Music

By Eleanor Stammeijeir (@ElStammjam) 11.11.15. Under The Bridge, London It’s safe to say that Under the Bridge is officially my new favourite venue, and not just because of the name. It was the perfect place for Skye’s showcase of her latest album, In A Low Light. Not only were the people at the venue wonderful, but their toilets had two wins in the 2014 ‘Loo of the Year Awards’. If that doesn’t raise the bar for music venues all around,...

By Kane Power (@ElHeavio) Everything I read about USA Nails makes them seem like they don’t give a shit. Their press quotes and statements about their work are blasé to the point of self deprecation. Just take a look at their video 'You Sing For Yourself' and you would be forgiven for thinking they're taking the piss. New record No Pleasure reflects this typically punk attitude with a modern lo-fi, raw sound, but digging a little deeper gives the impression...

By Eleanor Stammeijer (@ElStammjam) Before spinning Wings for the first time Mozez was an unknown to me. Since then he has become a solid fixture on my iTunes. Polished vocals, an all-out performance with moments of enjoyable restraint, Wings demonstrates the nuances of R ‘n’ B, and how singing the loudest or packing every track with every altered instrument under the sun isn’t how it should be done. Wings is the headliner for the album, and it doesn’t disappoint. It...

By Simon Coxall (@mushybees) Imagine you're preparing a meal for someone you really ​want to impress. Your starter if the firm foundation of the whole experience. That initial choice can set the tone for the whole evening, it may end in the love of your life, the greatest of friendships... You choose prawn cocktail. A limp lettuce leaf, some off-brand ketchup and mayonnaise whisked together, semi-defrosted prawns, all heaped together in a wine glass you got from a petrol station...

By Declan Roberts (@DeclanMR) For a trio from Liphook, an unassuming town in Hampshire, Blaenavon certainly make an impact. Their back catalogue, which includes the Koso EP and debut double A-side single 'Into the Night / Denim Patches' jumps rock barriers many fear to cross, and their new EP, Miss World is a step up in momentum for the band. The shattering opening chord of 'Hell Is My Head' accompanies a delightfully basic Nirvana-esque drum line, with a space-echo guitar...

By Kane Power (@ElHeavio) Maintaining relevance in music over a long period of time is a bit like trying to bail out a sinking ship. At first it’s simple, you are young and fit; easily able to keep up with the tide, and even when you do get a bit tired, there’s a load of crew members to help keep you afloat. However, as your journey progresses into decades, your trusty bucket gets holes and your crew desert like rats....

By Mani Khawaja (@manikhawaja88) I've never really heard a rock band from Italy, much less a post-hardcore/indie-punk one, so I was pretty intrigued when I heard about LAGS and their debut album, Pilot. My interest was only further piqued, when I found out that the band's drummer was also an internationally renowned athlete who has represented his country on numerous occasions. The album kicks off guns blazing with the high energy track, aptly titled 'A Push and A Rush'. With...

By Declan Roberts (@DeclanMR) Imagine a sunnier, tropical version of Wu Lyf or an up-tempo Copacabana Hard-Fi and Sun Club is what you get. Mixing Splashh melodies with booming vocals Sun Club’s The Dongo Durango promotes a paradoxically rebellious and systematic sing-along. ‘Summer Feet’ opens proceedings in exotic fashion. ’Worm City’ is quite something. Think Jonathan Higgs from Everything Everything teaming up with the surrealistic elements of Bowie’s Kingdom. Hard-hitting, extravagant and vibrantly interesting. ‘Carnival Dough’ rumbles accordingly but duller...

By Kane Power (@ElHeavio) Among the plethora of ‘next big online music hub’ start-ups this year is a company that promises to ‘stand out from the crowd’; Stereotribes. A kind of Kickstarter/Bandcamp crossover, Stereotribes caters for artists or anyone with an even slightly music related project, providing a central site for media and integrated crowd-funding capabilities. I was invited along to the beta website launch on Friday night and I’ve got to be totally honest, my first impression was along...