In Depth by Paul Brown
Hello October. The month where we (well, I) reluctantly dust off the big coat, resign ourselves to the nights drawing in and savour the first faint whiffs of gunpowder in the air. Fortunately, to keep us warm we’ve got an especially bumper crop of fantastic new North East music sidling out of the shadows in a late bid to find accommodating ears before December’s list-making silly season turns otherwise rational music fans into anal loons obsessed with ranking the unrankable.»
In Depth by Paul Brown
Part three of our local scene guide to the North East...»
In Depth by Paul Brown
The second installment in our local scene guide from our scribe in the North East....»
In Depth by Paul Brown
Ever since taking over the Drowned in Newcastle column just shy of a year ago, I’ve frequently been faced with a dilemma over where to draw the line geographically. It’s probably the same for a lot of cities, but Newcastle’s scene is no longer (ahem»
In Depth by Paul Brown
Before we get into the cut and thrust of a seriously busy few months in our fair city, I owe Richard Dawson an apology. The last couple of Drowned in Newcastle columns have drawn one or two comments calling me out on the absence of coverage of his album T»
In Depth by Paul Brown
It’s only natural at this time of year for us all to get a bit reflective. So, at a time when the Internet is poised to go crazy with nostalgia for the last eleven and a bit months, it seems fitting to devote this installment of Drowned in Newcastle to an attempt to round up all of the great stuff which has happened in our music scene over the course of 2011.»
In Depth by Paul Brown
Since our last trawl through Newcastle and its surrounding areas, so much exciting stuff has happened that it’s hard to pick out the cream. If pressed, I’d say the highlight has been the Month of Fridays series, on which the curtain was pulled down in»
Review
by Paul Brown
Anybody involved with this record should be bursting with pride, not just because of the massively laudable charitable element, but also because, ultimately, North East by East Africa represents a near-perfect introduction to the wonderful collection of bands we’re extremely lucky to have in this part of the world.»
Review
by Paul Brown
It’s enormously derivative, but it’s also frequently exhilarating, so who gives a shit?»
In Depth by Paul Brown
The fourth installment of our local scene reports from our scribe in Newcastle...»
Review
by Paul Brown
By presenting us so brazenly with a comprehensive package of what Suede know is their worst music, they're reminding us of just what a ballsy, spectacular bunch of freaks they have been since day one.»
In Depth by Paul Brown
I’m going to start my Drowned in Newcastle tenure with a confession; After seeing the turf wars which engulfed the comments section beneath Toby’s first column, I’ve been just the slightest bit wary about taking over the piece, for fear of further i»
Review
by Paul Brown
Nobody is suggesting that Brilliant! Tragic! isn’t a flawed album, but it is also one which delivers some of the richest, fullest thrills of Art Brut’s career.»
Review
by Paul Brown
Those Dancing Days might be able to convincingly beef up their sound, but, endearingly, their cuddlier core is still pretty plain for all to see. »
Review
by Paul Brown
Kammerspiel is a ghostly collection of minimalistic beats, loops and fragile ambience, overlaid with Kampman’s beatifully frail vocal. »
Review
by Paul Brown
The release of Broken Wave heralds the arrival of a genuine creative force in British folk music, and one of the scariest things about it is that you get the impression that Hannah Peel hasn’t really even got going yet. »
Review
by Paul Brown
Hopefully the strength of the album means that this music is what Charlie Haddon will be remembered for, rather than the manner of his death.»
Review
by Paul Brown
A concise and perfectly-presented collection of first-class pop music.»
In Depth by Paul Brown
As part of our 10-week "DiS is 10!" celebration, we have asked 50 of our favourite people to tell us about one of their favourite albums of the past 10 years. Here, DiS contributor and messageboard regular Paul Brown, shares his choice...
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I’m »
Review
by Paul Brown
While this compilation brazenly embraces Ash's past, it also shows their future could be far more compelling than might reasonably expected from a band nearing the end of their second decade.»
Review
by Paul Brown
There is so much to enjoy here; this is a record which reveals itself more with each listen. Whether Yeasayer end up overshadowing it in the end of year lists remains to be seen, but if that does happen, then this would be an unjust reflection of a wonderful album.»
Review
by Paul Brown
With this collection, Duke Special has escaped from the confines of the conventional, and it has clearly done him the world of good. »
Review
by Paul Brown
To be quite honest, it’s difficult to resist the urge to pick out every song and highlight it as a focal point, because Fire Like This is so strong from start to finish. This isn’t really anything new, because Box of Secrets was similarly consistent. What is different, however, is the focus the band have found. In the past, there’s been an unfortunate tendency to take songs a chorus too far, but that doesn’t appear to be an issue any more. This is one of a few imperfections Blood Red Shoes have managed to overcome with their second album. The only problem they have now is that they haven’t really left themselves much room to improve for album three.»
Review
by Paul Brown
In an age where unfathomable amounts of music are but a click away, I fear White Rabbits might be destined to be one of those bands which fade meekly into the background.»
Review
by Paul Brown
An early high watermark for anyone considering making an album of acoustic laments this year.»
Review
by Paul Brown
Earlier this year, New York shoegazers Asobi Seksu released their third studio album Hush. It showed progression from their previo»
Review
by Paul Brown
It is paradoxically youthful and world-weary all at once, and is a late contender to be crowned the most heartwarming album of the year. »
Review
by Paul Brown
The murky sound established on Hors d'Oeuvres creates a heady and occasionally oppressive atmosphere, which is at odds with the playful delivery of the words and melodies. The juxtaposition between the haunting and the naive is one of the key things that make the record such a likeable and engaging listen.»
Review
by Paul Brown
The sort of down-at-heel folk baladeering which Tillman specialises in is a popular market to say the least, teeming with over-earnest chancers trying desperately to convince us of their authenticity. However, authenticity is something weaved so intricately into the fabric of Tillman’s compositions that he doesn’t even have to try. And perhaps that’s the secret to success.»
Review
by Paul Brown
Broken Side of Time is far from a wash-out, but it feels like an opportunity spurned. Some real quality lies within, but it’s difficult to lose yourself entirely when you know you can’t trust it not to wander off down the wrong path. »
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