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charlesubaghs has written the following articles:

le loup the throne

Le Loup - The Throne of The Third Heaven of The Nations' Millennium General Assembly

Review by Charles Ubaghs

Free of the genre splicing that draws so much attention these days, The Throne… is a record quietly aiming for heights far above anything dared by the majority of young musicians currently making the rounds»

hideout film school

Film School - Hideout

Review by Charles Ubaghs

Missing the days of the pre-grunge early ‘90s? Don’t fret, because with war in Iraq, the US economy in a tailspin and My Bloody Valentine gigging again, it’s like they never went away»

pine hill haints

The Pine Hill Haints - Ghost Dance

Review by Charles Ubaghs

The Pine Hill Haints are a band seeped in the tall tales and music that’s long defined the lower Appalachians of their birth, and Ghost Dance cares little for fashions»

The Whip 200

DiScover: The Whip

In Depth by Charles Ubaghs

The Whip are from Manchester and they enjoy a good party. With their single 'Sister Siam' out now, DiS catches up with the quartet to talk influences and the break-up of bands and relationships»

nine black alps love hate

Nine Black Alps - Love/Hate

Review by Charles Ubaghs

They first went over as grunge tourists with debut Everything Is and now, with second album Love/Hate, Nine Black Alps have crafted the equivalent of a green card application»

James Murphy LCD Soundsystem

LCD Soundsystem, Prinzhorn Dance School at London Brixton Academy, Tue 23 Oct

Review by Charles Ubaghs

Let’s be frank: the rock star blueprint of old has failed us in the new century. So who have we turned to for inspiration in a decade destined to be famed for a newfound level of musical hyper accessibility that’s so overwhelming? James Murphy, maybe»

jens lekman 200

A late night call to Kortedala: DiS gets serious with Jens Lekman

In Depth by Charles Ubaghs

Recorded at Lekman’s flat in Kortedala (a suburb of his native Gothenburg) his latest LP once again finds the lovelorn 26-year-old Swede crafting tales of loves lost with a sound that embraces everything from orchestral pop to a hint of vintage Eurodisco. DiS recently rang up a rather ill Lekman at an incredibly impolite hour on a Monday night to discuss his music, his life and just why he was compelled to watch 230 episodes of M*A*S*H last year.»

flying lotus reset

Flying Lotus - Reset EP

Review by Charles Ubaghs

Instrumental hip-hop is a bit like the works of great cinema composers. At their best, they both offer an immersive experience capable of transporting a listener to some far off place...»

celebration modern tribe

Celebration - The Modern Tribe

Review by Charles Ubaghs

Let’s keep this simple. Celebration are a great band. Consisting of drummer David Bergander and husband and wife duo Sean Anatanaitis and Katrina Ford, the Baltimore trio spend their days crafting soul-influenced art rock that can proudly stand next to the creative highlights of their like-minded friends in TV on the Radio...»

there's only one t in wichita

Various - There's Only One T In Wichita

Review by Charles Ubaghs

You’re only left with the thought that no matter what Wichita does in the next seven years, they’ll keep doing it with the same joy and love they applied to their first seven...»

fair to midland fables

Fair To Midland - Fables From A Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True

Review by Charles Ubaghs

Hailing from Dallas, Texas, Fair to Midland’s recent history sounds like a heavy metal rags to riches tale. In 2006, after years of touring their home state and releasing two independent records, the band were spotted by System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian at a gig and were quickly signed to his label, Serjical Strike...»

Siouxsie Sioux

Siouxsie Sioux at Paris Eiffel Tower, Fri 28 Sep

Review by Charles Ubaghs

Far from being a greatest hits affair lazily sung by a once great star going through the motions, Siouxsie reminds those in attendance why she is the venerated icon she with a set focusing almost exclusively on her new album, Mantaray...»

shearwater palo santo expanded

Shearwater - Palo Santo (re-release)

Review by Charles Ubaghs

Given even half a listen, the vision and execution of this expanded edition of Palo Santo proves itself to be a case of a wrong now righted that hopefully earns far more attention the second time around...»

coffinberry

Coffinberry - God Dam Dogs

Review by Charles Ubaghs

God Damn Dogs may not do much to inspire, but if you walked into the right bar in the right American town, it would fit nicely in the background while you knocked back a few bottles of Bud and watched the ball game...»

