New Music Reviews
Clean Bandit, Library, BirminghamTuesday, 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. Read more... |
Reissue CDs Weekly: Wayne CochranSunday, 04 May 2014
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Ode to the Human Spirit, Kings PlaceThursday, 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. Read more... |
Reissue CDs Weekly: Grace JonesSunday, 27 April 2014
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The Men They Couldn't Hang, Shepherd's Bush EmpireSunday, 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. Read more... |
Reissue CDs Weekly: John TavenerSunday, 20 April 2014
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Christy Moore, Royal Festival HallFriday, 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. Read more... |
Ivo Neame Quintet, Kings PlaceSunday, 13 April 2014
Pianist Ivo Neame, whose quintet gave a masterclass in the more reflective, concept-driven variety of contemporary jazz at Kings Place last night, is one of the lynchpins of the London scene. As well as leading and composing for this, his own group, he’s also a member of the LOOP Collective, supertrio Phronesis, and Marius Neset’s Golden Xplosion. Read more... |
Reissue CDs Weekly: Vee-Jay RecordsSunday, 13 April 2014
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theartsdesk in Oslo: The Tape to Zero FestivalWednesday, 09 April 2014
The on-stage collaboration between north-Norwegian ambient maestro Biosphere and his similarly inclined but sonically darker countryman Deathprod was a one off. At Oslo’s Tape to Zero festival, Biosphere and Deathprod bought the you-had-to-be-there moment. The pair had collaborated for a remix project of composer Arne Nordheim in 1998, but this was about new music. Read more... |
Wayne Cochran: Goin’ Back to Miami – The Soul Sides 1965-1970
Grace Jones: Nightclubbing
John Tavener: The Protecting Veil
Various Artists: Chicago Hit Factory – The Vee-Jay Story 1953-1966Pages
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