/Countdown/2011/Tracks
This is the eighth year that I’ve done a rundown of the music released in the past year – and every year I seem to end up with more material to cover.
DJ: Guest: 060: Autonomy – 03-December 2011
Another trip to Autonomy, for my last DJ slot of the year.
/Countdown/2011 /Compilations
I’m starting this year’s musical roundup a little differently from normal. During 2011, there has been a glut of compilations in the “Industrial” sphere. Some of them have been great, some of them…haven’t. So let’s have a brief look at each of them, and it might give a few pointers to where trends were heading […]
Into the Pit: 115: Aesthetic Perfection – Electrowerkz – 26-November 2011
I’m all for an interesting multi-band line-up when it comes to going to a gig. I love discovering a new band in a support slot, and then going and tracking down their recorded material. It is, after all, what support slots are there for – to give newer, or up-and-coming bands, a push. But when […]
Into the Pit: 114: The Twilight Sad – Live at the Borderline – 21-November 2011
I got into The Twilight Sad thanks to a chance link from my girlfriend, who having read about them suggested they might be “up my street”. She wasn’t wrong, either, and a couple of years later, I finally got my chance on Monday night to see whether they lived up to their live reputation, and […]
Into the Pit: 113: KMFDM – Live at Islington – 19-November 2011
A bit of a late start for me on this one – my third gig attended in a week – and as a result I missed the first two support bands, and indeed only just got into the venue in time to see most of the Global Citizen set. I’ve heard a few positive things […]
Into the Pit: 112: Senser – Live at Purple Turtle – 16-November 2011
Another week, another gig. I’m currently in the middle of a long run of shows to attend, that lasts until somewhere in mid-December. Indeed this year (2011) I’ve seen more bands in one year than I have in a long time. I’ve seen some poor shows, some OK shows, and some very good ones – […]
Into the Pit: 111: Will Haven – Live at Islington – 11-November 2011
So, the looking backward in 2011 continues. I’ve said enough about that already, right? Let us talk about the headline band instead then, eh? Well, I also have to confess that I totally missed support band RSJ – but then, apparently they’ve been around for a while, and I’ve never come across them before. Maybe […]
But Listen: 119: W.A.S.T.E. – Liquor, Drugs and Hate
After their first two albums and an EP, and seeing a live show that was so loud and intense that it felt like the back wall was going to be blown at points, W.A.S.T.E. are back to sear your eardrums once again. And you have to wonder exactly what they can do next: almost like […]
But Listen: 118: Alter der Ruine – Son Of A Bitch
It has been a while since the last ADR album – I reviewed the gloriously chaotic mash-up of styles that was The Giants From Far Away a couple of months short of three years ago now, and have been looking forward to new material for some time.
Tuesday Ten: 145: Tracks of the Month (October 2011)
Another month already – and time for my usual monthly rundown of the best tracks of the month. As is usual, this will be the last monthly rundown of the year – December will see my end of year roundups.
But Listen: 117: Skinny Puppy – hanDover
In quite fabulous timing for this review, there was an intriguing article in the Guardian’s music section yesterday entitled When Bands Fall Off Cliffs. Ostensibly about how some bands find massive success and then the next release sees their fanbase simply fall away – and there were some pretty sobering and unexpected examples in the […]
/Tuesday Ten/144/Back For Good?
Two reunions of different kinds hit the news last week, although interestingly the return of Steps seemed to be rather overshadowed by The Stone Roses. The NME in particular is treating the latter like the, er, Resurrection, the most important music news, well, ever. Which in some respects kinda shows them for what they and […]
Into the Pit: 110: Pop Will Eat Itself – Live in Islington – 22-October 2011
2011 will go down as the year of nostalgia more than any other, I suspect. I’ve lost count of how many returning bands, re-issues, retrospectives and the like that I’ve seen…and while it probably isn’t doing a great deal for the future of the music industry, going on the numbers it must be helping the […]
But Listen: 116: Left Spine Down – Caution
When Left Spine Down first burst on the scene – the first track I heard was the blistering U Can’t Stop The Bomb, as I recall, and it was certainly among the best tracks of 2008 – they seemed like an awesome idea. Like someone had finally, after some years of trying, understood the idea […]
Into the Pit: 109: dEUS – Live at KOKO – 11-October 2011
I seem to be playing catchup with a number of bands nowadays. Insofar as having missed them live in the past, I’m now taking every opportunity possible to see some of my favourite bands, even as they edge into perhaps the later stages of their career.
Tuesday Ten: 143: Tracks of the Month (September 2011)
A new month, so my usual round-up of good new songs (and the odd old one, too). You know the drill by now, right?
DJ: Guest: 059: Autonomy – 01-October 2011
I was back to DJ at Autonomy for the first time in four months. The break has been nice, actually, and the absence of my fellow residents meant that I did the whole four hour set myself. It was something of a marathon, and indeed a mightily odd night, but I got through it ok […]
/Tuesday Ten /142 /Good Sex
So, last week I covered “Bad Sex”. This week, it is the better side. The songs that I actually see as being sexy.
But Listen: 115: This Morn’ Omina – L’Unification Des Forces Opposantes
Mika Goedrijk’s This Morn’ Omina have been plugging something of a lonely trail for many years now – fifteen, in fact. And with them now being long-time members of the Ant-Zen roster, it has to be said that even there they stand out. While many acts on the label are often harsh, noisy acts – […]