by Matthew Langham Formerly of mid-noughties indie group Les Incompetents and Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man, outspoken frontman Fred MacPherson returns with Spector almost three years on from their debut record Enjoy It While It Lasts. Naturally compared to The Vaccines due to their indulgence in heavy production values and glossy, hi-definition indie riffs, it may have featured dramatic retro indie gutpunches like ‘Chevy Thunder’ and ‘Friday Night, Don’t Ever Let It End’, yet accidentally
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by Matthew Langham Now onto his sixth studio album, the ever-consistent Frank Turner returns with more of his politically-infused punk/folk/rock crossover which has seen him amass a devoted fan base over eight years. His Glastonbury midday performance this year was prime example of his broad appeal and one which I will admit helped to banish a heavy hangover. His passion for music is patently obvious and his arena shows are now
by Matthew Langham New York duo MS MR, consisting of Lizzy Plapinger and Max Hershenow, return with their follow-up to their 2013 debut Secondhand Rapture which featured the alternative-pop hit ‘Hurricane’. While they aren’t considerably well known and are considered hard to place in the alternative pop landscape, Plapinger is probably best known for owning New York label Neon Gold – which released early records by Haim and Marina &
by Matthew Langham Breaking onto the scene in 2009 with her debut record Hands, Little Boots’ unique style on tracks including ‘Meddle’ and ‘Stuck On Repeat’ drew praise from industry critics, particular for her use of the Tenori-on and the Stylophone. Whilst her 2013 follow-up record Nocturnes was overshadowed by her electronic pop contemporaries including Lady Gaga, Little Boots (aka Blackpool’s Victoria Hesketh) is now CEO of her own record label
To adapt that famous misquotation attributed to Mark Twain, reports of the album’s death have been greatly exaggerated. Ever since the turn of the millennium, conventional wisdom has had it that the traditional long-player is on its way out, an arcane format out of time with the digital world that will cede inexorably to a future of singles and playlists. But while many artists have experimented with what an album
by Matthew Langham Chicago-based troubadour Ezra Furman returns with his third solo album, a highly charged record which springs from OCD, sexuality, religion and alienation. Perpetual Motion People has everything a solid rock ‘n’ roll album should have, full of the pent-up frustrations of lonely youth, one that Furman calls ‘an album for misfits’. Having received praise from BBC6 Music’s Marc Riley (as well as many other music critics) for his
by Matthew Langham Shelved alongside the likes of Tame Impala and Unknown Mortal Orchestra, London-based Gengahr have been one of the main critic’s choices for bands to watch in 2015. Following on from their brilliant set at Live At Leeds, their full-length debut A Dream Outside is a melting pot of summery, psychedelic pop hooks. On first listen it might float by without any immediate impact – after all, the air
by Matthew Langham Since his sampled voiceover on Daft Punk’s 2013 album Random Access Memories, which in turn was a kind of tribute album to the man himself, legendary Italian-born producer Giorgio Moroder has seen something of a revival in fortunes in terms of his critical stock. Famed for producing hit records such as ‘Hot Stuff’ and the effortlessly futuristic ‘I Feel Love’, this is his first record since 1985’s collaboration
by Matthew Langham At first glance it is remarkably obvious how Franz Ferdinand have been inspired by ‘70s avant-garde pop group Sparks. Franz’s Alex Kapranos first mooted a hook-up with their quirky pop heroes more than a decade ago and, at long last, we get to hear what many of assumed only existed in his head. Needless to say, this collaborative effort FFS from both bands is immensely fun and humorous,
by Matthew Langham Icelandic folk-rockers Of Monsters And Men got their breakthrough in 2010’s Reykjavik’s annual battle of the bands and the quintet have never looked back since. Their 2013 debut My Head Is An Animal sold a staggering two million copies on the back of their hit single ‘Little Talks’. It’s pretty clear to see why they have done so well in the UK, essentially hitting a marketing sweet spot
