Release Reviews
Stornoway - Tales from Terra Firma
For all its many laudable attributes, Tales from Terra Firma proves ultimately frustrating: a skilled, capable and talented band still unaware of how best to channel and control their creative energies. »
Parenthetical Girls - Privilege (Abridged)
This is by turns a wonderful and deeply irritating record, charming and frustrating in equal measure.»
Chaos Chaos - S
The fun of Smoosh is still here, just balanced with the experience gained from having your teen years all but behind you.»
Devendra Banhart - Mala
The results are interesting without ever stretching into what could be classed as truly exciting, a collection of hazy, groove-led tracks that never seem to spark into life to a great degree or hook their melodies deep enough into your brain.»
Pete Swanson - Punk Authority
Pete Swanson’s current techno mode chimes helpfully with other broadly like minds of the moment, but he’s definitely establishing his own niche with Punk Authority.»
Autechre - Exai
A glistening set of intergalactic transmissions that are unreplicatable and evocative.»
Anaïs Mitchell, Jefferson Hamer - Child Ballads
As a love letter to swirling mythology and the centuries old folk tradition from which Anaïs Mitchell emerges, Child Ballads is gorgeous, beguiling and enrapturing.»
Tunabunny - Genius Fatigue
With a lineage of musical talent that includes REM, Neutral Milk Hotel and The B52s among its number, the city of Athens, Georgia has a history to be proud of. One of its more recent exports are Tunabunny, a four-piece whose lo-fi, post-punk stylings have occasionally drawn comparison with Sleater Kinney, Throwing Muses and Yo La Tengo. »
Hookworms - Pearl Mystic
Pearl Mystic just happens to be one of those records that embodies perfection.»
Doldrums - Lesser Evil
Impresses but never quite thrills.»
Local Natives - Hummingbird
Hummingbird may not be a reinvention of the wheel, but it is far from a dilution of its influences.»
Gold Panda - Trust
The most impressive aspect of Trust is how satisfying it is.»
The Cave Singers - Naomi
It’s a bit like listening to an early Death Cab record, but with Layne Staley singing vocals on an exceptionally mellow, blissed-out day.»
Torres - Torres
There’s enough raw talent here to suggest something truly great could follow.»
Chelsea Light Moving - Chelsea Light Moving
While preserving his natural nonchalant charm, Thurston sounds more vigorous, bellicose, twitchy and forceful than he has in years.»
The Men - New Moon
If you’ve ever wondered what an abridged version of Double Nickels on the Dime would sound like, here’s your opportunity to discover how D.Boon and Mike Watt averted disaster. »
Palma Violets - 180
Palma Violets get a pass this time, their lack of focus and their naivety balanced by their charm.»
Bastille - Bad Blood
Fans of the big pop chorus and powerful male lead vocal should snap this up.»
Young Dreams - Between Places
The Young Dreams formula thrills, but only once.»
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Dawn McCarthy - What the Brothers Sang
What The Brothers Sang plays like a lovingly-made mixtape taken to the extreme: material so beloved that Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and Dawn McCarthy share it with you by actually performing it.»
Gnod - Chaudelande
Chaudelande is what it is - it asks questions and doesn't expect answers.»
Girls Names - The New Life
At times, The New Life feels like a concept. The sound of isolation and despair. Even visually mirrored and depicted by Rob Peart's monochrome sleeve photo.»
Atoms For Peace - Amok
Amok is, above all, a very pleasurable listen, basically just the sound of some talented middle aged dudes enjoying themselves. Let it wash over you, and you’ll enjoy it too. »
Post War Years - Galapagos
Galapagos will definitely keep the party going, though it might not do much more than that.»
armchair dancefloor 39: Mount Kimbie interview, Bobby Browser, Powell, Move D, Leon Vynehall...
DiS meets John Lydon - Part 1: The Man
DiS Does Singles 20.05.13: Paramore, Laura Marling, The Replacements
DiS joins the Music Alliance Pact + May 2013's global MAP compilation
Drowned in Bristol #12
DiS Does Singles 13.05.13: Swim Deep, These New Puritans, The National
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