Liars - WIXIW (Mute)
June 4, 2012
5.5/6.0
It may be brooding and dark in places, but the duality of emotional turmoil (the good and bad in all of us) defines WIXIW... it is delicately balanced, exciting and intriguing.
Anna Prior speaks to the Motel's Simon about their NME touring buddies, the Mercury Prize and Animal from The Muppets...
Enter Shikari - A Flash Flood of Colour
January 16, 2012
1.5/6.0
Unfortunately, A Flash Flood of Colour is an anaemic blend of bro-step and metal that falls short of its historic forebears.
Beaty Heart - Slushpuppy/Cola EP (Worry Free Records)
October 26th, 2011
4.5/6.0
The antithesis of the hippy drum circle: less serious, more fun.
Justice - Audio, Video, Disco (Ed Banger/Because Music)
October 24, 2011
5.3/6.0
Using house music as a defibrillator, Justice may have successfully rehabilitated the leather trousered, coke addled corpse of arena rock.
M83 - Hurry Up We’re Dreaming (Naive Records)
October 17, 2011
3.9/6.0
While I admit it would be tiring to have an album of nothing but wall to wall exhilaration, Hurry Up We’re Dreaming mistakes downtempo for deep and meaningful.
Howling Bells
The Electric Ballroom, Camden
Thursday, 15th September 2011
Perennially on the cusp of breaking through, tonight’s show is the second date in their tour to promote album number three...
Big Deal - Lights Out
September 5th, 2011
4.5/6.0
For a debut, this is remarkably accomplished and a joy to listen to.
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - Mirror Traffic (Domino Records)
August 22, 2011
4.7/6.0
This is Malkmus' fifth post-Pavement album, and the band definitely sound a little rougher around the edges than on previous releases. However, he sounds like he is having a lot more fun, it really is infectious.
