Feb
20
The Wave Pictures
February 20, 2008 | Leave a Comment
The following review appears in the latest edition of London’s premier music ‘zine, London Tour Dates. The Wave Pictures, The Enterprise, 19th Feb 2008 It’s great to see a whammy bar these days. You don’t have to be a guitar geek to appreciate a nice bit of trebly whanging, especially if done with the restraint […]
Dec
31
Fancy Some Cabaret?
December 31, 2007 | Leave a Comment
The following review appears in the latest edition of London’s premier music ‘zine, London Tour Dates. UPDATE 3/1/07: The organisers of the below-reviewed entertainment issued the following missive to my editor: “Is Paul always quite so scathing? Sounds like he’d hate anything remotely corporate..?” Scathing? Moi? If you’re type of traditionalist who turns his head […]
Aug
31
Little Dragon
August 31, 2007 | 1 Comment
To say Little Dragon sound like Morcheeba is of course lazy journalism, but such comparisons are no small compliment to this interesting Swedish four-piece. Japanese Vocalist Yukimi Nagano delivers breathy R n’ B vocals with wonderfully piercing cut-glass clarity and quirky ticks in a manner that would pacify even the most ardent Bjork-hater. Â I don’t […]
Aug
22
The Displacements, Water Rats, 21st August
August 22, 2007 | Leave a Comment
These days when bands are described as making tunes that appeal to parents and kids alike, it’s meant as a put down. Not so with The Displacements, who are more than aware that 40 years ago a certain bunch of scousers dealt rather well with similar ‘criticism’.
Jul
23
Electric Soft Parade, Koko, Fri 20th July
July 23, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Pity The Electric Soft Parade. The Brighton four piece peddle the type of cerebral indie that has seen one past reviewer hail them as the future of student bands. Harsh labelling aside, whatever your take on them, The Electric Soft Parade’s (named after possibly the most self-indulgent of Doors albums) particular brand of think-rock was […]
Jun
7
Concrete Dullards
June 7, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Luminaire takes its music seriously. Signs inform punters that speaking during songs will elicit a swift ‘shut up’. It’s the only venue I know where people rush for a chat as well as the toilet during breaks. So just the sort of place to see soft and sensitive souls The Concretes showcase new abum “Hey […]
Mar
19
Bring back the minstrels….
March 19, 2007 | 3 Comments
“This is not a story. The media are making this a story.†Click. Bhuuuuuuuuuu . . . . This curt response from a senior executive from the folks organising Madonna’s ’06 Confessions tour was as far as I got into persuading one of ‘her people’ to come on BBC radio. At £160 ($310) for the […]
Sep
28
Harry ‘Buckhead’ MacDougald: The Interview
September 28, 2006 | 6 Comments
For my college studies I decided to try and get a grip on the old-media-shakin’, internet-quakin’ event that was Rathergate. During my research I got help from various members of the place where it all started: Conservative online forum Free Republic. Amongst the various ‘freepers’ I spoke to was the prime instigator himself, Buckhead, aka […]