Interviews
Interview (2009)
The European is the solo project of London-based musician and electronic artist, Simon Break. With his debut album out soon, John Clarkson talks to him about why he prefers to program his own computer software and design his own instrumentation rather than follow more traditional methods
Reviews
In a Very Real Sense Now (2010)
Offbeat and extraordinary debut album from The European, the new electro project of former Piano Magic and Icebreaker International member, Simon Break
Related
Interviews
Interview
The Dream Syndicate's Steve Wynn talks to Philamonjaro about his new live CD 'Journeyman' and his recent European acoustic tour.
Interview
Steve Miles from indie pop band European Sun talks about his group's recent first UK tour and how it has changed the band.
Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey
Interview
Talulah Gosh, Heavenly and Tender Trap's Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey speak to John Clarkson about their current band The Catenary Wires' forthcoming third album and their three other new musical projects, European Sun, Swansea Sound and The Drift.
European Sun
Interview
Short Stories' frontman Steve Miles speaks to John Clarkson about his new band European Sun, which he has formed with Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey from Heavenly, Tender Trap and the Catenary Wires, and their eponymous debut album.
European Sun
Interview
The Short Stories' Steve Miles speaks to John Clarkson about his new band European Sun which he has formed with Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey of Heavenly, Tender Trap and the Catenary Wires, and their debut single 'The Future's Female'.
Nouvelle Vague
Interview
John Clarkson speaks to Olivier Libaux from French band Nouvelle Vague, who have divided fans and critics by covering late 70s and early 80s punk and new wave songs as bossa nova tunes, about their new compilation album 'Curiosities' and current European tour.
Granite Shore
Interview
Nick Halliwell found that there was only one way he could vent his anger over the European referendum result - make a new album with his group, The Granite Shore. He tells Malcolm Carter about the influences behind this album, in particular his love of that most European of pop bands, Abba.
Rev Rev Rev
Interview
Italian shoegaze band Rev Rev Rev talk to John Clarkson before a two-week European tour about Rimbaud's influence on their last recording and how the Modena scene cleared a path for their unique sound.
Yes
Interview
Long-time Yes drummer Alan White discusses his current European tour with the prog rockers, in which they performed two complete albums, 'Drama' and 'Fragile'
London Klezmer Quartet
Interview
Owen Peters speaks to violinist Ilana Cravitz from the London Klezmer Quartet about their Eastern European influences and musical background and its history
Rumer
Interview
Owen Peters talks to much acclaimed singer-songwriter Rumer about her forthcoming UK/European tour and recently released third album, 'Into the Colour'
White Hills
Interview
Paul Waller speaks to Dave W., the guitarist with acclaimed psychedelic rock outfit White Hills, about his early musical beginnings and influences, and their present European tour
Gogol Bordello
Interview with Eugene Hutz
Denzil Watson speaks to Eugene Hutz, the frontman with Gogol Bordello, about his group's theatrical stage shows and their forthcoming European Winter tour
Robert Cray
Interview
Lisa Torem speaks to blues guitarist Robert Cray about his new album 'In the Soul' and forthcoming European tour
Stiv Canterelli and the Silent Strangers
Interview
Malcolm Carter chats to Italian musician and Americana artist Stiv Cantarelli about his current band the Silent Strangers, their much acclaimed album 'Black Music/White Music' and their forthcoming European tour
Anny Celsi
Interview
Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Anny Celsi speaks to Malcolm Carter about her first album in six years, 'Tangle-Free World', which has been produced by Brian Wilson drummer Nelson Bragg, and her forthcoming European tour
Amelia Curran
Interview
Canadian singer-songwriter speaks to John Clarkson about her just released fifth album, 'Hunter, Hunter', and her forthcoming European tour
Wavves
Interview
San Diego act Wavves began as a bedroom project before becoming a live act. They recently had to cancel a European tour after the stress and health problems of front man Nathan Williams came to a public head at the Primavera featival. A few days before the incident, he spoke to Mark Rowland
Asobi Seksu
Interview
At a gig in Newcastle on their recent European tour, Jonjo McNeill speaks to singer Yuke Chikudate and guitarist James Hanna from New York shoegazers Asobi Seksu about touring, songwriting and their just released third alabum, 'Hush'
Dillinger Escape Plan
Interview
Having had to cancel their forthcoming European tour due to guitarist Ben Weinman breaking his foot, Paul Raven speaks to bassist Liam Wilson from hardcore outfit Dillinger Escape Plan about the recording of their new album @Ire Works' and working with Mike Patton
Profiles
Kasai Allstars
Félicité
Maarten Schiethart reflects on new film 'Félicité' and its accompanying soundtrack, which, curremtly touring European cinemas, is set in the Congo,and features the Kasaï Allstars in several bar scenes.
