James Yorkston – I Was A Cat From A Book (Domino, August 2012)
By Clare Lowe
I Was A Cat From A Book is James Yorkston‘s fifth offering on the Domino imprint and the Fence collective member is sticking to his existing formula of emotive lyrics and well-crafted songs.
Jamie Oliver presents The Big Feastival with Alex James, September 1-2 2012
By Clare Lowe
Unlike any other festival I’ve been to, I arrived on Alex James’ farm in Oxfordshire ready to enjoy some food, music and sunshine. After setting up camp, I focused mainly on the line-up of musical acts. First up was the Cuban Brothers, who are ridiculously fun and suited a sunny afternoon with a glass of wine. They well and truly set an upbeat atmosphere for the rest of the evening.
I decided to grab some food before we settled at the front of the stage for Gaz Coombes. I chose The Cinnamon Club, Vivek Singh’s London based Indian restaurant that has revolutionised traditional recipes and created a modern and varied menu. I chose a black leg chicken breast wrap. It was perfectly spiced with coriander and mint flavors and a spicy peanut sauce. The accompanying mango sauce was sweet and savory and positively moreish.
Stealing Sheep – Into The Diamond Sun (Heavenly Recordings/ August 13 2012)
By Clare Lowe
Becky Hawley, Emily Lansley and Lucy Mercer are the three members of Liverpool band Stealing Sheep. After two EPs and hype from 6Music, Into The Diamond Sun is their debut album.
Their sound could be described as folktronica with a psychedelic edge. It’s whimsical and warm with dark undertones that make it an interesting first listen. Each member of the band writes their own songs, which makes for a varied quality of tracks. Although some songs seem modern and well-crafted, there are a few that seem over whimsical. ‘Shark Song’, for example, has a catchy tune and instrumentally it’s intricate and interesting, but the lyrics are a little off putting, opening with the line “Sharks are big and sharks are scary, sharks make me feel extremely weary”. It’s a nursery-like rhyme that distracts from what is a great tune.
Beth Rowley – Colston Hall 2, Bristol, July 21 2012
By Clare Lowe
It’s the first sunny day we’ve had in Bristol for what seems like months and Beth Rowley is playing at the modest Colston Hall 2; a small club-like space attached to the 2,069 capacity Colston Hall Main Auditorium. It provides an intimate setting and is perfect for singers like Rowley; a Bristol native who’s playing a homecoming performance.
Fernando Lagreca – Childhood Is All We Have (Irregular/ July 5 2012)
By Clare Lowe
Fernando Lagreca, originally from Uruguay, arrived in Barcelona in 2002 and has made his mark on the music scene ever since. He defines himself as “composer and electronic alchemist” and plays with glitch, ambient and what he calls ‘mini pop’.
Childhood Is All We Have showcases a diverse range of electronic textures that sounds both old and modern. It has a very 80s feel to it in places. ‘Stood By The Gate At The Foot Of A Garden’ is particularly new wave in style, beginning with an irregular beat and guitar riff and falling into a synth-led build up, echoing bands such as New Order or Clan Of Xymox. However, there’s a more modern backing, comparable to the sort of murky, freakish sounds of Aphex Twin.
Grasscut – Unearth (Ninja Tune/ July 16 2012)
By Clare Lowe
Grasscut are Andrew Phillips and Marcus O’Dair, an electronic duo that earned artistic acclaim through playing such locations as the Tate, ICA and the Pompidou Centre. Their debut album, 1 Inch: ½ Mile, exposed them as masters of textural and evocative soundscapes.
Unearth intends to explore the landscape of Britain through sound, focusing on separate locations in each track. It’s a concept album accompanied by pinhole photography that depicts each location used. In addition to the main release, alternate versions of each track have been hidden within boxed-Walkmans at various locations around the country.
Patti Smith – The Forum, Bath, June 28 2012
By Clare Lowe
Patti Smith is a woman who demands attention. On this muggy Thursday evening she does just that. As Smith shuffles on to the stage with a massive grin on her face, everyone rushed from the seats and to the front of the stage. As the opening chords of ‘Dancing Barefoot’ began, the audience were invited into her world. Tonight she has a great four-piece band, including Lenny Kaye on guitar (also featured on Smith’s album Horses). All seem in good spirits on this sticky June evening.
Sam Lee – Ground Of Its Own (The Nest Collective/ 2012)
By Clare Lowe
Sam Lee has done his research. After travelling up and down the country talking to Scottish, Irish and English gypsy and traveller communities he put together this collection of folk inspired songs. Each track on his debut album, Ground Of Its Own, is a new take on a traditional song with beautifully crafted modern twists and the result is a fantastical journey through these communities’ folk history.
Lee has made a name for himself on the British folk scene as a founder of The Nest Collective with fellow musician Joe Buirski. The Nest Collective is a club born from the lack of opportunity to hear folk in London. They are passionate about bringing the new folk sound to music fans by putting on events and festivals that make the audience part of the show and create an intimate atmosphere, however large the event.
The Fogcutters – Big Band Syndrome Vol. 1: Live at The State Theatre (Fogcutters/ 2012)
By Clare Lowe
The Fogcutters are an eighteen-piece big band from Portland, Maine. This is a live recording of what sounds like a very energetic and entertaining gig. It’s a case of ‘exactly what it says on the tin’; this is big band music and the opening track ‘Reap What You Sow’ will make you want to get up and learn how your granny danced. There’s a great mixture of funk, soul and rock ‘n’ roll on this album that showcases how talented the instrumentalists are in this band.
Soulsavers – The Light The Dead See (V2 / May 21 2012)
By Clare Lowe
The last person Soulsavers (English duo Rich Machin and Ian Glover) collaborated with was Mark Lanegan; a man with many demons and a voice that sounds as if he’s spewing them forth.
On this album, it’s Depeche Mode‘s front man David Gahan‘s turn (another man with his fair share of issues). After combating addiction and a tumor, Gahan is ready to wear all these experiences on his sleeve for this confession of an album.
