17.45: Having previously dismissed Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine as just another middle-class girl with a big pair of lungs, I’m finally sold today. Dressed in shades of green and gold more suited to the early days of spring than the last sweltering throes of summer, Florence sings with colour and passion, tiptoeing [...]
Bestival
Bestival 2009 Clockwatch: Friday, September 11th (Part 1)
00.30: “Seven times three,” someone in Blue Camping remarks, before looking me in the eye and shouting “YOU! 7×3!” Easy, Vorderman! Bloody hell. “21?” I reply with some trepidation. My mathematical prowess is rewarded with a standing ovation from four complete strangers. That’s a relief. KG
Bestival
Bestival 2009 Clockwatch: Thursday, September 10th
10.00: The Motel is preparing itself once again for a delightful time at Bestival, and our number are so excited that we just can’t wait to get onsite, so at least five of us are on the move at the crack of dawn. KG
Festival Coverage
Get Loaded In The Park 2009 Clockwatch
14.25: London electronic-dance duo Chase and Status sound More Than A Lot (ho hum) like Pendulum. However, that’s clearly their appeal, as the turnout at The Clash Stage illustrates. The likelihood of the Aussie drum’n’bass rockers being defeated is slim, but these UK boys certainly give it their best shot. With hits like Against All [...]
Live Reviews
Ap-Plause For Thought
With a total of eight musicians crowded onto the Night and Day stage, at least three of whom are playing tambourines at any one time, it seems as if The Phenomenal Handclap Band are striving towards adjudication for some sort of obscure word record. Or at least attempting to go one better than the S Club ever did.
Festival Coverage
Green Man 2009 Clockwatch: Sunday August 23rd
10.00: Hmm. Have only just woken up. Why is the tent not reaching boiling point? I fear rain. Fingers crossed the weekend will remain dry… HB 11.50: The rest of our party are trooping away – not to see bands, but to find a pub with Sky Sports (other sports channels available. Just not to [...]
Album Reviews
Plenti To Offer
From the opening gloom bearing goth romp of Only If You Run, it’s clear that Julian Plenti is… Skyscraper is far, far more than an operation in clearing the Interpol desk post-Our Love to Admire.
Live Reviews
Waking Our Souls
By the time Marcus Mumford and company take to the stage, the Ruby Lounge is packed to the rafters with a young and enthusiastic crowd. It’s quite amazing to see this, considering that the sound on offer doesn’t exactly conform to the stereotypes of modern music at all…when what is on offer is this good, it would be criminal if it didn’t draw a crowd.
Album Reviews
The New Fella
While this cross-Pennine alliance is unprecedented and seems downright wrong, it has allowed The Cribs to expand their sound beyond the abrasive, yet catchy indie-punk of their previous three LPs.
Album Reviews
There Ain’t No Rain On This Parade…
It’s this way with words, this innate understanding of linguistic tempo that makes Liam’s work such a delight, improving with each and every listen.