Michael Sumsion takes a look back at the most recent record store day and sums up the good and bad points of the now global yearly event. That whirlwind of the musical social calendar, Record Store Day, has come and gone again for another year, a now regular fixture that appears to generate as much anxiety and disgruntlement as goodwill and consumer pleasure. Whilst I for one … [Read more...] about Record Store Day: How Good Is It For The Record Industry?
Album Review: Mac DeMarco – This Old Dog
Mac DeMarco is back with a new record, and it's a more polished affair to get really excited about. The Canadian singer-songwriter Mac DeMarco has long enjoyed a reputation as a goofy man-child grotesque, a poster boy for unkempt slacker indie-rock, always ready with an off-kilter aside or fart prank. However, one glance at his burgeoning catalogue and rate of activity since … [Read more...] about Album Review: Mac DeMarco – This Old Dog
Nina Simone – Another Spring
As winter sheds its pall and the rejuvenation of springtime's bloom takes hold, I've been moved to dig out a slew of old Nina Simone albums from my collection, particularly her much-admired And Piano! set from 1969. A commercial flop recorded at the pinnacle of the soul-jazz legend's powers during her genre-straddling, crossover period at RCA, the album is notable for the … [Read more...] about Nina Simone – Another Spring
Review: Max Richter – On The Nature Of Daylight (Vinyl Edition)
Max Richter brings his classic track onto 180g Vinyl and reminds us how music and pictures can be the perfect mix. An award winning film wouldn’t be half as good without a decent soundtrack. Music can make or break a scene, heighten emotion in story lines or create a whole new feeling to a movie that would otherwise be missed. Max Richter's On The Nature Of Daylight has been … [Read more...] about Review: Max Richter – On The Nature Of Daylight (Vinyl Edition)
This Is Just A Tribute: Mystical Energy At My First Gig
Jared Parson's looks back at the gig that introduced him to the power of live performances and how music can change young lives. When I was growing up, my dad would always be seriously joking about these "real bands" that he used to listen to. Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Clash... you can see him reminiscing something in the back of his mind, back perhaps to an unspoken … [Read more...] about This Is Just A Tribute: Mystical Energy At My First Gig
Primal Scream – Screamadelica: The Record That Changed My Life
Michael Sumsion takes a look back at Primal Scream's acclaimed record Screamadelica, and how it changed the way he viewed music and the record industry in general. Back in the autumn of 1991, British indie guitar pop resided in its polite, 'NME'/'Melody Maker'-driven niche away from the vagaries of the glossy pop mainstream. 'BritPop' was waiting to be coined four years down … [Read more...] about Primal Scream – Screamadelica: The Record That Changed My Life