News
by Luke Slater
Current flavour of the month and darlings of the UK indie press The Drums have just announced a UK headline tour of the UK and Ireland. It includes some pretty large venues, like the HMV Forum. How big are they now? Well, their debut record (which we reviewed here) managed to make its steady way to number 17 in the UK album charts.»
News
by Luke Slater
Veronica Falls released 'Beachy Head' as a single yesterday. It got a review in our weekly singles column, in which resident singles lady Wendy Roby said:
"Veronica Falls have written a pop song about everybody’s favourite place to top themselves an»
News
by Luke Slater
It's been long-awaited but Nu-Rave once-prodigies Klaxons have confirmed the name of their second record, which has been quitr SOME years in the making. It's called Surfing The Void. Anticlimax? Not quite. But wait 'til you hear the music, you know?»
News
by Luke Slater
Last week we gave you the Japanese Popstars remix of the Gorillaz track 'On Melancholy Hill'. It was 'an' epic. We also told you about the upcoming video for the single of that name. The band even went so far as releasing a teaser clip for it, but now the real thing is here, finally.»
News
by Luke Slater
The news and rumours surrounding TV On The Radio man Dave Sitek's - or David Andrew Sitek, as the press release states - eagerly anticipated side project have been abounding in recent weeks. It's no great surprise when you look at his CV. Recently the group he's formed confirmed their name, and now a few other details and bits and bobs, all of which certifiably Good News. »
News
by Luke Slater
You'd be forgiven for thinking that Thomas Tantrum was a male solo artist with a very bad temper. Actually, that's bollocks. You wouldn't be forgiven by anyone of sane mind for that. No way. Anyway, it's not, as we all should know they're a Southampton four-piece who release their second record in September.»
News
by Luke Slater
Montreal's The Besnard Lakes's current album, The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night, may well find itself featuring - if not near the very upper sections - of some end of year lists come December. We liked it very much. So much so that we booked them to perform on our stage at this year's Summer Sundae festival in Leicester. »
News
by Luke Slater
We have an exclusive (or so...) clip of Thorn performing a track from the record at home. Well, in her home studio, which still qualifies, doesn't it? The track in question is 'Why Does The Wind?', which itself is released as a single on June 14. »
News
by Luke Slater
I'm sure we're all familiar with the backstory of former Orange Juice frontman Edwyn Collins by now. In some ways it is as heartening as it is sad. After suffering a brain haemorrhage in 2005 he has been gradually treading the road to recovery and performing again, which he now is. It's massively pleasing that he's back on stage once more, I'm sure everybody will agree and even more pleasing that there's new material on the way.»
News
by Luke Slater
Stream the whole album and get your hands on a free download, too. »
News
by Luke Slater
As has been said before and will surely be said again, M.I.A. really knows what she's doing. No shrinking violet. You've got to hand it to her, she knows how to 'do' publicity. The last few weeks and months have seen her hire a blimp to fly over Coachella and publicise her forthcoming third record, as well as various bits of controversy surround an now-infamous New York Times profile piece.»
News
by Luke Slater
There's something about Bear In Heaven's Beast Rest Forth Mouth which just draws you in on first listen, urging you to keep going almost non-stop head first into the collection of compositions. It doesn't get any weaker with time, either. Likewise with Crystal Castles, although the appeal there is a little bit less subtle and more in-your-face, should we say...»
News
by Luke Slater
The MOJO awards took place last night. You know, the ones on behalf of the music magazine, MOJO. The ceremony happened at some place swankier than you and I are used to frequenting and we thought you might like to know the winners. If you don't, then look away now. Not sure if they'll be on TV or anything like. Some good ones in there, too. »
News
by Luke Slater
The gap between Bombay Bicycle Club's first and second albums is - in contrast to The Vaselines - incredibly short. Their debut, I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose was released in July last year and their new one, Flaws, will be released in July this year.»
