Review
by Aaron Lavery
Appreciation of Situation Comedy will depend on how much you can stomach a bouncing piano rhythm, a double entendre and a whimsical Welsh vocal.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
When the mood is right, Trust sounds like one of the purest doses of emotion you can experience.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
Kings of Leon are still a long way behind the Arctic Monkeys when it comes to ideas and energy, but they’re still a better proposition than The Killers and the rest when it comes to sheer instant gratification.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
Something that flies in the face of any received wisdom about side-projects from the guys in the background, and shows that Cian Ciaran can stand on his own as a songwriter and performer.»
In Depth by Aaron Lavery
If you haven’t been to this particular part of Wales before, or if you’re unfamiliar with The Prisoner, the village of Portmeirion itself is pretty awe-inspiring on first impression – the grand piazza at its heart, the colourful, Italian-inspired buildings that are crowded into its tiny streets, the majestic sweep of the surrounding White Sands Bay, all combining to give the impression of somewhere really special.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
A great example of someone following their musical instincts into new areas and finding success, Bloodlines is also a highlight of the year so far.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
Overall, it’s fair to say that Long Distance Song Effects is pretty much what you’d expect if you were one of the few who heard Goldheart Assembly’s debut album.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
Images Rolling is a definite step up in consistency compared to Magic Arm's debut, and will be well-suited as a soundtrack to the famous Manchester sunshine, whenever it remembers to make an appearance.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
definitely something that should be applauded – no matter how old the author is, and who she used to be friends with.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
A strange mix of left-wing politics and cheery synth pop.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
There are some great moments on Until In Excess, Imperceptible UFO, but by the end they’re lost under swathes of synths and looking for a sense of purpose. »
Review
by Aaron Lavery
A brave, difficult and experimental album, The Terror reminds us that there’s more to The Flaming Lips than glitter bombs and dancing bears.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
Politics can often waylay even the best musicians, but it seems to have the opposite effect on Steve Mason here, inspiring him to create some of his finest and most thought-provoking material.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
The results are interesting without ever stretching into what could be classed as truly exciting, a collection of hazy, groove-led tracks that never seem to spark into life to a great degree or hook their melodies deep enough into your brain.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
Here on Almanac there’s a bolshier, more accomplished sound, as well as a more adventurous spirit.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
While it's never as instant or absorbing as MMJ’s finest works, Regions Of Light And Sound Of God is still an intriguing LP from a musician that seems happiest when he’s exploring his own outer limits.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
More frequent glimpses of sunshine amongst the drink and disaster seems to suit I Am Kloot, and it’s likely to push them closer to the spotlight than ever before.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
It’s fair to say that we’ll be hearing a fair bit of this album throughout 2013, whether on the radio or soundtracking a particularly tricky moment on The Great British Bake Off.»
In Depth by Aaron Lavery
Initially, there was plenty of reasons to steer clear of this record – mainly the fact that Josh Tillman’s previous solo albums had been so, so dull, the drummer from Fleet Foxes stripping away the wide-eyed wonder of his bandmates to sing po-faced folk songs. Then, there was the story behind Fear Fun, that Tillman was depressed with his lot, quit the day job, moved to LA and had decided to write a novel. Clean shaven, short-haired and wearing a fairly preposterous pseudonym, it seemed that Tillman had given up a cushty job in a massively successful band to plow a particularly lonely furrow. »
Review
by Aaron Lavery
You get a sense that The Violence, as a record and as a project, is something that Darren Hayman is very proud of, and he’d be right to feel that way.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
Exactly what you want Neil Young to be playing as a 66-year-old, looking back over his life and career.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
There’s still an over-riding sense that these tracks are waiting to be heard on stage before they can truly take flight, but there’s still plenty here to suggest that The Jim Jones Revue are more than beefed up rock and roll revisionists.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
A couple of tracks at once would probably be the best prescription to suggest, rather than ingesting as a whole.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
Recognising that it’s fine to be influenced by Americana without having to don a Stetson and a rhinestone-studded shirt.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
If you don’t like extensive instrumental passages, guitar solos and patchouli-scented words like ‘jam’ or ‘freakout’, you should give Ascent the widest berth possible. If you do like that kind of thing, this record could make your year. »
Review
by Aaron Lavery
I Was a Cat From A Book is discernibly a James Yorkston record, and full of what you’d expect from one, but there’s enough shading in the corners and drawing over the lines to add new sparks of interest.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
Whatever the reasons for these three records reappearing, they do at least show how he came to be the Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy we know today.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
The Sparrow is a definite change in direction for Lawrence Arabia, and one that is probably going to result in less attention from the radio.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
Listen to The House That Jack Built a few times, and you won’t care whose nappies Jesca Hoop has changed.»
Review
by Aaron Lavery
Solid if rarely spectacular, with the Crazy Horse rumble making a welcome return to Neil Young’s modern day repertoire.»
