Not content with dominating the airwaves and the charts and soundtracking an Apple advert, the lovely Feist has now turned her attentions to educating the youth of the nation (and, indeed, the world). Here’s a clip of her appearing on US television show Sesame Street, singing a child friendly parody of her very own 1,2,3,4. [...]
Music: Reviews
The Thirst – My Everything
The Thirst – My Everything (Wooden Records) July 14th, 2008 4.2/6.0 This track has been produced by Jake Fior, who’s worked with Pete Doherty in the form of The Libertines and Babyshambles before now. Indeed, The Thirst’s sound harks to The Clash and The Libertines on this single, with Mensah Cofi-Agyeman’s unmistakably London tones tripping [...]
Live Reviews
The Pioneers
Interpol with Ladytron Apollo Theatre, Manchester Tuesday July 8th, 2008 At first, Ladytron are a revelation. I only know 17, and in declining to play it I was instead temporarily drawn into a world I know nothing about – electro. Barely lit, Ladytron use the darkness to create underworlds of oft-ear splitting sounds courtesy of [...]
Bestival
Festival Previews: Bestival 2008
Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight, September 5th-7th 2008 Being at Bestival last year felt like living in a cartoon for three days. A brilliant one at that. One of the undoubted success stories of recent years as far as festivals are concerned, Rob and Josie da Bank and company most definitely pulled the [...]
Festival Coverage
Festival Previews: Green Man Festival 2008
Glanusk Park, August 15th-17th 2008 Green Man was perhaps the most favourite festival of those Fugitives who attended it last year or the year before. Set in a bustling yet intimate valley in South Wales, Glanusk Park makes a hospitable yet interesting venue (if a little cold – make sure you take a warm sleeping [...]
Music: Reviews
japancakes – Soon/Touched
japancakes – Soon/Touched (Sonic Cathedral) June 23rd, 2008 3.6/6.0 Champions of glorious noise Sonic Cathedral presumptuously describe themselves as “the label that celebrates itself”, but on this occasion they’re celebrating the welcome return of My Bloody Valentine to touring with a pair of covers by Georgia’s japancakes, remixed for this release. japancakes formed in 1999 [...]
Live Reviews
It’s All Relative
UNKLE (live) with The Duke Spirit Somerset House, London Saturday, July 12th 2008 The beautiful surroundings of the Embankment’s Somerset House make a suitably grand setting for tonight’s performances. One of the less conservative bills on offer during the series, it’s a delight – although somewhat of a dint in any attempts to ward off [...]
Live Reviews
Folking Marvellous
Mumford and Sons with Davie Fiddle and Jake Flowers Matt and Phred’s Jazz Club, Manchester Wednesday, July 9th 2008 The London Folk Invasion has arrived. Whilst Manchester sits in its collective bedroom trying to work out five-part vocal harmonies, the kids of London have grabbed their banjos and hit the town with Fairport Convention on [...]
Album Reviews
Another Planet
Various Artists – Life Beyond Mars: Bowie Covered (Rapster Records) July 14th, 2008 3.0/6.0 Harking back to the age of the jazz standards, today is the new era of the cover version, as popularised once again by Mark Ronson, Nouvelle Vague and Cat Power amongst others. And, given that David Bowie is the mother, father, [...]
Album Reviews
Girls and Boys
She and Him – Volume 1 (Domino Records/Double Six) July 14th, 2008 4.0/6.0 Don’t let the modest anonymity of the band name fool you; the She and Him in question are in fact indie screen queen Zooey Deschanel, better known for her roles in The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy and the recent (and reprehensible) [...]