News
by Luke Slater
I saw Islet live a few weeks back at Brighton's Great Escape. It was an odd but rewarding experience indeed. The more traditional barriers between crowd and band were fluid, and the frequency at which they swapped instruments was hard to keep up with. They played with gusto. They've also recently tour with Los Campesinos! amongst others. »
In Depth by Luke Slater
The latest weekly instalment of our Spotify playlists, themed around the content that's been up on the website in the space of a working week. This edition features Uffie, Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, The Vaselines, Bonobo, The Strokes, Wild Nothing and many, many more.»
News
by Luke Slater
The Vaselines have finally announced the release of their new record, and will now surely hold the world record for the greatest length of time elapsed between first and second full-length albums. There can't be any competition, surely? It's been 22 years ferchrissakes!»
News
by Luke Slater
Things have really taken shape with most UK festivals, but here's what has been going on in the last week, including a final announcement from Standon Calling, some Glastonbury information and something about a Real Ale festival up in Kendal...»
News
by Luke Slater
Future Islands are all sorts of fun. Fantastic fun. Weird fun. Progressive fun. We've been waiting for them to return our way for quite a while now, on the back of the brilliant 'Tin Man' and the whole of In Evening Air, actually. We won't have to wait a great deal longer any more, which is a relief.»
News
by Luke Slater
Damon Albarn-led supergroup Gorillaz recently released 'On Melancholy Hill' as the second single from their fantastic third album Plastic Beach. It was due to be 'Superfast Jellyfish' but now it's not. So get over it already. »
News
by Luke Slater
Leeds indie-rock trio Sky Larkin have confirmed the release date and tracklisting for their forthcoming second record, entitled Kaleide. It's going to be out through Wichita on August 6 and will contain the following tracks.»
News
by Luke Slater
So this whole jangly and harmonic indie-pop scene is getting quite popular once more, right? Some of them also happen to be all-girl groups. I point this out not because it's so amazing (it really isn't) but because two of the finest exponents in current times also have 'Girls' at the end of their name. Dum Dum Girls are the important ones today, though. »
News
by Luke Slater
So, we're gradually approaching the half-way point in the year. Only another few weeks to go. eMusic have gotten a bit ahead of themselves in this regard, as they've published a list of their favourite records from the year so far and it makes for an interesting read.»
News
by Luke Slater
Ever wanted to be a proper reporter? One that goes and speaks to bands and general weird people, and perhaps a few hangers on at a festival? Like on the television. Bollocks To Poverty, the youth division of ActionAid have set up a competition called Work It! to reward such a person with a place as a backstage reporter at this year's Reading Festival.»
News
by Luke Slater
Are we still using the word Grunge? No? Good, because dirty, scuzzy and above all fuzzy rock 'n' roll legends that are Mudhoney have announced a string of dates around Britain and Ireland for the Autumn. By now we're accustomed to seeing them play a solit»
News
by Luke Slater
Wild Nothing's debut record Gemini is deservedly getting high praise from various corners of the music press and, more importantly, the people that matter - people who like good music. Well done to Mr Tatum, it's truly top stuff. »
News
by Luke Slater
Earlier in the day we toyed with running a story about a new mixtape that Nathan Williams (Wavves) had made. We thought you might want to check it out. Problem was that it was unavailable to listen to the in the UK, which would have made the usefulness of»
News
by Luke Slater
Good news for fans of the annoyingly long-titled indie rockers from Missouri, as Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin have released details of their forthcoming record, their third in total and the first since 2008's Pershing. As in Robert Pershing Wadlow. »
News
by Luke Slater
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti released Before Today on Monday. We reviewed it here. It got praised quite highly. Yesterday the video for 'Bright Lit Blue Skies' premiered on Gorilla vs. Bear but now it's available to the whole wide world via the medium of YouTube. It's a cover of a Rockin' Ramrods track by the way. The video was directed by Steve Hanft and can be viewed below. It contains some scenes that may be unfamiliar to British natives. »
News
by Luke Slater
Hello! The festival season is almost in full swing and, as is the way, we've got a bunch of tickets to give a way for various events. Now it's the turn of the Vince Power-run Hop Farm Festival, which takes place in Paddock Wood, Kent. Point your delicate eyes below to read what you have to do to get your hands on some tickets. OK?»