BOOK OF THE WEEK

CHRIS DIFFORD is a rare breed. As a member of one of London’s best-loved bands, the Squeeze co-founder has made a lasting contribution to English music with hits such as ‘Cool For Cats,’ ‘Up The Junction,’ ‘Labelled With Love,’ ‘Hourglass’ and ‘Tempted.’ Over the course of a thirteen-album career with Squeeze, it was clear from…

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ANNIKA JAYNE’S, ‘DESERT ISLAND ALBUM’

I WAS asked to write a review about the one album I’d take with me if I were to go to a desert island. And yet, to have to pick one album only seems to be an impossible task. This scenario didn’t come up the first time – it remains a popular question on Twitter….

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SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND?

FRESH from a barnstorming set supporting Red Guitars at London’s 100 Club last night, (29/04) Brighton’s yacht punk, five-piece, FRAGILE CREATURES are also celebrating the release of their new single, ‘Grandaddy.’ While on occasions drawing comparisons with the likes of Blur and Pulp, the band’s unlikely fusion of yacht rock’s smooth melodic grandiosity and the rough edges of new wave, has…

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LIVE AT THE SPICE

AS well as being a listed building, THE SPICE OF LIFE also has an esteemed musical heritage. In the 1960’s and 1970’s The Scots Hoose (as it was then called) was a popular venue for folk musicians where many of the greats including, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Cat Stevens, Bert Jansch, The Strawbs and Sandy…

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BOOK OF THE WEEK

“BEAUTIFULLY written, extraordinarily moving. It covers all the bases – his childhood in Twickenham and Liverpool, his musical apprenticeship and eventual breakthrough, the riotous early tours with The Attractions, and his later incarnation as a musical sage.” Sunday Times

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MARTIN JONATHAN’S ‘DESERT ISLAND ALBUM’

WHEN I was first asked to choose one album I could take with me to a desert island, I thought: “My god! Where do I begin?!!” I thought I’d go off piste and pick a comedy album. It would be Derek & Clive Ad Nauseam. I can listen to it over and over. But maybe…

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FINALLY – OUT TODAY, THE HEAVY NORTH’S ‘ELECTRIC SOUL MACHINE’

IT’S finally arrived. Following a frustrating, protracted delay in vinyl manufacturing, Liverpool’s THE HEAVY NORTH today release their 10-track debut album, ‘Electric Soul Machine,’ and for once the hype is fully justified. In fact, in all honesty, the build-ups euphoric expectations quite simply haven’t gone anywhere near far enough. The six-piece garage, blues rock band…

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SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND? (PART TWO)

FROM the Annapolis region of Maryland USA, HOLLOWED SKY are an indie, alternative-rock/metal band with Charles Rupertus (bass), Jay Orem (vocals), Joe Bradshaw (drums) and Stephen Berchielli (guitar) making up the numbers. Formed in November 2016, this week sees the group release their latest album, ‘Bound By Nightmares,’ and even though they may not be…

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SOMETHING FOR THE WEEKEND? (PART ONE)

AMBITIOUS Glasgow-based electronic music mavericks SCARAMANGA have one simple aim in life – to take house music in a new direction. “We’re trying to get away from the gloss and make it more indie/homegrown and colourful,” said Stephen Gallagher. “So much of it is still based on samples of 70’s records and stock vocal samples….

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LIVE AT THE SPICE

AS well as being a listed building, THE SPICE OF LIFE also has an esteemed musical heritage. In the 1960’s and 1970’s The Scots Hoose (as it was then called) was a popular venue for folk musicians where many of the greats including, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Cat Stevens, Bert Jansch, The Strawbs and Sandy…

Read article