Jane-O has written the following articles:
Funeral For A Friend's Matthew Davies could get a refund on his Sat Nav, because while most musical diversions stay within hailing distance of the mother band, this hardcore frontman's new side project, The Secret Show, has ended up deep in the country...»
This recent winner of Lamacq's Rebel Playlist is a poignant affair. A booming hooter at the start does it no favours, but once relegated to the background a tender touch rushes up to kiss your forehead...»
Unlike some new band forcing their way in, or another hoping that their fifth will still shift sufficient numbers to keep the kids in private education, Lee Hazlewood didn't need to make this album. Having put out his first single in 1958, this is his way of doing what Johnny Cash did towards the end of his life, namely, tying up the odds and sods to leave his swansong...»
First, we are greeted by a sweet and expertly played piano motif. Hey, that's nice. Nothing controversial there. But then THUNK!!! What the fuck! It's bedlam. The consumption of this band's output equates less to hearing, assessing and appreciating because it's far more elemental than that. »
Brakes' new album The Beatific Visions has been built upon far more than just sweetness and light. This time round, Eamon Hamilton has been wrestling with the Prince of Darkness no less...»
DiS recently had one mighty chin-wag with Tool's drummer extraordinaire Danny Carey and learnt all kinds of stuff about secret hobbies, even more about secret frustrations, and why the band nearly killed each other during the making of their 10,000 Days disc... »
Viarosa's debut album more than deserves this second bite of the CD shopper's cherry. From this British band come allusions to kings and paupers, prayers and forgiveness, all of which have been borrowed from antiquated imagery. The effect is magical and leaves me wondering if shared memories from the fabled Collective Unconscious have been tapped...»
Swipe! are certainly a new name on the Cardiff gig scene, but their frontman and writer James Chant is anything but a débutante in the Welsh capital... »
Cardiff resident Culprit One is the rising cream on a demitasse of electronica, in a city that continues to hold her rowdy bands the closest to her chest... »
With all of Lisa Germano's work comes the feeling that she's addressing only herself. Whatever consumes her thoughts on the day to day will eventually find their exit through one of her songs...»
As Woven Hand is David Eugene Edwards' only conduit now, will Mosaic be a continuation of where Sixteen Horsepower left off, or perhaps remain the less boisterous and sometimes introverted cousin?»
"Every so often, there's a wake-up feeling when you think everything is getting too soft. We needed to get back to a place that had a bit of fear and uncertainty because, for an artist, contentment isn't good."»
As the follow-up to his twisted Christmas single, David Hurn is still refusing to mince words when it comes to choosing a title. Should I brace myself for a diatribe missile shower when I hit play? Well, no, actually. »
From the squall of attention seeking guitar that's beating a path to the unfeasibly tight intro, Newport's spaced out Frommars, are introducing their eponymous EP from the back of a Hasyabusa hitting its 0 to 60 (-which, as you're asking, takes a scant 2.9 seconds). »
Kepler are yet another excellent Canadian band and this is their third album. Poised somewhere between Nada Surf and Elbow, Kepler make beautiful, yearning music that shades its eyes against the cold, steely dawn... »
There's been a parting of the ways for Cardiff's jangly and experimental International Karate Plus, with an announcement last night that three have become two...»
New TV show need studio audience this Sunday»
Amber Headlights is the bridge between Greg Dulli's two worlds and his two bands. In the four years since this album was made, much has been said about whether it was ever meant for release, but here it now is, to do or die.»
Magnolia Electric Co.'s Jason Molina, drops in on London, carrying three new albums. »
It's been a while since I checked up on one of my favourite local bands. Leave the Capital have had me variously in tears, swooning or overwhelmed over times, leaving me wondering what they'd do next. Sometimes it can be a bit scary waiting to see if the band with early promise will grow into themselves.»
You can soothe your brow and take a break from Chrissy shopping for a bit because David Hurn brings you "I'm Spending Christmas With Jesus This Year" a suicide song with the compliment of the season. »
Ooh, Viarosa! I'm anxious with a smouldering anticipation because this year their album, 'Where The Killer Run', has made its home deep in me as nothing else has. Tonight, flesh and blood stand before me as conduits soul to soul, heart to heart. Will the band make it possible for me to lose my heart in them as I have the music?»
Marissa Nadler specialises in murder ballads where beauty, tragedy and loss are the unavoidable fates befalling all the lovers of the age. She portrays her heroines through the aloof styling of her voice and a demeanour that clamours for what is lost, whether an unfulfilled glance of bliss or a lover never to return.»
Due to a family bereavement, TV On The Radio have been forced to cancel tonight's gig at The Scala in London.»
Lured to the Oldest Record Shop In World (TM) by the "promise of cakes" (quoth), Arab Strap will be warming up for their evening show at Cardiff's Barfly by playing a mini-set at Spillers Records this Saturday, 12th November.
You lucky people! The sultry, black clad and bejewelled Ms Marissa Nadler enjoyed being here so much earlier this year that she's back with another, sure to be stunning, series of shows that kick off in Cardiff at the end of this month.»
Moving unseen amongst the whores and dockers of Cardiff's old town, Smokehand pad their way street by street. Here live the souls ready to catch The Last Train, Smokehand's first album.»
A commemorative plaque to rock star Joe Strummer is to be hung at the South Wales flat where he launched his musical career.»
It's friendly, fuzzy and no-one's gonna get hurt. 'Nexus In A Chain Of Thought' is a gentle, jangly, Summer la-la song with tightly packed happy guitars, behind an eager, meandering vocal.»
In the big bad world of American-dominated, lonesome white trash blues, the competition is fierce but Christopher Rees has never been afraid to plough his lonely furrow.»
