's delicate piano, enhanced by the band's signature ambient textures. The album is a study in contrasts, vocal tracks sit alongside instrumentals, each contributing to a cohesive yet diverse listening experience. For fans, this reissue is a chance to revisit a pivotal moment in the evolution of dream pop and ambient music. The album's enduring appeal is evident in its continued influence in social media. The Moon and the Melodies remains a shining light that can happen when artists from different realms come together to create something truly timeless.
Review: The Moon and the Melodies, a remarkable collaboration between Cocteau Twins and ambient pioneer Harold Budd, remains a standout achievement in both artists' repertoires. First released in 1986, this enchanting album is now receiving a well-deserved vinyl reissue, meticulously remastered by Robin Guthrie from the original tapes. This album is a stunning fusion of the Cocteau Twins' signature dreamlike atmospheres with Budd's elegant, improvisational piano, resulting in a listening experience that is both expansive and deeply personal. The blending of Elizabeth Fraser's ethereal vocals, seamlessly intertwined with Guthrie's luminous guitar work and Raymonde's resonant bass, creates a sound that is both distinct and evocative. The album effortlessly balances vocal tracks with instrumentals, each adding to its rich and diverse sonic palette. This reissue offers a chance to rediscover a defining moment in the evolution of dream pop and ambient music. The Moon and the Melodies continues to stun audiences. This CD edition is the perfect vehicle to an ethereal beauty of the highest order.
Review: Daughter's third full-length and first in seven years is one of those hotly anticipated albums that doesn't disappoint on arrival. It's fronted once more by Elena Tonra, a singer, songwriter, and guitarist who asks what it means to be separated from loved ones and from yourself across 12 new tracks. The musical palette is broadened in those tunes, no doubt in part because members of the band have moved countries and cities, to make for a mix of love and longing with plenty of warm soul throughout. There are intense moments like 'Wish I Could Cross The Sea' and modern love stories like 'Future Lover' both providing real standouts. A great return.
Review: Elena Tonra, Igor Haefeli and Remi Aguilella return as Daughter, the cherished three-piece who very much embody the contemporary sound of 4AD. Stereo Mind Game is their first album in four years (not counting video game soundtrack Music From Before The Storm, and it finds them grappling with love over long distances - a sentiment many can relate to in these post-pandemic years. There's space for introspection and joy, all delivered with the wide-reaching sound and inherent delicacy which has made Daughter so well loved by so many.
Review: While many of today's biggest and most well-known r&b stars have got in-your-face bars and brash, confrontational personalities, Erika De Casier is a throwback to the quiet bedroom aesthetics of Aaliyah. Her tender, intimate vocal delivers convey power through their emotion as she muses on break ups, inner strength and general life woes. The beats are soft and moonlit with captivating melodies throughout. The Danish star is very much a cult favourite in the underground but this album might well help her break through to the next level.
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