Reviews
Amadou and Mariam (2008)
Welcome to Mali
Excellent combination of American funk, reggae and britpop on Damon Albarn-produced sixth album from Malinese couple, Amadou and Mariam
Manu Chao (2007)
La Radiolina
Heady heady brew of punk, reggae and salsa on best album to date from Manu Chao who singing in French, Spanish and Portuguese as well as English has met with incredible success in the Netherlands, Italy, Germany and Latin America
Related
Interviews
Fish
Interview
Ex-Marillion front man Fish speaks about his recent return to live work with an acoustic tour after an enforced absence of nearly a year because of throat difficulties and his forthcoming studio album, ‘Feast of Consequences’
Repomen
Interview
John Clarkson speaks to Denzil Watson, the front man with durable Sheffield indie act RepoMen about 'Occasional Sensations', which is a documentary film about them, and their recent album, ‘I’m Only Doing This Because I Like Your Robot’
Profiles
Nashville
Profile
Niick Dent-Robinson looks at country music capital Nashville, which has seen a dramatic recent rise in popularity amongst visitors because of the 'Nashville' TV series
Live
Acid Mothers Temple
Babylon, Ottawa, 30/4/2007
After being forced to cancel their last North American tour because of visa difficulties, Andrew Carver watches Japanese psychedelic rockers Acid Mothers Temple recompense for it by playing a fiery and stunning set at Ottawa's Babylon club
Madison Square Gardens, New York, 5/11/2021
Lisa Torem enjoys Billy Joel's return to his Madison Square Gardens monthly residency after a twenty month absence because of Covid.
Electric Frankenstein
Barrymore, Ottawa, 12/6/2004
Long-server punk rockers Electric Frankenstein have been unable to tour Canada for many years because of legal difficulties. With these problems finally straightened out, Andrew Carver watches them play a fiery set on their Ottawa date
Mercury Rev
Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall
It’s so strange now to hear contemporary music being spoken of with any real reverence. Everything is very pop, very ironic. Disco is only acceptable now because of the interplay of cultural and chronological systems at work and, y’know, there’s always Th
Nemo
Buffalo Bar, London, 24/7/2004
Nemo share a love for the likes of Joy Division, Television, Human League and Talking Heads. Back after an enforced break because of line-up changes, Emma Haigh watches them play a compelling set in the London Buffalo Bar
Mr Hudson and the Library
Joiners Arms, Southampton, 16/2/2007
Only able because of a delay in their start time to catch fifteen minutes of their performance at the Joiners Arms in Southampton, Paul Raven nevertheless sees much to commend in new act Mr Hudson and the Library's catchy indie pop sound
Puressence
Sheffield Leadmill, 22/3/2003
Puressence have been through the wars recently, getting dropped by their record label, and having had to cancel their last Sheffield gig because of illness, but Jonjo McNeill finds them playing "one of the most passionate sets the Boardwalk has ever seen"
Seth Lakeman
Academy 2, Manchester, 16/2/2007
Seth Lakeman has attracted a large female following because of his good looks, but at the Manchester Academy Helen Tipping finds him playing a lively and lyrical set, and a much deserved winner of the recent Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year award
Albums
Chamberlain
The Moon My Saddle
I haven’t been listening to Chamberlain all that long to be honest, so perhaps this choice will prove flawed in years to come. But right now it is my favourite album. There are other contenders but I won’t list them because that might just make the final
Nick Drake
Five Leaves Left
It's strange that this album was made in 1969. It still rivals pretty much any acoustic album out there, and though Nick Drake's songs might not be the most well-known, you'll recognise the style and poetry because popular music seems to have embraced wha