Reviews
Performance (2013)
Indifferent and sluggish debut album from much hyped Liverpudlian electronic act, Outfit
Related
Interviews
Interview
Keyboardist Allan Dumbreck talks to John Clarkson about his Edinburgh-formed post-punk outfit Autumn 1904's return forty years after they broke up and the recent release of their album. 'Tales of Innocence'.
Interview
With new LP ‘Moments of Madness’ in the racks, former Stranglers frontman Hugh Cornwell chats to Denzil Watson about the new album and his time with the legendary punk outfit
Interview
Luke ‘Skyscraper’ James, the original frontman with Birmingham post-punk outfit Fàshiön, speaks to John Clarkson about his tenure with the band, their new compilation ‘fàshiön music’ and his current band This Twisted Wreckage.
Interview
Sarah Cracknell talks to Nick Dent-Robinson about her thirty plus years of fronting synth-pop outfit St. Etienne, family life and their forthcoming appearance at Glastonbury.
Interview
Dixie Ernill catches up with Glenn Melia, mainstay of cult York indie outfit St Christopher for a chat about the band’s recent return to the fray with new LP ‘Of Angels and Kings’ and their appearance on the Skep Wax compilation, 'Under the Bridge'
Interview
Ryan West, the singer and mandolinist with Canadian country/bluegrass outfit The Lucky Ones, talks to Julie Cruickshank about their debut album, their formation and coping with performing in a Yukon winter.
Interview
Martin Haggarty, the vocalist with Glaswegian prog rock outfit Long Earth, chats to Andrew Twambley about his band's diverse influences and the affect of lockdown on them.
Interview
Reissued to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary, 'Stage Fright' was the third studio album by legendary Americana outfit The Band. Presented in a new mix with revised running order and accompanying Royal Albert Hall show, Nick Dent-Robinson chats to guitarist/vocalist Robbie Robertson about the disc
Imperial Wax
Interview
Following the death of The Fall’s legendary frontman Mark E. Smith last year the final, longest serving line up to back him have re-grouped to form new outfit Imperial Wax. Denzil Watson talks to them about their acclaimed debut LP 'Gastwerk Saboteurs' and future plans.
Long Ryders
Interview
John Clarkson talks to Sid Griffin, the frontman in groundbreaking Americana outfit the Long Ryders, about 'Psychedelic Country Soul', their first studio album in thirty-two years.
Hipsway
Interview
John Clarkson speaks to vocalist Grahame Skinner and guitarist Pim Jones from Scottish rock/dance outfit Hipsway about their third album and first album in thirty years, 'Smoke and Dreams'.
Luxury Stranger
Interview
Nottingham-based alternative rock outfit Luxury Stranger speak to Dave Goodwin about their new line-up, intensive touring schedule and playing Europe.
Vulgar Boatmen
Interview
Dale Lawrence, the lead singer of US indie outfit The Vulgar Boatmen, chats with Kimberly Bright about the band’s storied back catalogue ahead of a series of re-issues.
Charlatans
Interview
Shirley Procter and Amanda J Window interview and photograph Tim Burgess, Martin Blunt and Tony Rogers from indie rock outfit the Charlatans in a series of speed dates at a chip shop during their own North by Northwich festival.
Palace of Light
Interview
John Clarkson speaks to guitarist Mark Brend about his former band folk/psychedelia outfit The Palace of Light, whose 1987 only album ‘Beginning Here & Travelling Outward’ has just been reissued.
Alison O' Donnell
Interview
Alison O'Donnell, the former front woman with 1960's/1970's pioneering folk outfit Mellow Candle, speaks to Malcolm Carter about her forthcoming second solo album,‘Climb Sheer The Fields Of Peace’
Morton Valence
Interview
Robert 'Hacker' Jessett from London-based urban country outfit Morton Valence speaks to John Clarkson about his band's new album 'Europa', which has been recorded in reaction to Brexit.
Blue Aeroplanes
Interview
With fourteenth studio album ‘Welcome Stranger!’ set for release in January along with an extensive UK tour, Gerard Langley, the leader of Bristol art-rock outfit the Blue Aeroplanes, chats to Richard Lewis about the making of the new LP
JD and The Straight Shot
Interview
John Clarkson talks to lead vocalist Jim Dolan and guitarist Marc Copely from Americana outfit JD and the Straight Shot about touring with the Eagles' Don Henley and their fifth acoustic album, 'Ballyhoo!'
