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Paul Morley

From Manchester with Love: The Life and Opinions of Tony Wilson
Allen & Unwin Publishing (2021)

Tony Wilson was known for many things, e.g. being TV presenter, enfant terrible, entrepreneur, founder of the immensely successful Factory Records label and essentially an inspiring cultural catalyst and trailblazer at the centre of a myriad of creative networks, without whom genre-coining bands like Joy Division, Happy Mondays and New Order would have not had a veritable launchpad. Needless to … Read more

Orville Peck

Bronco
Columbia (2022)

After 3 years, fringy-faced Country mystery-man, Orville Peck, is roaring back into the scene with his sophomore album, Bronco. In the time between his debut, Pony, and his new record, he released the EP, Show Pony. Intended to be a "middle sister" and bridge to Bronco, it was hard to pick up on what exactly you could expect from his … Read more

Unsanitary Napkin

All Billionaires Are Bastards
AlwaysNeverFun, Limbless, Slimebag (2022)

My favorite Dutch swear words are “natte krant” (wet newspaper), “zak hooi” (bag of hay) while “pannekoek” (pancake) gets an honorable mention. As you can see, these don’t translate very well to English. You could tell me to look to the English for more creative English curses, but to my ears they only sound good if you say them with … Read more

Cremation Lily

Dreams Drenched In Static
Flenser (2022)

It has been quite a journey for Zen Zsigo and Cremation Lily, a path defined by constant flux. It was back in the early ‘10s, that the initial demos of the project appeared. Back then it was all about textural harshness, with Zsigo pushing the power electronics ethos. The initial chaos would subside, and from there on Cremation Lily explored … Read more

Beex

The Early Years: 1979-1982
Beach Impediment (2021)

The beak is a feature predominantly found in birds but not limited to. A beak could also be located on a turtle or rarely in a band of early fundamental punk rock anthropomorphic specimens. A beak is a functional tool with varying degrees of use depending on the embodiment or representation called into question. Primarily the beak is used for … Read more

Annie Jump Cannon

Flourishing Apart
No Sleep (2022)

Every 15-20 years there’s a revival. This time it’s emo and Annie Jump Cannon may be a modern 2022 band, but this could have come out in 2005 and fit into the scene of that day: both for its strengths and its weaknesses. Emo has always been a flawed genre for me. The melodrama plays well with crescendos and soaring, … Read more

Signals Midwest

Dent
Lauren Records (2022)

Signals Midwest play punk with a lot of words. Words arranged in actual sentences, telling stories instead of using the lyrics for purely rhythmic and singalong purposes. Dent is their fifth album, and it’s the first I’ve personally reviewed even though I’ve followed the band from afar over the years. The lyrics are personal, but consistently positive in tone, which … Read more

GGGOLDDD

This Shame Should Not Be Mine
Artoffact (2022)

GGGOLDDD (formerly known as Gold) have always resisted fitting into a single mold. While their vision has hovered around an alternative and indie rock foundation, they have freely explored adjacent spaces. Electronic components were introduced, metallic elements have been applied and a punk-ish fervor would now and then rear its head. And this has resulted in some excellent works with … Read more

Jalang

Santau
Heavy Machinery Records, Ruin Nation Records (2021)

2020 saw the release of Pontianak, the debut album of Lài. One year later (this review is very late, don’t worry, I am fully aware it’s two years later already) Santau, the debut album by Jalang is released. But is it a debut album if Lài simply changed its name to Jalang? Considering it is the first album under this … Read more

Carthiefschool

Kenjimiyazawa
Transduction Records (2021)

Japanese based Carthiefschool formed in high school in 2016 and over these last 6 years or so have thrived in the Sapporo city underground scene. The 3 piece comprised of Tomoya Murosaki (guitar/vocals), Genki Tsusaka (bass) and Yudai Takasago (drums) have wasted little time recording as hot on the heels of their self titled debut album Carthiefschool released in February … Read more

Ghost

Impera
Loma Vista Recordings (2022)

Swedish theatrical rock outfit Ghost unleashed their fifth studio album entitled Impera at the beginning of March this year and for a little while the rock/metal community was saturated with interviews from Tobias Forge not to mention everyone and their dog were posting reviews of this new album. Sorry to be the one that prolongs this but I'm here to … Read more

Mad Brother Ward

Ugly Life
Ruined Records (2022)

Snarling, savage, sneering rabid dog on a thick chain lunging towards your soft neck in the area of your throbbing jugular. Spittle flies from the mouth of Mad Brother Ward as he foams and drools his venomous proclamation of an Ugly Life/I Just Wanna Die. For fans of Antiseen (Mad Brother Ward is the current guitarist), Confederacy of Scum, and … Read more

Sundown

Keep Moving
Wise Blood Records (2022)

It’s interesting that Sundown calls this record Keep Moving because, in many ways, it feels stuck in 2005. It’s a mix of melodic and chugging hardcore, with dual vocalists and two very different styles to breathe some extra life into it the format. At its best, Keep Moving recalls Avail while, at its worst, I’m brought back to those screamo … Read more

Mickey Leigh’s Mutated Music

Variants of Vibe
Wicked Cool Records (2022)

Hey Mickey you're so fine, You’re so fine you blow my mind Hey Mickey, Hey Mickey. “Do You remember lying in bed/ With the covers pulled up over your head/Radio Playing so no one can see”-Ramones I do remember getting my first cheap transistor army green radio and picking up on a local AM station that played the oldies/ goldies. … Read more

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