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  • The Alice Kona Band: Jay Adams Review

    The Alice Kona BandThe Alice Kona Band are a breath of fresh air. Once upon a previous lifetime I used to listen to quite a lot of garage punk but I could never understand why a lot of the instrumentation and vocals had to be distorted beyond recognition.

    With AKB’s Jay Adams all the instrumentation is clear, lyrics are audible and the vocals are well produced. Yet, the frantic nature and garage punk ethos are never compromised. Punky yet melodic, the Belfast band will leave you with the ‘Oh oh Oh’ refrain knocking round your head for the rest of the day. Legend.

  • Cleo Sol featuring Gappy Ranks: High (video)

    When I interviewed Ali Campbell for Goldenplec earlier this year he mentioned that one of the artists he would like to work with was Gappy Ranks, who I will admit, I had to go look up to see who Ali was talking about.

    Well here he is featured on this new song by Cleo Sol, a 20 year old who already has featured on Tinie Tempah’s ‘Tears’ and ‘Dancefloor’ with Wretch 32. This is her debut, a nice summery mixture of reggae, 60’s pop and r’n’b. It’s out on September 18th on Dirty Canvas.

  • The Minutes: Reading Festival Highlights (video)

    I’m thrilled to see The Minutes do so well. Have a look at some of their Reading set on the BBC Introducing stage. Fleetwood, Secret History and In My Time of Dying are in there.

  • Mojo GoGo: Cheats, Chicks and Powders EP Review

    MojoGoGoDerry/Donegal’s Mojo GoGo release their second EP and second of 2011 on September 9th. The three track ‘Cheats, Chicks and Powders’ EP opens with ‘Romance in the Lie’ an uptempo track which fuses a party beat with nice guitar licks.

    The drumbeat on the track predominately uses toms, which is refreshing. It takes me a few listens though to figure out that singer, Niki Pollock’s vocal style reminds me of a cross between Alex Turner and Phil Lynott’s vocal delivery. It’s a decent track, well produced.

    For a band that are together less than a year, Mojo GoGo are showing a maturity which can be seen in the arrangements of their songs. ‘Break Me’ shows this. They also show themselves to be competent musicians but on this track the guitar sound is a little overpowering. (more…)