Stephen Fretwell The Dancehouse, Manchester Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007 Before The Fugitive Motel was seduced by the gently-strummed acoustic charms of occasionally chart-bothering, all-singing, all-songwriting troubadours on a near-enough weekly basis, there was one man who came along and swept away all of our cynicism towards the genre. His name was Stephen Fretwell, and with [...]
Mixtapes'n'Tapes
Mixtapes’n’Tapes: Part 5 – Money
Thinking up a mixtape challenge is getting harder as the stockpile gets ever more random. So far, we’ve had bodily functions, foreign cultures and memories of the playground. Following from these illustrious examples, I was looking for a theme that unifies us all, something everyone cares about. Peace? Love? Nope. This time, it’s a question [...]
I'd Marry That Voice
I’d Marry That Voice: Part 5 – Jónsi Birgisson
The name, I expect, is not familiar. The name of the band he fronts, Sigur Rós, might not even ring any bells. But such is my fondness for this Icelandic four-piece I can pinpoint the moment this love affair began. There I was, watching the final scene of Cameron Crowe’s film Vanilla Sky, moments before [...]
Music: Reviews
The Hussy’s – ‘We Expected’
The Hussy’s – ‘We Expected’ (Weekender Records) 7th May, 2007 2.0/6.0 The “sunny indie pop” of Glaswegian quintet The Hussy’s’ (forgive them the superfluous apostrophe) debut should be applauded for its unique achievement in appearing sufficiently anodyne to bear repetitive listening, while actually disproving this theory with each reiteration. One initially concedes that the engaging [...]
Album Reviews
The Nightmare’s Over
Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare (Domino Records) April 30th, 2007 5.6/6.0 I’m going to start this review by pinning my colours firmly to the mast – potentially putting a lot of people off totally – and saying that I really like the Arctic Monkeys, and this album is a cracker. Brilliantly building on the [...]
Music: Features
My First Album: Part 4 – The Great Escape
Our apologies for the lack of a My First Album feature of late. All should be back on track soon, with not one, but two, instalments in June. In the meantime, here’s your editor’s hastily-cobbled musical recollections of her formative years… ______________________________________________________________________________ First album purchased: Blur’s The Great Escape. Format purchased on: Lovely shiny compact [...]
Classic Albums
Classic Albums: Part 4 – Lost Souls
Doves – Lost Souls (Heavenly Records) Released: 2000 Shot through with a pervasive sense of melancholy, the Mercury-nominated debut from the artists formerly known as Sub Sub couldn’t be further from their earlier incarnation. Paving the way for albums such as Asleep In The Back by their contemporaries Elbow (quite possibly one of the most [...]
Music: Features
Your New Favourite Band!: Part 4 – Jack Penate
Once every so often, an artist so refreshing and enthusiastic comes along to blow the rest of the pretenders out of the water. Jack Peñate is one of these artists. One of the latest offerings in the long line of thamesbeat, rockabilly, ramshackle talent coming out from the Big Smoke, Jack Peñate deserves your attention. [...]
Live Reviews
Universal Pleasures
Monkey Swallows the Universe / Rory McVicar / Lucy and the Caterpillar Rampant Lion, Manchester Thursday April 20th, 2007 Manchester seems to be looking kindly upon those of us who like an evening of extremely pretty music, the rather unexpectedly pleasant spring weather affording the opportunity to, say, sit in the spacious, blossom filled garden [...]
Music: Reviews
Rosemary – 40-40
Rosemary – 40-40 (Split Records) April 30th, 2007 4.0/6.0 40-40, “the latest single from Kent’s very own Rosemary” (apparently) could be best described as fairly generic and lacking in most areas apart from a lively energy at first listen. Unfortunately, this wears off rapidly with further listening. However, Blissfully Mine should on no account be [...]