Review: Searows is the moniker of Alec Duckart, a Portland-based indie folk star who is signed to Matt Maltese's label Last Recordings On Earth. Searows is influenced by the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver and Iron & Wine and his falsetto has a similar power and timbre to that of his formative influences. Opening track 'Martingale' is beautifully stripped down and pulls you as a listener close to his soul. Meanwhile, on 'To Be Seen' Searows comes across like he's lamenting the death of something and it is a proper tear-jerker. Contrastingly, 'Toothache' is brighter with percussion and delay-laden electric guitar showing his talent for rich, lush arrangements. Matt Maltese has struck gold here by signing Searows. Plus, they're well-suited as they each appear to enjoy delving into post-apocalyptic work. Searows' previous release (on the Last Recordings On Earth label) is called End Of The World and before starting this label, Maltese released his hit single as a solo artist: 'As The World Caves In'. They suit it all so well.
Review: Anyone who has followed Emotional Rescue knows it has always does a fine job of documenting pock punk and UK punk dub's early years, in this case showcasing the previously unheralded work of Skinbat Scramble, who emerged from the mundanity of the Home Counties to converge on London during the early 80s. Core members Mark Eason and Fergus Crockford were simultaneously inspired by the speedy punk thills of the Roxy Club and the Two Tone scene of ska and reggae which ran alongside it, as well as counter cultural heroes of the generation before like Gong and Velvet Underground. They got to work distilliing slow tempos, experimental sounds, dub and much more into leftfield rhythms, and while the likes of 'Basement Voltaire' - all echoing electronics, high frequency blips and merciless drum machines - or the Clash-in-dub workout 'North By Northwest' are rooted very much in the Cold War/Thatcher years, their individuality and experimental vibe mean they've endured remarkably well. Scramble to get yourself a copy.
In Mind (Tom Middleton & Mark Pitchard aka Global Communication Reload remix - The 147 take) (13:55)
Review: Legendary Reading shoegaze band Slowdive had s short but powerful run from 1989 until 1995 (during their first spell) and that included the 5EP. In the same year, it was remixed to perfection by Bandulu and Reload and now it gets reissued on limited hand numbered vinyl. First up, Bandulu stretch the original's heavy minor chords and fatten the track out into a dubby masterclass and then the Reload version from Tom Middleton & Mark Pritchard (better known as Global Communication) is even more impressive. It's a supremely blissed out cut with a slow motion rhythm and futuristic sense of soul cut on 45 rpm but just as suited to 33rpm playback.
Memorabilia (Daniel Miller 2023 remix - instrumental) (5:13)
Memorabilia (The Hacker 2023 remix) (6:35)
Memorabilia (Wally Funk 2023 remix) (5:39)
Review: The birth point of ecstasy in British music is usually credited to acid house and the second summer of love: a cemented vision of kids sweating and vibrating in clubs, fields and warehouses in 1988, united by universal empathy and mind-popping sounds. However, in 1981, a couple of young men from Leeds went to New York, discovered the drug in its infancy, fused its' gritty synth pop to acid house's squelchy 303 groove and recorded an album - Soft Cell's Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret. The rest, as they say, is history.
Review: Dublin band Sprints quickly return to the fore after the success of their recent highlight 'How Does The Story Go?' This new EP is destined to be heard loud at beer swilling festival main stage all over the world. It has powerful riffs, plenty of fuck you energy and sizeable choruses that will connect on a large scale. Karla Chubb's spoken-sung vocals bring an alt-rock feel with a critique of modern existence served up next to an exploration of what it is to grow up queer in the modern day.
Review: Suede's 'The Wild Ones', released as a single in November 1994, is widely regarded as a defining moment in the band's career. Featured on Dog Man Star, the track shows Brett Anderson and Bernard Butler at their creative peak, with Anderson often calling it his favorite Suede song. The haunting ballad stands out for its atmospheric, semi-acoustic production, enhanced by delicate orchestration, giving the song a timeless, melancholic feel. Anderson's emotive vocal delivery complements the lush arrangement, creating a poignant reflection on lost love. The B-side, 'Modern Boys', adds further value to the single, despite not making the final Dog Man Star tracklist. 'The Wild Ones' remains one of Suede's most cherished songs, capturing a pivotal moment of artistic evolution for the band.
Review: Supergroups that look perfect on paper can often misfire in practice, which makes it both a relief and a revelation that this meeting of minds between the Glaswegian dance-pop freaks and the legendary glam progenitors hits the spot so spectacularly. With both acts playing to their strengths, and sharing ideas in effusive fashion, FFS is a collection of indelible songs that never let their artful campery and arch histrionics triumph over melody and fresh invention. As over the top in its flamboyance as one would expect this collaboration to be, this inspired collision of circumstances has more than enough substance to match its style.
Review: A remastering and reissue of the Jack Frost recordings, a collaboration between two acclaimed Australian songwriters: Grand McLennan from The Go-Betweens and Steve Kilbey, the lead singer and bassist in The Church. The Church are well-known for their hit 'Under The Milky Way', which made the Donnie Darko soundtrack. Included in this set is their two studio albums: The Snow Job (1995) has never been on vinyl before and the self-titled debut (1991) has been out of print for more than 20 years. There's also bonus material tucked in. This release comes as The Go-Betweens have been enjoying a renaissance recently, thanks to a successful reissue campaign, and The Church have been touring. Despite this being a side project, there's no sense it's an afterthought as the pair clearly thrived in each other's company and wrote melodic, wistful and affecting songs of the highest order. Noel Gallagher would likely have been proud to write the reverb-y love song 'Thought I Was Over You' and 'Every Hour God Sends' is up there with Echo & The Bunnymen's best stuff. Meanwhile, 'Ramble' has a stark arpeggio-laden beauty to it, building from its sparse beginning into something more textured and darkly atmospheric. There's an embarrassment of riches to delve into here and it cements the pair's reputation for being among Australia's greatest ever songwriters.
Providence (US Television Broadcast 28th April 1991)
Jack Frost Blues (CD2: Snow Job)
Aviatrix
Running From The Body
Shakedown
You Don't Know
Weightless & Wild
Pony Express
Cousin/Angel
Little Song
Empire
Angela Carter
Haze
Dry Dock
On Persuasion (bonus track)
Bad For You (bonus track)
Providence (CD3: live & radio Performances)
Didn't Know Where I Was
Civil War Lament
Ramble
The Wrong Road
Bye Bye Pride
Thought That I Was Over You
Every Hour God Sends
Number Eleven
Everything Takes Forever
Thought That I Was Over You
Didn't Know Where I Was
Providence
Civil War Lament
Review: Any aspiring rocker worth their salt in Australia is likely familiar with Steve Kilbey from his work being the lead singer of 'Under The Milky Way' hitmakers The Church. Here he combines with The Go-Between' Grant McLennan to make the great supergroup Jack Frost. The collection includes a remastering and reissue of their two studio albums: The Snow Job (1995) and the self-titled debut (1991) - plus bonus material. It's stacked with classics, but 'Birdowner', which evokes Morrison Hotel-era Jim Morrion, is a huge standout. As is Civil War Lament', but for different reasons: this goes into acoustic psych-folk territory, leaning towards some Pink Floyd styles. Elsewhere, 'Trapeze Boy' conveys memories of listening to Comet Gain, who may well have been influenced by the underrated, masterful Jack Frost.
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