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sparkle has written the following articles:

subtle

Subtle, Culprit One at London ULU, Sat 18 Nov

Review by Rosanna Alam

Subtle's Adam ‘Doseone’ Drucker is man full of jokes. So much so that he is determined to have a jolly good chuckle in the perfidious face of life. Surrounded on stage by an array of theatrical skulls and a torso-masked mascot, it almost sets looks like a scene from a twisted take on Hamlet...»

British Sea Power - Live

British Sea Power, Brakes, Morton Valence at London Electrowerkz, Fri 27 May

Review by Rosanna Alam

The loyalty of British Sea Power fans is ever present tonight, as many have travelled the extra mile bearing branches and fondling twigs in admiration. The room reaches full capacity by the time they are on, leaving a queue of a further two hundred people gutted, because security just won't let them in.»

coldplay live erik henne

Coldplay, Interpol at London Crystal Palace Athletic Stadium, Tue 28 Jun

Review by Rosanna Alam

Despite the ill-timing in a bid to find a parking space, waiting in a queue for tickets and being drenched in the rain only to catch the last remaining half of Interpol’s set – we can safely say the irritating pains were gratifyingly worth it.»

Melody Club - Baby (Stand Up)

Review by Rosanna Alam

From the first opening bars right through to the end, here is a song reminiscent of tacky disco disasters at a Butlin’s holiday resort- where many under the influence of pina coladas think it’s a good idea to swagger together doing the conga.»

brakes All Night Disco Party

Brakes - All Night Disco Party

Review by Rosanna Alam

After packing a full on punch with their debut single, Pick Up The Phone, it’s quite clear from the offset that Brakes are a band who like to shake things up.»

The Mau-Maus

The Mau-Maus - Antaraxia EP

Review by Rosanna Alam

The Mau-Mau’s are a six piece from London who have a penchant for kitsch Pringles golfing attire and camp, electro, hip hop, alt – rock. In addition the front man, Peter De Havilland, is quite partial to a poodle hairdo and seventies retro suits. Right now, you maybe thinking something along the lines of: “Wait a goddam Fischerspooner, Do Me Bad things, Scissor Sisters, minute – these retro fashonistas maybe able to walk the walk but can they talk the talk?”»

The Tenderfoot - Cowbell Blues

Review by Rosanna Alam

Yet another fresh talent from the bright side of Brighton and as to be expected The Tenderfoot don’t sound anything like their contemporaries. But this time it’s less of the art- rock and more of the alt-country, with a distinctive Englishness.»

Electrelane, Scout Niblett at Brighton The Old Market, Sat 14 May

Review by Rosanna Alam

Being a London lass, I tend to get my usual gig fix up town. Occasionally there are bands that make you want to go that extra mile. Electrelane are one of those bands. Up until their third album, I'd never so much as heard a squeak from the femme-foursome. But having listened to the superb Axes, I was eager to hop on a train to their hometown in Brighton to see if their ingenuity was for real.»

british sea power

British Sea Power - Please Stand Up

Review by Rosanna Alam

British Sea Power are undoubtedly the envy of their peers - young, intelligent, enthusiastic, full of original ideas and pretty much having many wetting their pants with excitement. Or at least, that’s what we’re led to believe is the case in the States, as it’s this very song that has caused MTV to refrain from playing in their airwaves in case there is an epidemic where people are unable to control their bodily fluids after hearing Yan sigh: “all this excitement gets us a little wetter, wetter.”»

British Sea Power

British Sea Power

In Depth by Rosanna Alam

“Our fans don’t really ask much to be honest. They should be more demanding because we’d probably do it. Personally I’d love it if some of them asked me for a tickle.”»

interpol

DiS meets Interpol

In Depth by Rosanna Alam

From Antics to across the Atlantic, DiS catches up with Interpol guitarist, Daniel Kessler while on their European tour.»

interpol live at scala sonia melot

Spoon, Interpol at London Brixton Academy, Fri 08 Apr

Review by Rosanna Alam

With a multitude of people flooding into the venue, I suddenly become quite pint-sized in comparison to how big our dark New Yorkers have become. Yes, we can safely say that Paul, Carlos D, Dan and Sam have deservedly, well and truly hit the big time.»

