Charlotte Adigéry – Topical Dancer (2022) – Album Review

I'd been listening to this album on repeat for over a week, all the while being under the impression it was titled Tropical Dancer. While that label goes some way to evoking the funky fruity rhythms and party atmosphere of Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul’s first full-length collaboration, it also didn't strike me as the … Continue reading Charlotte Adigéry – Topical Dancer (2022) – Album Review

15/01/2022 This week I have been mostly listening to…

A few more late finds from 2021, including robust breakbeat techno from Ryan James Ford, syrupy synth pop from Men I Trust, and snaking beats winding their way through the streets of Lagos from Emeka Ogboh. And given how much I loved Mrs Jynx's collaboration with µ-Ziq, on Secret Garden last year - it seemed … Continue reading 15/01/2022 This week I have been mostly listening to…

Nation of Language – A Way Forward (2021) – Album Review

Nation of Language are a Brooklyn-based trio, led by songwriter Ian Devaney, along with his wife Aidan Noell on synths and bassist Michael Sue-Poi. Their 2020 debut album, ‘Introduction, Presence’ was a lovingly crafted, pitch-perfect tribute to 80s synth pop, in all its shiny, euphoric, swooning glory. So precise was their re-creation of an iconic sound that even on first listening … Continue reading Nation of Language – A Way Forward (2021) – Album Review

Snapped Ankles – Forest of Your Problems (2021) – Album Review

Snapped Ankles

It’s impossible to mention Snapped Ankles to anyone who’s familiar with them without being told how excellent they are live. For any band that builds their initial reputation as a formidable live act, transferring that energy and intensity to a recorded album is always going to be a challenge. A challenge which can result in … Continue reading Snapped Ankles – Forest of Your Problems (2021) – Album Review

Daniel Avery – Together in Static (2021) – Album Review

Daniel Avery is one of a handful of noteworthy electronic producers who, over the years, has transition from a relatively slick and shiny sound to something much rougher around the edges. Andy Stott being another one, who a decade ago transformed his clean-lined techno into a lumbering reverb and distortion-caked take on dance music. Over … Continue reading Daniel Avery – Together in Static (2021) – Album Review

Sofia Kourtesis – Fresia Magdalena (2021) – Review

Sofia Kourtesis’ new EP, Fresia Magdalena, is a timely and much needed ray of sunshine - as the warmer months approach and with them, the promise of evenings outdoors, picnics in the park and open-air music festivals. The anticipation of spring is always something to be savoured, but is heightened tenfold this year, given how … Continue reading Sofia Kourtesis – Fresia Magdalena (2021) – Review

Gazelle Twin – Deep England (2021)

The cataclysmic event of Brexit and the ensuing political and cultural fallout has influenced many different musicians across the stylistic spectrum, prompting a range of reactions as artists responded in different ways to the implications of the referendum result. These shockwaves have combined with ever-increasing inequality, which has only been worsened by the pandemic, to … Continue reading Gazelle Twin – Deep England (2021)

11/06/20 This week I have been mostly listening to

To Rococo Rot - The Amamtuer View (1999). I was prompted to listen to To Rococo Rot while reading Paul Morley’s book, Words and Music. It’s an intriguing, informative yet also maddeningly frustrating book, which I won’t go into detail on here. Apart from to say it seems to be part autobiography and part potted … Continue reading 11/06/20 This week I have been mostly listening to