Album/DVD Review: Welcome To The Twisted Cabaret Vol. 1

My review - originally posted on TLOBF:

Formed with the aim of uniting “some of the most important modern artists who are using, altering or diverting the codes and rules of Weimar Cabaret” this release attempts to capture those memorable nights we’ve dined out on as young, vibrant, beautiful people. Personally, I’m a twisted middle-aged hack and the idea of going to a burlesque club or going to see an off-the-wall circus act fills me with nothing but horror. Consequently, I knew little of what to expect and so found myself pleasantly surprised and enjoying the controversial Brechtian and Gypsy cabaret of The Tiger Lillies, the fuzzed blues and screwball poetics of The Maxi Monster Music Show and the talented Japanese duo Kokusoyu Sumire and their fairytale re-imaginings...

Full review = http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2010/03/welcome-to-the-twisted-cabaret-vol-1/

Album Review: Airbourne - No Guts, No Glory

My review - originally posted on Alternative Vision

Ever since their award-winning debut album, ’Runnin’ Wild’, Airbourne have been at the forefront of a much reinvigorated rock n’ roll scene. Their incredible live performances, powered as much by the band’s colossal volume levels as for frontman Joel O’Keefe’s daredevil antics, have been a large part of their appeal. Suddenly, we find metal/rock festival organisers, like Download did last year, considering the prospect of devoting a whole day to putting on old-school rock bands, and the rise and rise of Airbourne has been a large factor in that...

Full review = http://www.alternativevision.co.uk/cdreview1118.html

Album Review: Lower Than Atlantis - Far Q

My review - originally posted on TLOBF:

Having drawn inspiration from 90’s grunge, rock and punk-pop bands, it follows that Lower Than Atlantis have developed a bit of a penchant for creating dirty, aggressive music loaded with spiked barbs of indignation. Having undergone their fair share of sticky patches where they nearly gave up after several members bade them farewell (it’s not clear whether their band name is a reaction to the situation), they have experienced what they term a “metamorphosis”. This debut album sees them re-energised and delving into the gritty subjects of recession, unemployment and a disenchanted youth...

Full review = http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2010/03/lower-than-atlantis-far-q/

Gig Review + Interview: Editors @ Corn Exchange, Cambridge 17/3/2010

My review - originally published on TLOBF:

Seeing Editors perform their synth-infested, infinitely bleaker third album, intercut with older material, is a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. One minute we’re thrilled and empowered by thumping tracks like ‘The Racing Rats’ and ‘Munich’ and next we’re being impaled upon the heart-wrenching slog of gloom-dwelling laments like ‘You Don’t Know Love’ or ‘The Big Exit’. Certainly the former style is far easier to swallow than the latter – the faithful pogo and batter out metronomic handclaps with the echoic tempos...

Photo © Rich E

Full review = http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2010/03/editors-cold-cave-the-strange-death-of-liberal-england-corn-exchange-cambridge-1732010/

My interview - originally published on TLOBF:

Me: Do you still get a buzz when you see your record in the music shops?
Russell (bassist): Yeah! I mean, I check for it. It’s nice when it’s wrapped up. If I’m in a cool town, I try and go record shopping and see what they recommend, see if I can get some vinyl. It’s always nice to see your album artwork in there along with all the other records. I went into Piccadilly Records in Manchester and they had all three on vinyl and it was quite nice.

Full interview = http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/2010/03/tlobf-interview-editors-2/