Mars Volta The Widow

The Mars Volta - The Widow

Review by Rosanna Alam

When it comes to being unpredictable, you needn’t look any further then the unique frazzled haired genius of The Mars Volta. From prog-rock escapades to electrifying samba rock to space age abstract adventures – as their name suggests, it’s clear they’re not of this world.»

british sea power photo by adie

British Sea Power at Tunbridge Wells High Rocks, Fri 11 Feb

Review by Rosanna Alam

While others are happy to play guerrilla gigs on tube trains or a hedonistic live session at someone else’s home, British Sea Power, it seems, prefer to go that extra aesthetic mile.»

agent blue

Agent Blue - Children’s Children

Review by Rosanna Alam

With taut strumming and a throbbing bass line, here is a post- modern punk offering that seems to desperately want to have a nihilistic view.»

hal

"My ultimate fear would be reaching number one in the charts after being in a plane crash.”

In Depth by Rosanna Alam

Ballad-buoyant Irish folksters HAL talk to DiS about the joys of beach-house A&R sessions, apologies for Thrills comparisions and the influences of forty years ago...»

Hal, Brinkman at London Camden Barfly, Wed 26 Jan

Review by Rosanna Alam

Remember The Vessels? A bunch of young hopefuls who were so ripe and ready for the picking, even Jonathon Ross seized the moment to include them on his show. Sadly, despite their great potential, the filthy evils and harsh reality of the music industry led to an unfortunate split -telling a tale of only what could have been.»

22-20s/ Astoria

The 22-20s, Nine Black Alps at London Astoria, Sat 22 Jan

Review by Rosanna Alam

There’s nothing quite like a good angst ridden thrashing when triggered off at the right time and place. And after overdosing on a lot of sentimental weepers last year, it’s about time we had some angry young men venting aggressively about their discontent rather than being defeated by it. Seizing the moment are Nine Black Alps, who bounce erratically off the walls like an infected ping-pong ball of rage.»

hal lovely

Hal - What A Lovely Dance

Review by Rosanna Alam

HAL are the next lot of Dublin boys since The Thrills to branch out of the emerald isle to show off their lucky charms. But rather than obsess about the likes of Corey Haim or fantasize about writhing around in the sand of a sun kissed beach on the other side of the ocean - their soul purpose remains to captivate eager ears with wholesome classic tunes which have a bit more muscle.»

secret machines

New York's Best Kept Secret

In Depth by Rosanna Alam

Far out abstract rockers, Secret Machines hang out with DiS just before their UK tour with Interpol.»

the duke spirit

The Duke Spirit

In Depth by Rosanna Alam

Getting to the heart of darkness to find the truth, Rosanna Alam meets the Duke Spirit.»

secret machines

Leaves, Secret Machines at London King's Cross Scala, Mon 06 Dec

Review by Rosanna Alam

Secret Machines unleash their unique prog rock blues at the London Scala.»

special needs

"We want to be like the Goons"

In Depth by Rosanna Alam

Those frequenting the London gig circuit these days will undoubtedly have had the pleasure of seeing Special Needs somewhere, somehow at some point, such is their ubiquitousness. Rosanna Alam discovers their ambition for world pub domination.»

Conershop interview - Ben and Tjinder by Mark Milan resized

Cornershop interview

In Depth by Rosanna Alam

It’s been two years since they shut up shop to take a break. But now Cornershop are back with a new single and are working on a follow up to, Hand Cream For A Generation. Rosanna Alam met up with Tjinder Singh and Ben Ayres for a quick chat.»

isaac brock modest mouse

Only the squeak survive

In Depth by Rosanna Alam

"Death showed up a lot on this record because I would rather it quit killing all my friends": DiS speaks to head Modest Mouse, Isaac Brock about the death, trouble and occasionally music.»