Releasing an album under his own name for the first time, Steve mason was formerly front man with 90’s groundbreakers The beta Band who garnered critical acclaim and a host of celebrity fans before disintegrating under first the weight of Masons depression and fellow member Gordon Andersons drug induced psychosis. Not by the sounds of [...]
Read moreArchive for the ‘Reviews’ Category
The Hold Steady – Heaven is Whenever
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
The world’s greatest Bar Band (TM) were first brought to my attention with their heavily lauded 3rd album Boys and Girls in America. A riotous, thumping trip through born to run era Springsteen hailed by Uncut magazine as an Album of the year and Garlanded with 5 star reviews.
2 years later, MOJO staff in Leeds [...]
Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
I was pretty, no I have to say, very excited about this release when I read about it several months hence. Even though we’ve been underwhelmed by previous unheard material or bonus tracks added to classic albums, something felt different to me about this Hendrix package. A welter of unheard tracks fired out in a [...]
Read moreField Music – Field Music
Friday, March 12th, 2010
Field Music is the working title for the Sunderland based Brewis (Peter & David) brothers who as part of a shiftingly interesting wearside music scene have both at one stage or another been involved with area luminaries, Maximo Park and The Futureheads.
After a three album clutch had generated next big thing accolades an ‘Indie’ tag [...]
Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Monday, August 17th, 2009
This album see’s the third instalment by the East Midland boys and an altogether more concise musical effort.
Kasabian have unfortunately always been lumped in with the ladish/madchester scene; a pigeon hole which has hindered their musical efforts being taken as seriously as deserved.
‘West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum’, the group’s most conceptual work to date, will [...]
Doves – Kingdom Of Rust
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009
There has been a lot of talk in the reviews of the Doves latest effort of it arriving in a more welcoming world. Why more welcoming? Because Elbow have just had a huge Record. This may be a trifle unfair as Doves last 2 long players both reached the No. 1 spot and whilst they [...]
Read moreManassass
Friday, March 20th, 2009
Manassas were formed in the early part of the seventies around primarily the musical tour de force that is Stephen Stills. Joined by musicians who had backed up first CSNY and latterly Stills two solo albums. Vitally though, the band was buoyed by the inclusion of ex Burrito Brother and Byrd, Chris Hillman, fresh from [...]
Read moreDan Auerbach – Keep It Hid
Friday, March 20th, 2009
One half of Detroit blues crunch act The Black Keys, Auerbachs’ solo debut set sees a continuation of the subtle wing spreading that imbued much of last years Dangermouse produced effort, attack and Release. There is no abandonment of the principles that have informed the 5 Keys albums to date, rather a distillation and a [...]
Read moreOfficial Secrets Act – Understanding Electricity
Friday, February 27th, 2009
It really grabs you by the nuts this record. It took me some time to listen to Understanding Electricity in its entirety as I was forever skipping back to the start to enjoy the first three tracks again. Mainstream, So Tomorrow and The Girl From The BBC catapult you in with driving basslines and drums [...]
Read moreWhite Lies – To Lose My Life
Monday, February 16th, 2009
White Lies arrive as possibly the first hyped band of 2009. This debut arrives fully formed with widescreen choruses of stadium dimensions. It’s all shamelessly Joy Divisionesque with Ian Curtis phrasing and Hooky Bass lines. Imagine the The Editors but on a cocktail of performance enhancing drugs. Same building blocks, much stronger result.
So it’s synths [...]

