New Music Reviews
Courtney Pine, Ronnie Scott'sFriday, 18 September 2015
Courtney Pine’s Caribbean-flavoured album House of Legends was released three years ago, and it says a lot that he’s still touring it. This riotously melodic collection of ska, soca and calypso, embellished with some scorching solo work, has certainly proved popular, as the latest sell-out run at Ronnie’s testifies. Pine cheerfully apologised for a lack of CD’s to sell at the gig: they’ve all been sold. Read more... |
Jambinai, Rich MixThursday, 17 September 2015
For three unassuming musicians, sitting cross-legged in a row, Korean folk-noise fusion band Jambinai’s London debut last night was seismic. With an ambitious project to integrate the techniques and idioms of traditional Korean folk with a blend of noise-rock, drone-rock and electronic music, they gave a concert that was, from the moment the grinding drone of the geomungo started yawing through the crowd, utterly distinct and original. Read more... |
Reissue CDs Weekly: Pere UbuSunday, 13 September 2015
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Kasse Mady Diabate, Queen Elizabeth HallSunday, 13 September 2015
Not many concerts at the Queen Elizabeth Hall culminate in a string of beautiful African women sashaying down the aisles to the stage to press fivers and tenners upon the still-crooning singer. After taking their hands in turn, as if in benediction, Kassy Made Diabate turned and dropped the fistful of notes at the feet of his ngoni player. Read more... |
Orchestra Baobab & Blick Bassy, RFHSaturday, 12 September 2015
Africa Utopia at the Southbank Centre is back for its third year with a raft of concerts and events, and for Friday night Senegal's Orchestra Baobab returned to the UK for the first time in three years, one of the great names of the post-independence African renaissance. They were joined by a young French-Cameroonian artist, Blick Bassy (pictured below), who was coming to London for the first time with his debut album Ako. Read more... |
Reissue CDs Weekly: The London American Label – 1966Sunday, 06 September 2015
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Heartless Bastards, BorderlineWednesday, 02 September 2015
Some consider Heartless Bastards to be the best band you’ve probably never heard of – albeit blighted by an awful name. Others say the Texas-based four-piece are merely a jumped-up garage band. Wherever you stand, though, one thing is beyond dispute – the awesome power of Erika Wennerstrom’s voice. For much of last night she sounded like the love child of Robert Plant and Janis Joplin. Read more... |
Reissue CDs Weekly: The Isley BrothersSunday, 30 August 2015
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theartsdesk at Green Man 2015Wednesday, 26 August 2015
Sunday. Brecon Beacons. Very early in the morning. I am woken, as I have been every 20 minutes or so since falling asleep, by water dripping on my head. So far, I’ve been able to ignore it, the pain of sitting upright outweighing the inconvenience of a wet head by a factor I can’t begin to fathom. Now, however, the hangover has lifted slightly and the need to piss is so painful I can no longer ignore it. Read more... |
Reissue CDs Weekly: Julian CopeSunday, 23 August 2015
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Pere Ubu: Elitism for the People 1975–1978
Various Artists: The London American Label Year by Year – 1966
Julian Cope: World Shut Your Mouth, FriedPages
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