Review
by The Black Cockerel
Sounding like a cross between Pissing In The Wind and Distant Town, Damon Gough's new single, while not as immediate as Silent Sigh, is a slow-burner that burrows its way into your brain and sits quietly for a while, subtly attacking the cells that make you sing out loud bits of a song for n»
Review
by The Black Cockerel
Proving that Mogwai aren’t humourless post-rock bores, frontman Stuart Braithwaite has teamed up with Aidan from Arab Strap and a multi-instrumentalist called “Sheepy” for this EP, the first release from Scottish independent label Lost Dog Recordings.
The Sick Anchors (nice name) have here recorded “Fas»
Review
by The Black Cockerel
Hmm. There were surely better choices for a single from 'We Love Life' than this; Such as the anthemic 'Weeds' or irresistibly catchy 'The Night That Minnie Timperley Died'. Jarvis’ lyrical genius once again cannot be denied as he likens an ex-girlfriends' new love to an inferior product, (even inc»
Review
by The Black Cockerel
And so the world domination of Damon Gough begins. This is the first single to be given a full release from the Badly Drawn one's 'Stop-Gap' album. Some stop-gap the soundtrack to a Nick Hornby adaptation starring Hugh Grant is!
With the curse of the Mercury Music Prize hanging over hi»
Review
by The Black Cockerel
After hearing the news that Jason Pierce had sacked half of his band for this tour I was interested to see the results. Pierce claimed it was to get back to a rawer sound. Or was it really to cut costs. I saw the gig in Sheffield last October and, though it was impressive, it didn't quite live up to my admittedly massi»
In Depth by The Black Cockerel
I eventually surfaced at around dinner time after several hours in a state of semi-consciousness. In an act of hideous perversity, Richard D. James was the first act in the Rephlex room. It wouldn't surprise me to find out that this was the idea of the Aphex Twin himself. He'd done it on purpose to fuck with our heads.»
In Depth by The Black Cockerel
Going to this, the second annual Dedbeat weekender, was something of a risk, for both me and my comrade T Eljay. Although both experienced festival goers, this was our first venture into a dance/hip-hop festival. Having only recently seriously got into, for want of a better phrase, "intelligent dance music»
Review
by The Black Cockerel
Anyone with any taste knows just how good this song is. One of the standout tracks on the album of 2001, 'Do It All Over Again' is the most straightforward pop song Pierce has yet released. Sounding not unlike The Beach Boys, the lyrics seem to be about being in love but unable to make things right»
Review
by The Black Cockerel
Though I don't like to be seen to be going with trends, the Chem's fourth album is, like many people warned, a bit of a disappointment. After the promise of last single "Star Guitar" I was hoping "Come With Us" would be a promising start to a new year of music. Sadly, you won't find anything better than "Star Guitar" h»
Review
by The Black Cockerel
I seem to be in the minority here, but in my opinion "Squares" is a better use of sampling than I Monster's "Daydream In Blue", which notoriously stole this songs thunder last summer, despite not being half as popular as many thought it would be. Though they did a fair job, all I Monster seemed to do with The Gunter Ha»
Review
by The Black Cockerel
Touring briefly before the release of "Squares", the Beta's had a mixed 2001. They finally released an album that they were pleased with, yet the media seem to have mixed impressions and have accused them of turning into something of a cabaret nostalgia act that rely on songs from "The 3 EP's" to keep their fans entert»
Review
by The Black Cockerel
George always was my favourite Beatle. I got into the Fab Four because of the Indian influence that "The Quiet One" brought to their work. The song that had me hooked is the very underrated "Blue Jay Way", its monotonous trance sent me off into a brief trance that I can't really explain, the first but not the last time»
Review
by The Black Cockerel
Rumour has it that, after nearly ten years of releasing both popular and critically acclaimed albums, The Chemical Brothers were beginning to run out of steam. Even Tom and Ed themselves admit that "Come With Us" is "more of the same", and last single "It Began In Afrika" seemed a bit»
Review
by The Black Cockerel
Damon, you've saved me again. With only one week to go till Xmas, I was feeling distinctly un-festive, merely bitter and jaded. Yet this morning, my copy of Damon Gough's new limited edition vinyl only xmas single, "Donna and Blitzen" arrived. The cute artwork was good enough, then I listened to it»
In Depth by The Black Cockerel
Do you take drugs? Are you bored of feeling the same old effects? May The Black Cockerel recommend Zopiclone for this silly season. Zopiclone is a prescribed sleeping pill, which I tried a few years back when I, well, couldn't sleep. If slightly innebriated, or just wide awake, take one of these babies. You won't sleep»
Review
by The Black Cockerel
The sad story of Nick Drake is well documented, yet the question remains unanswered. Why was he unknown when he was alive? Though his work is timeless, it transports the listener to another England, a beautiful, rural, melancholy place. This England has now more or less vanished, yet thanks to artists like Ba»