New music
CD: Black Lips - Underneath the RainbowThursday, 13 March 2014
Three years after the release of the Mark Ronson-produced Arabia Mountain, Black Lips are back in the ring with Underneath the Rainbow, a decidedly rawer take on their lo-fi, yet melodic, garage rock. This time, Patrick Carney of the Black Keys, has... Read more... |
10 Questions for Fringe Magnetic's Rory SimmonsWednesday, 12 March 2014
Trumpeter and composer Rory Simmons is one of the most innovative and diversely talented musicians on the contemporary jazz scene, genre-hopping with startling agility across its many cutting edges. Fringe Magnetic, Simmons’ acclaimed 11-piece band... Read more... |
CD: Lapland - LaplandMonday, 10 March 2014
Lapland is one bearded bloke called Josh Mease who lives in New York. He makes his music in his home studio. That’s the back story and it’s not a good one, especially in an age when a voracious variety of media demand a narrative to go with their... Read more... |
Tord Gustavsen Quartet, Milton CourtMonday, 10 March 2014
Revelling in the acoustic precision of the recently opened Milton Court concert hall last night, Norwegian pianist Tord Gustavsen showed once more why his quartet’s combination of tersely lyrical melodies and syncopated rhythms is so appealing. For... Read more... |
The New Arts Desk Radio Show 2Sunday, 09 March 2014
Welcome to the second of our new shows, brought to you in conjunction with MEATtransMISSION.In this edition, originally recorded and broadcast on Valentine's weekend, Peter Culshaw and Joe Muggs bring you romance and bleakness, Norwegian space disco... Read more... |
Reissue CDs Weekly: Tyrannosaurus Rex, T. RexSunday, 09 March 2014
Tyrannosaurus Rex: A Beard of Stars/T.Rex: T.Rex, Tanx/Marc Bolan & T. Rex: Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of TomorrowReactions to these reissues are going be determined by what level of fandom the band's acolytes subscribe to. These are not... Read more... |
CD: Elbow - The Take Off and Landing of EverythingSunday, 09 March 2014
They've been indie and they've been (quite) pop, but this time the band has firmly nailed its colours to the art-rock mast. The Take Off and Landing of Everything is a subtle, reflective piece which befits the age and intelligence of its... Read more... |
The Stranglers, Brighton DomeSaturday, 08 March 2014
There was a poignant moment last night as the Stranglers performed the song “Never To Look Back”. It hails from their 1990 album, 10, the last to feature singer Hugh Cornwall heading their original line-up. Behind the band, four giant gilt frames... Read more... |
CD: Paloma Faith - A Perfect ContradictionSaturday, 08 March 2014
For better or worse, it’s not enough these days to be a perfectly serviceable pop singer. With Saturday night TV shows churning them out by the dozen, you need more than an attractive face and an ability to hit the right notes to stand out. With her... Read more... |
Bastille, Alexandra PalaceFriday, 07 March 2014
Bastille didn’t so much raise the roof at Alexandra Palace last night, as ask it politely if it wouldn’t mind elevating itself a touch. Their gentleness belies their success over the past year, since their first album, Bad Blood, was released. The... Read more... |
CD: Laibach - SpectreMonday, 03 March 2014
Just when you were getting sick of music that just offers wafty platitudes, Laibach return to save the day with Spectre, their first proper album since 2006’s Volk. While there is none of the laugh-out-loud subversion of their infamous covers of... Read more... |
Marc Almond, John Harle, The Tyburn Tree, BarbicanMonday, 03 March 2014
On paper this sounded promising: a gothicky song-cycle of historical London and the dark, seamy side of the city, performed a stone’s throw from where they do Jack the Ripper tours. Lead performers were Marc Almond, whose distinctive voice we have... Read more... |
