Daniel Cressey - Reviews
Mountain Goats
Abstract but haunting latest concept album from the Mountain Goats upon which front man John Darnielle sympathetically examines the 80's Gothic movement
Kid Koala
Flawed new concept album about two people separated by one of them voyaging to Mars from DJ Kid Koala which finds him moving away from the turntable and experimenting with traditional instruments such as keyboards and guitars
James Leg
Essential blues rock which proves deserving of a wider audience on third solo album from raw-voiced Nashville-based musician James Leg
Mutants
Compelling third album recorded from punk supergroup the Mutants, the band of Adam and the Ants bassist Chris Constantinou and Damned drummer Rat Scabies, and which involves members of the Eagles of Death Metal and the Dandy Warhols
Lumen Lab
Challenging but compelling third album from Lumen Lab, the nom de plume for Mexican electronic musician Diege Martinez
Advance Base
Melancholic musings on American life finds ex-Casiotone for the Painfully Alone front man Owen Ashworth with his new project Advance Base on familiar but fertile musical ground
Baby Chaos
A long hiatus is no bar to a rowdy return with first album in seventeen years for Glaswegian rockers Baby Chaos
Mutants
Glorious rock and roll on second album from punk supergroup the Mutants, which include Adam and the Ants bassist Chris Constantinou and Damned drummer Rat Scabies, and involves on this record a rotating set of Japanese guest stars
Mountain Goats
Eccentric but enthralling new album from off-kilter North Carolina bandt the Mountain Goats, upon which front man John Darnielle’s songwriting focuses on the world of professional wrestling
Southern Tenant Folk Union
Ambitious and imaginative yet unrelentingly downbeat concept album from left-wing Edinburgh folk collective the Southern Tenant Folk Union, which takes all its song titles from Chuck Norris films
J Mascis
Surprisingly understated yet excellent latest solo record from Dinosaur Jr front-man and guitarist, J Mascis
Various
Excellent double CD compilation that examines the under-explored but rich musical landscape of Haiti in the 1960s and 1970s
Mikal Cronin
Essential combination of Beach Boys-style and gritty Nirvana-style distortion on second album from Californian singer-songwriter and guitarist, Mikal Cronin
Treetop Flyers
Excellent debut album from London-based, but Los Angeles-formed folk act Treetop Flyers, which follows four years on from their first EP
Various
Fabulous five CD bset from reggae label Trojan Records, released to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of Jamaican independence
Hot Chip
Over polished and often soulless fifth album from much acclaimed London-based electronica band, Hot Chip
OFF!
Furious and brief political punk on often intoxicating debut album from OFF!, the new band of fomrer Black Flag singer Keith Morris
Johnny Cash
Powerful collection of country gospel rarities from the late Johnny Cash, which focuses on his religious faith
Blasters
Fantastic rock and roll on double CD reissue of 1980 first studio album and 2002 live album from hard-working and thrilling Californian act, the Blasters
Dan Sartain
Infectious lo-fi mini-album from Birmingham, Alabama-based singer-songwriter Dan Sartain, which merges late 50's rock 'n' roll with a punk edge