Kitty empire
Savages: Silence Yourself - review
(Pop Noire/Matador) Hard to believe these days, but there was a time when music was not intended as mere entertainment. Quite the opposite: as the punk era gave way to post-punk in the early 80s, most bands came with manifestos. Their raison d'etre had t
Neon Neon: Praxis Makes Perfect - review
(Lex) In 2008, Welsh-Californian duo Neon Neon (aka Super Furry Animals' Gruff Rhys and producer Boom Bip) released a funky, synth-laden concept album about car designer John DeLorean. Its successor subjects maverick Italian publisher Giangiacomo Feltr
Iggy and the Stooges: Ready to Die - review
(Fat Possum) The cover finds proto-punk icon and advertiser of insurance Iggy Pop, 66, wearing a belt of dynamite, lined up in a gunman's crosshairs. The album is called Ready to Die . Even allowing for the Stooges' historical reputation as some of the
Snoop Lion: Reincarnated - review
(RCA) For all his erstwhile gin, juice and pimpin', rapper Snoop (nee Doggy Dogg) has, in recent years, become something of an upstanding citizen: spinning a hip-hop career into a 360 business empire, trying to be a good dad. His rebranding as a Rastafar
Phoenix: Bankrupt! - review
(V2/Glassnote) Last weekend Phoenix headlined a night at Coachella, the prestigious Californian music festival. Rumours circulated that they might be joined by fellow Gallic superstars Daft Punk. The two outfits are old friends, one of Phoenix having sha
Emeli Sande - review
There was some confusion organising this review of Emeli Sandé's run of gigs at London's Hammersmith Apollo. For a short time her label's PR department seemed endearingly unaware that the Scottish singer was playing three consecutive nights at the 5,000-
Emeli Sande - review
There was some confusion organising this review of Emeli Sandé's run of gigs at London's Hammersmith Apollo. For a short time her label's PR department seemed endearingly unaware that the Scottish singer was playing three consecutive nights at the 5,000-