Articles
shain has written the following articles:
Stephanie Dosen - This Joy
All in all, nothing worth writing more about, but nothing intrinsically faulty. I could imagine these tracks finding success being licensed to H&M and Zara as background music...»
Hanne Hukkelberg at Amsterdam Paradiso Bovenzaal, Sat 19 May
Subbed
When listening to Hanne Hukkelberg’s Little Things and Rykestrasse 68, it is tough to fathom how the Norwegian songstress pulls off these songs live...»
Birds Of Wales - Fall Of The 49 EP
Listening to Toronto’s Birds of Wales hark on about the fall of the 49th parallel, all I think about is the exact opposite. The 49th parallel, or for the idiots in the group the border between Canada and the United States, is not falling; instead it is being fortified by mandatory passport regulations and general fear of anyone who does not look like you...»
The Cinematic Orchestra - Ma Fleur
Musically, The Cinematic Orchestra mirrors the symbolism of Film Noir. Earlier projects like Motion were slow-moving masterpieces, never quick to give away the plot in an effort to confuse, enthrall and perplex. In Ma Fleur, chief Cinematic Jason Swinscoe quelled inspiration from Paris and its Film Noir history, as well as its laid-back, electro-tinged café culture...»
Sioen - A Potion
For whatever reason, a lot of what is popular or interesting music wise in various continental European regions never makes it to the UK, despite some of it bettering the notes being made on this small island. Sioen is such an example...»
Feist - The Reminder
Regardless how cynical one gets to popular music, everyone, critical or not, can enjoy this, like diving into a good cup of coffee at a Parisian café haunted by Goethe and Baudelaire. Hey, one can dream. Feist certainly has...»
Malajube - Fille A Plumes
‘Filles A Plumes’ is Malajube’s brashest, more aggressive track on their sophomore album, Trompe L’oeil. It confuses me as to why they chose to lead the album with this single rather than the North American one, ‘Montreal -.40c’...»
Josh Pyke - Middle Of The Hill
I can see how this song could be quite contagious, as Josh Pyke’s playful lyricism and strong delivery enrapture you into his story, which keeps the song interesting enough, despite never deviating from a simple guitar strum. I guess that’s why the song is only two-and-a-half minutes. If the length were doubled, the rating would be cut in half...»
Apostle Of Hustle - Cheap Like Sebastian
An engineered awkwardness flows through Broken Social Scene offshoot Apostle of Hustle’s sophomore effort, National Anthem of Nowhere, and no more is it more evidential than on ‘Cheap Like Sebastian’...»
Ormondroyd - Hit & Hope
Ormondroyd often cannot decide where to go with their sound, however promising it is. Regardless, as debuts go, this is a strong effort searching for the right stars, but falling short in finding exactly which one the Sheffield lads are looking for. I suppose with extensive touring and another few recordings under their belt, their search will succeed...»
Benni Hemm Hemm at Amsterdam Paradiso Bovenzaal, Sat 10 Mar
Partly I want to keep this band to myself, my dirty little secret to unveil only when needed, with and without alcohol. Yet, not sharing this music is inhuman, and I bet you every attendee who walked out as inspired as I did after a date with Benni Hemm Hemm agrees. More folks will be there next time around. I guarantee it...»
Ghosts - Stay The Night
Despite a frightening similarity to Billy Joel, I like this song. Apparently Ghosts began as a band that openly dubbed their sound “Worse than Hanson”, so ‘Stay The Night’ is an obvious improvement on past work...»
Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
Andrew Bird is not a classically trained musician. Instead, the violinist studied folk and jazz, and his older material, however varied it is, weighed emphatically on traditional folk music, be it Eastern European or Zydeco. In Armchair Apocrypha, a subtly political title that symbiotically introduces a powerful set of songs, Bird sounds more classical than ever...»
Air - Once Upon A Time
I love Air. When it comes to chill-out, lounge and whimsical pop, they pull it off as well as anyone else. They can do better than this, though; ‘Once Upon A Time’ is too damn drum and bass-like in context...»
The National at Toronto Horseshoe Tavern, Sun 18 Sep
DiS' new correspondent across the pond tackles Brooklyn-based The National as they trek to Toronto, where their confession-laced aural attacks from latest LP Alligator are performed tenaciously and with class.»