192 posts
New albums
If you consider Neil Hannon too clever for his own good, then starting his 12th collection by declaring “I jump the queue/ ‘cause I’m smarter than you” won’t help his…
Review: Mark Ronson – Late Night Feelings
Sometimes a simple phrase captures the public imagination. Think of Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow’s “conscious uncoupling”, or Dominic Cummings’ “Take back control”. To these, add “sad bangers”, which Mark…
Review: Kaiser Chiefs – Duck
Just over a decade ago, Kaiser Chiefs prepared for their third album’s imminent release, Off With Their Heads, with a riotous sold-out show at Leeds United’s Elland Road. This summer,…
Review: Lloyd Cole – Guesswork
“No need to scream and shout…” Serene and sincere, Guesswork seeks inspiration in contrasting legends, and the results will make them proud. There appear to have been two vital musical…
Review: NEW ORDER – ∑(NO,12K,LG,17MIF) NEW ORDER + LIAM GILLICK: SO IT GOES…
It’s sobering to realise this souvenir of New Order’s cumbersomely titled collaboration with conceptual artist Liam Gillick is their fourth live collection in less than a decade. Recorded in 2017…
Review: Madonna – Madame X
Defiantly eccentric in places, Madonna’s latest album Madame X – partially inspired by her move to Lisbon – offers enough rays of light to shine. The first signs weren’t entirely…
Album review: Bananarama – In Stereo
No one expected Bananarama to reinvent themselves. Most likely, no one wanted them to either. One thing’s for sure, though: Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward aren’t going to mess with…
Review: Stats – Other People’s Lives
“I am an animal,” Ed Seed declares at the outset of this London six-piece’s debut, but that can’t be true. Stats are too disciplined to be animalistic, though they’d definitely…
Review: Bryan Ferry And His Orchestra – Bitter-Sweet
“We just make music for ourselves, and if anyone else likes it, it’s a bonus.” This sentiment was once the self-righteous domain of indie purists everywhere, but it appears it’s…
Review: Marianne Faithfull – Negative Capability
Marianne Faithfull’s still only 71, but anyone who saw her touring recently will be aware of her ailments. She spends much of each show sitting regally in a throne-like chair,…