Swervedriver
Interview
Dominic Simpson speaks to Adam Franklin, the front man with 1990's Oxford-based cult alternative rock outfit Swervedriver about their reformation and 'I Wasn't Born to Lose You', their first album in almost two decades
Profiles
Pure Prairie League
Profile
Carl Bookstein looks back on the career of Ohio-based country rock outfit Pure Prairie League, who have recently had several of their albums reissued on CD
Profile
Small Faces
Mark Rowland looks back on the career of 60's mod outfit the Small Faces, whose four albums have just been been re-released in double CD editions
Profile
Stretch
Andrew Carver looks at the career of under-rated 70's rock outfit Stretch, who have a new compilation out, 'That's the Way the Wind Blows', and who have also released their first album in thirty four years, 'Unfinished Business'
Profile
BMX Bandits
Tony Gaughan looks back at the early career of Glaswegian indie outfit the BMX Bandits, who to celebrate their 25th anniversary, have just re-rleased on one CD their first two albums, 1986's 'C86' and 1991's 'Star Wars'
Profile
Kraftwerk-The Catalogue
Jon Rogers, in the first part of a two part profile, examines the history of seminal German electro outfit Kraftwerk, and 'The Catalogue', a new box set, which collects together all their albums between 1974 and 2003...
Profile
Average White Band
Ben Howarth examines the career of 70s funk and soul outfit the Average White Band, who have just had twelve of their albums re-released on four double CD packages
Live
Manchester Academy, Manchester, 21/7/2023
Amanda J Window enjoys an exuberant set from Scottish indie pop outfit Belle and Sebastian at the Manchester Academy.
16 Toneladas, Valencia, 13/4/2023
Philamonjaro watches and photographs Italian ska outfit The Magnetics play an upbeat and energetic set of ska at 16 Toneladas, in Valencia in Spain.
16 Toneladas, Valencia, 5/10/2022
Philamonjaro finds power pop pioneer Nick Lowe on energetic, crowd pleasing form in front of a devoted audience in Valencia.
Waterfront Studio, Norwich, 19/11/2021
Nige Nudds at the Waterfront Studio in Norwich enjoys a compelling set from Mercury Prize nominated post-rock outfit Lanterns on the Lake in which they play their latest album 'Spook the Herd' in full.
16 Tambourines
: 81 Renshaw Street, Liverpool. 09/11/2019
Cult late 1980s psych-pop outfit 16 Tambourines reform to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of their debut LP ‘How Green Is Your Valley’ with a sold-out hometown gig. Steve Kinrade views.
Jayhawks
Art School, Glasgow, 1/9/2016
Tony Gaughan watches alternative country outfit the Jayhawks play a fine set of songs pre-picked by fans at the Art School in Glasgow
English Beat
Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, 5/10/2016
Dave Wakelings 80's ska outfit The English Beat return to Nottingham in good style, lighting up the Rescue Rooms with their own brand of two-tone excellence
Gang Of Four
Metro, Chicago, 30/9/2016
Lisa Torem watches as post-punk outfit Gang of Four bowl over new fans as well as old at a gig at Chicago's intimate Metro
Cathode Ray
Basic Mountain, Edinburgh, 26/3/2016
John Clarkson watches alternative rock outfit the Cathode Ray play an impressive but unusual gig at Basic Mountain in their native Edinburgh
Ex Hex
Ruby Lounge, Manchester, 8/11/2015
Writer James Lowther and photographer Melanie Smith catch rising all-female punk rock outfit Ex Hex at The Ruby Lounge in Manchester as they storm through their fantastic debut album ‘Rips'
Asian Dub Foundation
Anvil, Basingstoke, 24/10/2015
Owen Peters at the Anvil in Basingstoke watches electronica outfit Asian Dub Foundation play a gripping live soundtrack to George Lucas' 1971 scince foction cult film 'THX 1138'
Invaders
Maze, Nottingham, 30/11/2014
Dave Goodwin watches local hard rock outfit the Invaders play an exceptional set in a rare gig at the Maze in Nottingham
Jim Jones Revue
Oran Mor, Glasgow, 26/11/2014
Tony Gaughan at the Oran Mor in Glasgow watches London-based rock and roll outfit the Jim Jones Revue play a sensational set on their farewell tour
Pop Group
Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh, 20/10/2014
Tony Gaughan finds that seminal post-punk outfit the Pop Group have lost none of their abrasive edge in a dynamic show at the Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh on their first full-length UK tour in over thirty years
Kill It Kid
Oslo, London, 3/11/2014
Owen Peters watches rising rock outfit Kill it Kid play a visually and vocally detonative set in front of a sell-out crowd at Oslo in London
Hold Steady
Hold Steady / So So Glos - Garage, Glasgow, 15/10/2014
Tony Gaughan enjoys powerful sets from the much acclaimed Hold Steady and their tour mates, Brooklyn power punk outfit the So So Glos, at the ABC in Glasgow
Dodgy
Under the Bridge, London, 31/10/2014
Ben Howarth watches reformed 90's pop outfit Dodgy play a exuberant Halloween show in the unusual location of Under the Bridge in London
Coal Porters
Union Chapel, London, 16/2/2014
Anthony Dhanendran watches bluegrass outfit the Coal Porters play a gripping set at an afternoon gig at The Union Chapel in London
Del Amitri, the Big Dish and the O's
Hydro, Glasgow, 24/1/2014
Tony Gaughan watches rock/country outfit Del Amitri play a fantastic set of their classic hits on a home town gig at the Hydro in Glasgow in the opening show of their first tour in ten years
Catfish and the Bottlemen
East Village Arts Club, Liverpool, 23/2/2014
Harry Sherriff watches hard-touring Llandudno rock outfit Catfish and the Bottlemen play an enthralling set at the East Village Arts Club in Liverpool
Albums
No Need to Argue
Zena Greig reflects upon Irish pop/rock outfit The Cranberries third album ‘To the Faithful Departed’, which has just been re-released in a deluxe edition.
