Kaash Paige brings us a fascinating snapshot debut of being 18, black, and with the urge to express as she croons across an honest urban soundscape on Parked Car Convos. The concept of the EP is simple, yet instantly recognisable - a teenage daydream mosaic of thoughts and fears, frankness and vulnerability all draped over flickswitch beats and minimal symphonies of synths. … [Read more...] about Kaash Paige: Parked Car Convos – Review
Young Guv: Guv I and II – Review
Young Guv splashes some much-needed colour on the guitar band horizon on his double record GUV I and II. Ben Cook, the chap manning the guitars in Fucked Up, the Toronto hardcore group, has resurfaced with a double album for his Young Guv solo project. And for Cook, the sun shines both musically and reputationally; already gathering plaudits, GUV I and II is guitar pop’s … [Read more...] about Young Guv: Guv I and II – Review
FKA twigs: MAGDALENE – Review
FKA twigs lets it all out on the plucky, odd and undoubtedly frank long-awaited album MAGDELENE, released through Young Turks. As a rightly heralded, young female musical oddity, FKA twigs had plenty of intrigue from media quarters about her movements and motivations at the time of releasing her 2014 album LP1. Then in 2017, an already fascinated public became aware of her … [Read more...] about FKA twigs: MAGDALENE – Review
Vetiver: Up On High – Review
Understated louche lines dominate Up On High, the latest offering from California-based folkies Vetiver, and the first for new label Loose Music. "We’re two of us, palm trees in the wind, swayin'..." breathes Andy Cabic, returning as Vetiver, the moniker for which he’s better known. Up On High brings Cabic and Vetiver back closer to the natural, warmer, and it may be said, … [Read more...] about Vetiver: Up On High – Review
Wilco: Ode to Joy – Review
"I remember when wars would end" sighs Jeff Tweedy on Ode to Joy, the 11th studio album from Wilco. "But now," he laments, "when something is dead, we kill it again". Wilco and Tweedy have remained quietly industrious over the last 20 years, with a steady flow of albums in this decade that have a glowing thread of memoir running them - Tweedy now seems most comfortable … [Read more...] about Wilco: Ode to Joy – Review
Brittany Howard: Jaime – Review
Brittany Howard announces herself as a force to contend with and snips off the ‘Americana’ tag on self-produced Jaime. Following the huge success of Alabama Shakes, lead singer and guitarist Brittany Howard felt the need to chart her own path for a growing kaleidoscope of songs inspired by her journey through a remarkable upbringing, and now life as a musician. Going solo can … [Read more...] about Brittany Howard: Jaime – Review