Saddle Creek
Interview
Co-founded by Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes, Nebraskan label Saddle Creek has grown over the last 10 years from being a small local tape label to a company with an international reputation. Mark Rowland talks to its European chain about its success
Live
Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, 14/6/2023
Philamonjaro finds The Who on explosive form as they perform with an orchestra on the first date of an European tour at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona.
Screaming Females
Roadhouse, Manchester, 21/4/2015
The Screaming Females' UK leg of their European ended in London on April 24th. Nigel Carr was at their gig in Manchester and he and photographer Melanie Smith report back on a great night
J. Roddy Walston and The Business
Broadcast, Glasgow, 23/2/2014
Tony Gaughan watches Baltimore-based rock and roll outfit play an explosive, manificent show in their first ever European gig at Broadcast in Glasgow
Sidi Toure
Cafe OTO, London, 13/11/2012
Sarah Mwangi is increasingly impressed by Mali musician Sidi Toure at a gig at the Café OTO in London on his first European tour
Arabrot
Shacklewell Arms, London, 31/10/2011
At a packed show on Halloween at the Shacklewell Arms and the only UK date of their European tour, Tom Fogarty enjoys a set of ferocious noise rock from Norwegian band, Arabrot
M Ward
Borderline, London, 25/2/2009
At a show at the Borderline in London and the only British date on his current European tour, Dan Cressey is captivated by M Ward's unique and unfeasibly beautiful blend of alt-folk and alt-country
Herman Dune
Scala, London, 17/12/2008
Of continental European and Israeli heritage, Herman Dune are one of the leading lights in the Anti-Folk scene. Anthony Middleton enjoys a fun-filled show of unlikely influences at the Scala in London
Amanda Palmer
Academy, Sheffield, 8/10/2008
With her foot in plaster after an accident one gig into a European tour, Denzil Watson sees Amanda Palmer, one half of Brechtian punk cabaret duo The Dresden Dolls, go against the odds and play a fantastic set at the Sheffield Academy
B-52's
Roundhouse, London, 24/7/2008
The B-52s' latest European tour was their first in ten years. Anthony Strutt finds the ageless avant garde, wacky Athen, Georgia rockers to have, however, lost none of their ability for fun at a gig at the KOKO in London
iLiKETRAiNS
Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, 1/5/2008
At a homecoming gig at the end of a troubled European tour, Helen Tipping watches melancholic post-rockers iLiKETRAiNs play an intense and at points surprising set at the Leeds Brudenell Social Club
A Hawk and A Hacksaw
Club Zigana, the Romanian Restaurant, London, 4/12/2008
Chris O' Toole finds A Hawk and A Hacksaw's blend of Eastern European folk and jazz intriguing and beguiling, but hammpered by their audience at a gig at the one-off venue of Club Zigana Romanian Restaurant in London
A Hawk and A Hacksaw
Bush Hall, London, 11/5/2007
At the Bush Hall in London, Sarah Maybank is thrust into a frenzied set of joyous madness by Eastern European-influenced folk rockers, A Hawk and a Hacksaw
Paint It Black
Underworld, London, 24/6/2005
Paint it Black recently completed a European tour. At the London Underworld Philip Vincent sees them take "the over-used Black Flag style of aggro punk" and rejuvenate it "with an armful of adrenalin directed straight to the frontal lobes"
Phantom Planet
Water Rats, London, 26/3/2004
At the excellent finale to a European tour, new Pennyblackmusic writer Emma Haigh finds edgy LA 5-piece Phantom Planet's blend of garage rock both gritty and polished
Sophia
Bush Hall, London, 18/11/2003
As a prelude to a European tour and their new album 'People are Like Seasons', both of which are due early next year, Sophia recently played a low-key gig at the London Bush Hall. From uncertain beginnings Jon Rogers finds them on fine form
John Cale
King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow, 23/6/2003
A few days into his first European tour in several years, John Cale, over 30 years on from the Velvet Underground, contnues to make waves and create surprises at Glasgow's King Tut's Wah Wah Hut
Features
A Life in Music
In her series, 'A Life in Music', in which she speaks to Pennyblackmusic staff about how music has affected and influenced them, Cila Warncke talks to Steve Miles.
#3
In his column ‘In Dreams Begin Responsibilities’ European Sun and The Short Stories’ Steve Miles reflects on the role of silence in music.
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities
#2
In his new column, European Sun's Steve Miles continues to assess what punk means to him, and in the second part of a two part article examines the latter five out of ten groups that transformed his life.
In Dreams Begin Responsibilities
#1
In his new column, European Sun's Steve Miles admits that he is ‘a punk through and through’ and verifies the point by citing in the first part of a two part article five out of the ten incomparable bands that changed his life.
Penny Black Music Bands Night
Profile
We profile our first Penny Black Music Bands Night in two years, which will take place on Saturday November 14th at the London Brixton Windmill and feature sets from the Left Outsides, Madam,Mathew Sawyer and the Ghosts and the European