Sky Children : The Best Of Kaleidoscope and Fairfield Parlour
Malcolm Carter examines a new compilation that covers all stages of cult 1960's outfit Kaleidoscope/Fairfield Parlour's career, and finds an accompanying DVD of archive footage makes it an essential purchase.
Raincoats
Odyshape
In our 'Re:View' section', in which our writers look back at albums from the past, Jon Rogers' reflects upon female post-punk outfit the Raincoats' 1981 experimental second album, 'Odyshape', which has recently been re-released
Nick Lowe
Labour of Lust
Lisa Torem reflects upon English singer-songwriter Nick Lowe's 1979 second solo album, 'Labour of Lust', which has recently been re-released
Shades of Rhythm
Shades
Spencer Robertshaw looks at Peterborough-based dance/techno outfit and ZTT signing Shades of Rhythm's 1991 only album, 'Shades', which has recently been re-released
Portico Quartet
Knee-deep in the North Sea
Spencer Robertshaw looks at modern jazz outfit the Portico Quartet's 2007 debut album, 'Knewe-deep in the North Sea', which has just been re-released with extra tracks
Pavement
Brighten the Corners
Jamie Rowland examines influential indie rock outfit Pavement's 1997 fourth album, 'Brighten the Corners', which has just been re-released in a new double CD edition
Neutral Milk Hotel
On Avery Island
In the latest in our Re : View column, in which writers re-examine albums from the past, Chris O' Toole examines Elephant 6 group and lo-fi psychedelic outfit Neutral Milk Hotel's 1998 influential debut album, 'On Avery Island'
Features
Clash
Ten Songs That Made Me Love
Eoghan Lyng selects tracks by punk legends The Clash for this month’s edition of 'Ten Songs That Made Me Love...' Following the band’s progress, the cuts chart the outfit’s progress from London upstarts to their incorporation of many of the musical trends that came to define the 1980s.
Photoscapes
Liverpool Sound City 2
while in the second part she takes photos of the Kooks, former Beta Band front man Steve Mason and Copenhagen-based country pop outfit Billie Van and Her Ranchhands.
Photoscapes
Dashboard Confessional
American acoustic/electric guitar emo outfit Dashboard Confessional have recently released their fourth album,the Daniel Lanois-produced 'Dusk and Summer'. Anna Gudaniec photographs them at a lunchtime fan club gig at the Borderline in London
Photoscapes
City and Colour
City and Colour is the solo side project of Dallas Green, the singer and guitarist with Ontario-based post-hardcore outfit, Alexisonfire. Anna Gudaniec takes photos of City and Colour at a gig at London's Camden Barfly
Stray Cats
Rumble in Brixton
80's rockabilly outfit the Stray Cats have recently returned with a new live DVD and CD, 'Rumble in Brixton'. Philip Vincent welcomes their return, but finds little new or essential except for die-hard fans
Photography
Snow Patrol
Photoscapes
Andrew Twambley photographs anthemic rock outfit Snow Patrol at the Arena in Manchester.
Prodigy
Photoscapes
Andrew Twambley photographs dance/electronic outfit the Prodigy at the Leeds First Direct Arena.
Chesterfields
Photoscapes
Marie Hazelwood photographs legendary indie pop outfit The Chesterfields at their first Manchester show in over two decades at our recent Bands Night there at Gullivers