domgourlay has written the following articles:
If this is the sound of the suburbs then maybe Hertfordshire does have something going for it after all. Neils Children arrived on the London scene little over two years ago and have slowly built up a loyal following thanks to their distinctive demeanour and energetic live performances.»
The severed alliance? Not quite as parochial as that one it must be said, but when Bernard Butler left Suede in none too amicable circumstances during the month of May 1994 after what in hindsight became the band's archetypal landmark ('Dog Man Star'), few would have envisaged the prospect of him and songwriting partner Brett Anderson ever working together again.»
Yorkshire's pioneers of the new wave of post-rock, Lyca Sleep, continue their seemingly never ending live schedule with a handful of dates to promote their eagerly anticipated but forever delayed second single 'Closer In'...»
Far from being just another anodyne Strokes/Libertines substitute, the Five O'Clock Heroes actually reference more than just the obvious relics in "My Cool Dad's" record collection...»
This double CD contains 25 tracks and retails for just a fiver, with half the proceeds going to Shelter, so as good causes go on the outside looking in it sounds like tremendous value for money... but we're not here to judge what's morally and ethicaly correct folks, and when it comes to actually listening to both CDs, one or two home truths immediately come to light...»
London three-piece Neils Children haven't quite made the impact that everyone expected them to after the magnificent squall of 'Come Down' punctured the airwaves last year. Somehow, I don't think they'll be waiting around much longer if this is anything to go by...»
Manchester label Mate don’t just operate as part of the underground, they’re literally buried six feet under their own Mancunian vernacular of sophisticated electronic sleaze.»
Summer's here kids, and that can only mean one thing - the start of the festival season. It's that time of year where Millets get their biggest sales boom as the warm weather crusties and ten minute travellers all come out to play, the remnants of daddy's handout in one hand and a detailed map of the M5 in t'other. Thankfully, not all festivals revolve around paying extortionate ticket prices and getting excessively muddy as a reward. Such as this one...»
It seems half the population of Nottingham tonight is staying in to watch 'Big Brother' while the other half are getting pissed in some Student Union bar celebrating the last day of their finals. Shame on you, because you missed a treat...»
For anyone with any interest in the dance scene since the earliest days of underground raves up to the trance-induced fall out of the new millennium, the name of Alex Gold should need no introduction...»
With two very difficult acts to follow, Maximo Park have it all to do and in the beginning, things don't look too promising...»
Next Wednesday (1st June) sees the launch of Lounge AC30, which will then run every Wednesday thereafter from 7pm to 11pm...»
Just over three minutes into this record, Michael Bromley is choking on a mixture of anxiety and regret as he spits out the prophetic riposte, "You are being lied to by those who should protect you." It sounds bitter, it is bitter, but then again, if you were in Kinesis' position, you'd have have every justifiable reason to be.»
If you don't listen to another record this year, you'd be a fool to pass up on this one. Sadly, during Smashing Orange's short-lived existence, many did, which probably contributed to their almost instant demise...»
It's hard to believe that only three years have passed since JJ72's criminally underrated 'I To Sky' long player hit the shelves. Since then, the pendulum of independent rock hasn't just swung to new heights, it's turned itself inside out, upside down and back to front in the process...»
Having never really understood the point of post-hardcore angst driven rock - well, since At The Drive-In's demise, can you honestly see the point?»
To a lot of people, The Coral are just another bunch of scousers, a gang of "lads" who jumped on the scallybag bandwagon a few years too late. Oh you stereotypical lot, how very wrong you are...»
If any artists from the past decade epitomise the true spirit of independence then it surely has to be Belle And Sebastian.»
So the biggest circus/soap opera in music is back in town... Dom Gourlay's down the front for the return of Britain's biggest band, Oasis.»
Have you ever woken up and felt you were still trapped inside a dream? Clearly if all dreams are meant to be pleasant and lovelorn affairs then Air Formation would be my choice to write the soundtrack.»
Oh the weight of expectation. Never has there been a bigger burden than in the emperor's new clothes' fitting room. Not so much for the titled masters of ceremony, but certainly this evening may have come a tad too early for both of the ladies in waiting...»
For Lyca Sleep it's not exactly been plain sailing, despite the numerous plaudits bestowed on them; and thanks to pressing plant hiccups, the single for which this tour was supposed to go in tandem with has now been put back another six weeks. Which, if it wasn't for the fact that they are at their most prominently bewitching live, would surely spell the end for lesser artists...»
If Manchester still has so much to answer for than I guess nobody bothered to ask the right questions. As the city prepares for the latest Oasis comeback, no doubt superseded by a million and one Gallagher impostors, Nine Black Alps have emerged amidst the black smoke and boggy canal like a Glade sponsored breath of fresh air.»
...and when the luscious tones of KT Tunstall infectiously take over, Amusement Parks On Fire's nascent journey from the start to the finishing line suddenly takes an almighty leap...»
Having emerged as one of the best club nights in London over the past few months, the excellent Club AC30 makes it's first foray into the festival market next month....»
Independent Music retailer FOPP is giving unsigned bands in the North of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland an amazing opportunity in association with the PRS Foundation (PRSF) and Clear Sound & Vision...»
Colin Newton bangs the drums in Idlewild and has been since they were a nothing more than figments of his and singer Roddy Woomble's imagination almost a decade ago. Now, having released their fifth album 'Warnings/Promises' and currently embarking on another sell out tour, Colin lets us in on a few secrets from the world of the 'wild..»
If bands breaking up could be likened to a marriage split, then the acrimonious parting of ways between Guy Chadwick and Terry Bickers would most likely have used it's entire seven year itch scrapping through the divorce courts...»
When Bon Scott wrote about Hell not being such a bad place to be, no one would have expected four guys from Derby to take it literally and book the next excursion to Hades Central...»
Pittsburgh four-piece Seven Color Sky are one of the American underground's best kept secrets. While the likes of The Killers and The Bravery go on to sell out arena-sized venues and collect platinum stained discs, SCS continue to make arguably better records...»