Gossip Beth

The Gossip, No Bra, Panther at London Forum, Thu 13 Sep

Review by Charles Ubaghs

Well, no matter how exhausted you may be of the heavy airplay and magazine covers or talk of Ditto’s more-than-size-zero figure and Germaine Greer’s opinion, hearing that now well-worn anthem being belted at you in the flesh injects it with a new-found electricity that’s next to impossible to deny...»

aiden conviction

Aiden - Conviction

Review by Charles Ubaghs

If there’s one fact about Conviction that’s sure to bring a tear to the eye though, it’s this: these boys are likely to sell a lot of records. Tragic, isn’t it...»

unbeast the leash videohippo

Videohippos - Unbeast The Leash

Review by Charles Ubaghs

Far from life affirming it may be but, given room to breathe, Unbeast the Leash’s tightly wound mood provides a hypnotic distraction from the grey drudgery of daily routine. And occasionally, that’s all you really need to hear...»

spoon ga ga ga ga ga

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Review by Charles Ubaghs

Even after more than ten years in existence, Spoon, unlike say the Strokes, are one of those rare bands who, album after album, repeatedly prove themselves capable of successfully building and expanding upon their tensely wound, streamlined take on rock...»

terrene cover

the indi

Review by Charles Ubaghs

The phrase ‘by the book’ may be overused by critics, but it makes perfect sense with this bunch...»

how to cure cover

How To Cure Dyslexia - Little Else/Close Your Eyes

Review by Charles Ubaghs

The fact that this double A-side is taken from a debut LP whose recording process doubled as a public art instillation at the Spaceshift gallery in Kings Cross should lead one to expect some outré concoction best left to the fringes of the experimental art scene...»

Scott Matthews - Elusive

Review by Charles Ubaghs

You can practically hear the ad men grinning from ear to ear with ‘Elusive’, a re-released single off Wolverhampton singer/songwriter Scott Matthews’ debut album, Passing Stranger...»

fanfarlo fire escape

Fanfarlo - Fire Escape / We Live By The Lake

Review by Charles Ubaghs

These songs may not win high marks for innovation, but breakout the armchair and old blanket, because their pleasant enough nature should make perfect sense on a rainy Saturday afternoon...»

of montreal rennie solis

Of Montreal, The Video Nasties, The Strange Death of Liberal England at Cargo, Hackney, Tue 29 May

Review by Charles Ubaghs

Cargo may be packed to the rafters tonight with people on the lookout for the increasingly over-the-top theatrics that have come to embody an of Montreal performance, but there are some talented youngsters on this evening’s musical menu serving prime art-rock cocktails to the waiting crowd before the arrival of the main course...»

cornelius mirror

Cornelius at London Koko, Wed 23 May

Review by Charles Ubaghs

Cornelius first appears on stage as nothing more than a silhouette until the words “Welcome to the Cornelius Synchronised Road Show” flash across the screen. It all comes tumbling down in a blinding flash of light and noise only to reveal the man himself standing there dressed as an extra from A Clockwork Orange – bowler hat and all...»

cornelius 200 phones

Sensuous Talks: Cornelius chats to DiS about his music

In Depth by Charles Ubaghs

With his latest record, Sensuous, already getting a big thumbs up in critical circles, DiS jumped at the chance to chat with Cornelius (with special help from his translator) on the evening before his recent gig at London’s Koko...»

the field live from myspace

The Field at London Plastic People, Wed 02 May

Review by Charles Ubaghs

How does a Swede specialising in lush electronic waves of sound more suited for the bedroom than a cramped dance club fare when performing live, at his label’s first official London bash, to a room full of foreign girls and vinyl-loving boys stealthily eyeing up every move the DJs make? Surprisingly well it turns out...»

late cord lights from the wheelhouse

The Late Cord - Lights From The Wheelhouse (EP)

Review by Charles Ubaghs

Still, like having a good read through a stranger’s journal, The Late Cord’s debut connects and wanders off into personal indulgence in equal measure, and while you rarely give the indulgent parts a second thought, you’ll frequently find yourself drawn back to the juicy bits...»

lavender diamond single

open

Review by Charles Ubaghs

The first single from Imagine Our Love, Lavender Diamond’s upcoming debut for Rough Trade, ‘Open Your Heart’ is an early contender in the race to soundtrack our days of booze-induced sunstroke...»

flushed chest

Joan As Police Woman - Flushed Chest

Review by Charles Ubaghs

Is it innovative stuff? No. But as an exercise in mature, restrained song writing that owes as much to Leonard Cohen as it does the soul and R&B greats, it’s certainly accomplished...»

love is all

Love Is All at London Cargo, Thu 15 Mar

Review by Charles Ubaghs

Live, as on record, Love Is All prove that it’s possible to celebrate and simultaneously deconstruct your influences, only to glue them back together in a way that, while comfortably familiar, is undeniably exhilarating to see and hear. Or, to put it simply, this quintet of Swedes prove that sometimes you can teach an old dog-like post-punk a few new tricks...»