Twenty-five years on from the era-defining OK Computer, Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood and Nigel Godrich team up with Tom Skinner to conjure a plethora of arresting sonic thrills on their compelling and exhilarating debut as a cosmic-electronic supergroup. One of the resounding highlights of last year’s Glastonbury’s Live At Worthy Farm livestream was the out-of-the-blue … [Read more...] about The Smile: A Light For Attracting Attention – Review
The 30 Albums That Made 2021 (part 2)
Michael Sumsion continues his list of this year's greatest albums with another 15 records. With a plethora of hard-hitting, warm, wonderful, and charismatic releases in 2021, it was impossible to keep the list short. Because of this, part 2 of The 30 Albums That Made 2021 brings us another 15 albums that were a joy to listen to in a year that needed music more than … [Read more...] about The 30 Albums That Made 2021 (part 2)
The 30 Albums That Made 2021 (part 1)
In his wide-ranging annual survey, Michael Sumsion revisits the defining releases of the past twelve months. The year of 2021 threw up a mixed bag of consummate thrills, jaded re-runs and playlist wonders. In the mainstream, punters craved the comfort of the familiar rather than off-kilter novelty; the most engaging music emanated from more obscure quarters. It was, however, … [Read more...] about The 30 Albums That Made 2021 (part 1)
Saint Etienne: Live at Alexandra Palace Theatre – Review
In which the supreme pop-collagists show themselves to be on top of their game, conjuring aural magic by sprinkling big hitters amongst their latest material. It’s now thirty years since Saint Etienne – Bob Stanley, Pete Wiggs and Sarah Cracknell – beguiled the nation with the fresh-as-a-daisy patchwork sounds of their cinematic, imaginative and exuberant Foxbase Alpha … [Read more...] about Saint Etienne: Live at Alexandra Palace Theatre – Review
Matthew Halsall: Live at The Barbican, London – Review
The gifted Mancunian trumpeter, polymath and bandleader plunders his gorgeous 2020 opus, Salute To The Sun, and revisits a smattering of old favourites in a sensational, stirring and sublime evening of cosmically infused jazz exploration. Whether as composer, producer, label founder, trumpeter or mentor, Matthew Halsall has become a venerable mainstay of the British jazz … [Read more...] about Matthew Halsall: Live at The Barbican, London – Review
Kings of Convenience: Live at The Royal Festival Hall
Kings of Convenience return to the live scene and celebrate their newest album with shows at London's Royal Festival Hall. The Nordic folk-pop duo Kings of Convenience aka Erlend Oye and Eirik Glambek Boe don’t tend to tour very much and there was a hiatus of twelve years between their most recent albums, so their decision to perform both a matinee and evening show at The … [Read more...] about Kings of Convenience: Live at The Royal Festival Hall