Emma Pollock & Rod Jones on The Fruit Tree Foundation
The Fruit Tree Foundation is a new independent project in Scotland led by musicians Rod Jones (Idlewild) and Emma Pollock (solo artist and ex-Delgado).»
Articles
vamos has written the following articles:
Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact
The missing link between The Knife’s Silent Shout and some lo-fi electronic grime recording... In all honesty, there's nothing else truly like it… »
run,WALK! - Peekay
It’s almost as if run, Walk! already know how to write straight forward rock songs and just bypassed that whole stage, finding the rawer and more daring excesses of the genre more to their liking. »
Robyn at Roundhouse, London, South East England, Thu 03 Mar
You feel that had Robyn been on top form this would have been a superb evening out. As it is it’s merely a pretty decent one. »
Janelle Monáe, Cock 'n' Bull Kid at Roundhouse, London, South East England, Tue 01 Mar
A life affirming evening, full of fun and sheer spectacle»
The Twilight Singers - Dynamite Steps
As a collection of songs and sentiments there is a nagging sense that Dulli is revisiting old haunts. Yet it feels reassuring, as Dynamite Steps continues the resurgent course he’s been treading in recent years. »
Sailplanes - Mild Peril
There is a nagging feeling that their being so reminiscent of certain under appreciated bands might mean they'll never reach far beyond the realms of being merely compared to them, though thankfully they seem to at least like very good bands. However, since they’re giving this EP to you for free then you really have precious little reason not to investigate for yourself.»
Rihanna - Loud
It’s a mixed bag all right. At times brilliant, at others unlike anyone else out there and occasionally frankly a bit rubbish. As ever, the world still isn’t much clearer on who Rihanna is or where she’ll go next, but it's fun trying to work it, no matter how futile. »
Phantom Band - The Wants
The Wants feels like an album that could only have been made in 2010, after 50 years of musical merging, and more importantly like an album that could only have been made by The Phantom Band.»
DiS meets Karl Hyde of Underworld
Shortly before heading back out on the road, DiS caught up with Underworld's front man, wordsmith and general booty shaker Karl Hyde over a rather lovely cup of Earl Grey, discussing the new album Barking, their past glories and greasy spoon cafes on the »
Skibunny - Hugs
When Skibunny get something right, it’s vaguely wonderful.»
Annuals - Count the Rings
For a band so young and musically virile, Annuals exude a charm and songwriting ability which is way superior to what would normally be asked of them, hence it feels rather unfair to criticise them so.»
Arab Strap - Philophobia (special edition)
It remains completely original and rewarding 12 years on.»
Arab Strap - The Week Never Starts Round Here (special edition)
All in all, whilst it’s a thrill to revisit the past, in hindsight Arab Strap’s debut album is arguably the weakest record the band ever made, yet everything a first record ought to be; raw, full of ideas, nervously energetic to paper over any shyness and with plenty of room to improve. And by God, did they. »
PVT - Church With no Magic
With each subsequent listen, the readout dial wavers more wildly between the 5 and the 9 mark, never quite deciding on where it will come to fall. The enigma that is PVT, then.»
Underworld, Kele at Roundhouse, London, South East England, Sat 17 Jul
I feel wholly undecided about tonight’s event. It’s hard to argue with being given free gig tickets and song downloads and yet the»
DiS meets The Chap
DiS met up with The Chap and had a chat with Johannes von Weizsäcker (guitar, vocals, cello, computer, keyboards) & Keith Duncan (drums, vocals, keys)) DiS: Well hello. First up, I’ve never seen you guys in the flesh before but have read that the »
The Chap - Well done Europe
I can’t think of anyone else like them. In terms of their humour, there are a few lyricists who toy around with well-judged comedy in their words but none manage to pull it off with the simultaneous air of elitism and barefaced cheek these ‘chaps’ do. Take album opener ‘We’ll see to your breakdown’, with it’s cheery opening chorus of “You will never have a job / You will never have much in this town again / We’ll see to that ‘cos we hate you”, sung in a condescending manner over an upbeat layered vocal. Or previous standout single ‘Well done you’ with the lyrics all employing management speak over the top of a superb walking bassline, throwing up such nuggets as “You’ve really shown ambition here / A little rough around the edges / But who cares with an outcome like this?”»
We'll Die Smiling - Avant Garde
This brief, energetic four track EP is over in 11 minutes but hidden away inside are ideas and songs far grander than their running times suggest.»
David Holmes - The Dogs are Parading
Given how important sequencing and pace are to David Holmes’ work, it’s surprising that these tracks still largely hold together as a record when assembled in such an unconnected manner. »
DiS meets The National
In the run-up to the release of their highly anticipated new album, High Violet, DiS got a chance to sit down for a chat with Matt Berninger & Aaron Dessner.»
Emma Pollock - The Law of Large Numbers
Whereas Pollock’s 4AD debut was fairly charming and instant but a little slight, The Law of Large Numbers is the total opposite; a wonderfully simple, clever and loveable record initially masquerading as a complex and awkward one. »
run,WALK! - I Hope This All Works Out So I Can Stop Standing On Even Amounts Of Manholes In The Street
This isn’t a great record as such. It’s more a tease of a future belter featuring some brilliant songs and a few potential live favourites. But as a snapshot of what the band could feasibly achieve, it’s a vivid and mouth-watering glimpse of an extremely exciting proposition indeed.»
Sugababes - Sweet 7
All in all, it’s a shambles. Incarnation No 4 lacks the interesting feminine insight of Rihanna’s latest, the flamboyance and ‘balls’ of Lady Gaga, the nous of Annie, anything approaching the vocal talents of Beyoncé or the nonsensical slapstick fun of Girls Aloud. But most damningly of all, they also lack any of the subtlety, charm and wit of the Sugababes. »
Quasi - American Gong
American Gong feels like a rebirth of a band too often dismissed as an afterthought.»
Creature With The Atom Brain - Transylvania
As a record Transylvania is a bit like Alien Resurrection. »
Four Tet - There is Love in You
Good news, list fans; when the age-old 'Best album opening trio' debate rears its inevitable head once more, we now have a new contender to add to its hallowed ranks: There is Love in You begins with an absolute stormer of a triple whammy. »
Todd - Big Ripper
Big Ripper is a flawed record, but crucially it's one that doesn’t compromise.»
Underworld vs the Misterons - Athens
Ok, I’m going to level with you. I know lots about Underworld, hence pitching to review this record. However, what I don’t know AN»
Get Back Guinozzi! - Carpet Madness
Ah, Get Back Guinozzi!, my autumn love. When people talk about 2009 in retrospect, I will largely recall strobing lights and sweat»