New Music Reviews

Miley Cyrus, O2 Arena

Aimee Cliff Wednesday, 07 May 2014

Sliding onto the stage of the O2 Arena in a leotard emblazoned with her own mouth and tongue, Miley Cyrus immediately starts bouncing around screaming, “I’m not going down without a fucking fight!”

Robert Cray’s veteran blues band made a compelling case for their unique blend of soul and blues at the Barbican last night. Despite the five Grammys, record sales well into seven figures, and investiture in the Blues Hall of Fame in 2011 at the precocious age of 57, he’s sometimes suspected of watering down the blues tradition.

Loose Tubes, Ronnie Scott's

peter Quinn Tuesday, 06 May 2014

Crazed magnificence, off the cuff improv, pinpoint timing. And that was just MC and trombonist Ashley Slater's on-stage banter. In one of the most hotly anticipated jazz gigs of 2014, the return to the Ronnie Scott's stage for the seminal and utterly singular big band Loose Tubes – almost a quarter of a century after their valedictory residency in September 1990 – surpassed all expectations.

Comment

Clean Bandit, Library, Birmingham

Guy Oddy Tuesday, 06 May 2014

The Library in Birmingham is a venue that is almost the dictionary definition of shabby chic, with its neo-classical plaster mouldings hanging onto the walls in a room that has definitely seen better days. Unfortunately, the sound quality for last night’s show by Clean Bandit, the bright young things from Cambridge University who have caused quite a stir by mixing classical chamber music with garage pop, was similarly grubby.

Reissue CDs Weekly: Wayne Cochran

Kieron Tyler Sunday, 04 May 2014

Wayne Cochran: Goin’ Back to Miami – The Soul Sides 1965-1970

Ode to the Human Spirit, Kings Place

Matthew Wright Thursday, 01 May 2014

Who knew the human spirit needed such bureaucratic care? The celebration of International Jazz Day, founded by UNESCO in 2011, at King’s Place last night was nothing if not well cared-for.

Reissue CDs Weekly: Grace Jones

Kieron Tyler Sunday, 27 April 2014

Grace Jones: Nightclubbing

The Men They Couldn't Hang, Shepherd's Bush Empire

Jasper Rees Sunday, 20 April 2014

From the balcony overlooking the mosh pit you get a good idea of how long a band has been going. Last night at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire, The Men They Couldn’t Hang celebrated their 30th anniversary while a small kinetic cluster of mainly bald 50-year-olds pinged into one another like shiny billiard balls. A fiver says a sheepish accountant or two will have had some explaining to do this morning in A&E.

Comment

Reissue CDs Weekly: John Tavener

Kieron Tyler Sunday, 20 April 2014

John Tavener: The Protecting Veil

Christy Moore, Royal Festival Hall

Jasper Rees Friday, 18 April 2014

“You’re great listeners. You have surrendered your ears.” The reverent hush that descended for two hours on the Festival Hall is a new sort of sound at a Christy Moore concert. There was a time when such a gathering would bristle with fervour. Twenty years ago, if not of Irish descent, you could feel distinctly like the odd one out.

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