Sweetie Pie and the Gutter Men – An Introduction to Sweetie Pie and the Gutter Men
Wednesday August 31, 2011
4.9/6.0
Having worked tirelessly for the last year trawling London’s live music scene, it is surely only a matter of time before the Gutter Men assume their rightful mantle as alt-folk’s new sweetie pies.
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Belong (Fortuna Pop!/Slumberland)
March 28th, 2011
4.3/6.0
It’s hard to get away from the fact that the whole album is a veritable melting pot of hooks and angles pinched from their much admired C86 forefathers, but with the undeniable production pedigree of Flood and Alan Moulder at the helm they do this to great effect.
Elliott Smith - An Introduction To… (Domino Records)
November 1st, 2010
4.9/6.0
As the name would suggest, this compilation is by no means intended as a full, off the beaten track journey into the artist's rich back catalogue, but more a seat on a guided tour bus, stopping to look at the main attractions along the way.
James Yuill – First In Line
October 25th 2010
3.0/6.0
Synths and beats form the landscape from which this track emerges. Overlaid with soft, almost timid vocals, the combination some how falls short of the seamless marriage Yuill has managed to create on past outings.
She & Him - Thieves (Double Six)
June 21st, 2010
4.2/6.0
Where previous single In the Sun highlighted Deschanel’s lesser-known capacity for upbeat tunesmanship, Thievessees a swift return to more familiar balladry.
Delays
Monto Water Rats, London
Friday, June 4th 2010
Delays do well in encouraging a decent level of nostalgia fuelled toe-tapping to their older material, and polite head-bobbing to their impending tunes...this aside though, you can’t help thinking that early potential will never be realised.
Joanna Newsom
Somerset House, London
Sunday July 20th, 2008
Drawing to a close with the serene Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie, tonight’s crowd file out into the star scattered sky safe in the mind that they’ve witnessed one of the 21st century’s most unique, enchanting songwriters.
The Zutons with Noah And The Whale
Somerset House, London
Wednesday July 16th, 2008
With free drinks on the terrace and a seat directly next to The Zutons’ Abi Harding, it’s safe to say the evening starts off very much in my favour.
The Music - Strength In Numbers (Universal/Polydor)
June 16th, 2008
4.0/6.0
There really is no discernible progression to be seen from their eponymous debut album to this, a deja-vu laden trip down memory lane.
