Mt Desolation - Mt Desolation
3 Stars
A charmingly effective collection of ideas and styles.
6th October 2010
3 Stars rated Albums & EPs
Apache Beat - Last Chants
3 Stars
For all it sets out to do, ‘Last Chants’ should be lauded.
5th October 2010
Crystal Fighters - Star Of Love
3 Stars
There are a few too many tracks where they flame, but fail to blow-up.
29th September 2010
Chromeo - Business Casual
3 Stars
A notably disappointing showcase of new material.
24th September 2010
Ice, Sea, Dead People - Teeth Union
3 Stars
An accomplished debut album in a genre that can be very hard to ‘crack.’
23rd September 2010
Fan Death - Womb Of Dreams
3 Stars
A surprisingly accomplished album with fabulous instrumentation and plenty of endearingly quirky sounds.
13th September 2010
Blonde Redhead - Penny Sparkle
3 Stars
It’s not scarce of special songs or lush musicality but it lacks the intimacy of previous works.
9th September 2010
Brandon Flowers - Flamingo
3 Stars
Flowers finally sounds comfortable — a welcome change to earlier unease at performing with band mates, let alone by himself.
9th September 2010
The Strange Death Of Liberal England - Drown Your Heart Again
3 Stars
The kind of band that would work great at a festival, if you only had to listen to two or three of their songs…
9th September 2010
The Clientele - Minotaur
3 Stars
It’s hard to find too much to complain about when MacLean is crooning over the bands blissful pop melodies.
8th September 2010
Smoke Fairies - Through Low Light And Trees
3 Stars
Their voices are pretty, but not submissive; no, these women sing with conviction.
6th September 2010
Wildbirds & Peacedrums - Rivers
3 Stars
Half sacred music mixed with folk-like lyrics and drums, and half experimental, Caribbean percussion pop.
16th August 2010
Herzog - Search
3 Stars
Comparisons to 90s indie darlings are going to be difficult to avoid, but that’s a good thing, right?
12th August 2010
Department Of Eagles - Archive 2003 - 2006
3 Stars
An interesting listen, with five out of the eleven tracks here mere sketches.
4th August 2010
PVT - Church With No Magic
3 Stars
A (small) step away from post-rock and towards experimental pop.
4th August 2010
Magic Kids - Memphis
3 Stars
This summery, instrument-rich record almost manages to out Beach Boy the Beach Boys themselves.
2nd August 2010
Hexicon - The Blossom Sighs
3 Stars
It practically creates the ideal English summer in your brain.
22nd July 2010
Delta Spirit - History From Below
3 Stars
The heart and soul of the album lies in the opening two tracks, and it’s all downhill from there.
24th June 2010
Ratatat - LP4
3 Stars
Hard to get too excited about.
7th June 2010
The Drums - The Drums
3 Stars
For some, it will be the soundtrack of the summer.
7th June 2010
Bear In Heaven - Beast Rest Forth Mouth
3 Stars
A vaguely interesting album marred by tedious moments.
28th May 2010
Fortune - Staring At The Ice Melt
3 Stars
Fans of Phoenix and other soulful pop rock acts will be in for a treat.
28th May 2010
The Rebs - In A Heartbeat
3 Stars
A mixed bag, more 9 than 24 carat gold.
17th May 2010
Eliza Doolittle - Eliza Doolittle
3 Stars
What she lacks in lyrical wit and brashness, she makes up in a variety of hummable tunes.
5th May 2010
Festival special! Featuring Wolf Alice, Kasabian, Lykke Li, Marmozets, Genesis Owusu and more.