Emma Haigh - Reviews
White Birch
Hauntingly majestic and spectral orchestral pop on latest album from Norwegian three piece the White Birch
Let Airplanes Circle Overhead
First-rate post rock from Cumbrian-based post rockers Let Airplanes Circle Overhead, which "steps away from traditional shoegazing, and branches out towards a symphonic and structural narrative"
Superheroes
Catchy, but uninspiring indie rock with hints of Pulp, the Cure, Joy Division, British Sea Power from new British-based group the Superheroes
Neutral Milk Hotel
Timely re-release for Neutral Milk Hotel's 1998 album, 'In the Aeroplane Over the Sea', which has been an influence on the likes of Arcade Fire, Franz Ferdinand and Caribou
Listen With Sarah
Quirky, intelligent pop on first album from Listen with Sarah, one of the last Peel-endorsed acts and the alias for Sussex-based musician Sarah Nelson and her computer
Kills
Strangely disappointing new single from the usually dependable Kills
Kill Devil Hills
Weak indie guitar rock on debut EP from new London-based band Kill Devil Hills
Andrew
Impressive third album from singer-songwriter Andrew Sandoval, which proves to be "a heady swirl of 60’s fuelled jangle-pop"
Animal Planet
Deceptively childish-looking three song single from Suffolk-based act Animal Planet,w hich combines 40's swing with 60's beach music and 70's bluesy gravelled lounge-rock
Bishop Invaders
"Superbly arranged space-adelic electro-mod tease" on new two track single from Parisian act, the Bishop Invaders
Marble Index
Addictive and haunting new EP from Canadian alternative rockets, the Marble Index
Bird
Charming debut album from singer-songwriter and cellist Janie Price, AKA Bird, which shows itself to be "a simply orchestrated voyage inside a subconscious"
Citizens Here And Abroad
Mellow lo-fi pop from Citizens Here and Abroad, who, constantly on the verge of seemingly swinging out of control "display with gorgeous consistency an ability to shift from elementary wide-eyed jack-in-the-box pop into hard-tinged boppy snarls and glari
Ske
Debut album from Icelandic seven-piece art pop collaborative, Ske, which, despite recent stunning live performances, proves unfortunately to sound "disappointingly familiar"
Je Ne Sais Quoi
Intelligent and ferecious punk rock from new Swedish punk band, Je Ne Sais Quoi, whose seeming apathy, is combined with "a parodoxical avalanche of sound and fury"
Ruth Minnikin
Gothic debut EP from Ruth Minnikin, one of the founding members of much acclaimed Canadian alt. country/folk act, the Guthries
Cary Hudson
Compelling debut album from new Glitterhouse label signing, Cary Hudson, the lack of sophistication which proves to be its greatest asset and flaw
Jane
Over-produced and derivative late 80's/early 90's influenced pop from thirtysomething single mum, Jane
Sugarcult
Maddening Californian punk rock, which unfortunately proves to be "the same glob of expelled punk-pop bubblegum you find embedded in the sole of your favourite shoes"
Minus
Latest single from Icelandic art rockers Minus, which unfortunately "lyrically...reads like an eighth grade poetry competition"