The Drive-By Truckers’ 10th studio album captures the sound of a group rediscovering the fun in making music. Because the three years since the release of Go-Go Boots have largely been anything but for Patterson Hood and his once merry…
Annie Clark’s 4th album under the ‘St Vincent’ moniker is comfortably her best work to date. Coming off the back of a fruitful partnership with lead Talking Head, David Byrne, Clark took just 36 hours off in between finishing the…
Crisp production and a stunning vocal performance combine to make Wild Beasts’ fourth album Present Tense a treasure of a record. Spanning a spectrum of colour and mood, the songs boast distinctive lyrics and expertly crafted structures. The synth, bass,…
Sheffield has a fine tradition of turning out bands and musicians who, with their wit and humour, become indelibly placed in the public consciousness. Pulp and Richard Hawley are two that spring to mind, as are Slow Club and, of…
Hannah Peel is no stranger to compliments, and she’s certainly bagged her share of supporters and collaborators in the few years she’s been releasing music. Having already worked with Simon Tong from The Verve and Gorillaz fame and gained a…
Kelly Oliver’s songs are full of clear traditional folk melodies; fans of The Staves and The Unthanks might want to give her debut EP a whirl. Title track ‘Far From Home’ features voice, guitar and the odd flourish of accordion,…
Right from the off Angel Olsen has a style all of her own. The hazy opening of Burn Your Fire For No Witness sounds like a woman strumming and singing while she dreams of a love she has lost. It’s…
Shonna Tucker & Eye Candy – A Tell All Jason Isbell’s Southeastern is one of the great undersung albums of 2013 – just ask Bruce Springsteen. Now his ex-wife Shonna Tucker is the next to try her hand at a…
In an ideal world, you’d want to allow an artist – particularly one of the quality of Rosanne Cash – to stand on her own terms rather than constantly link her to her famous parents. Cash, though, is making it…
For fans of the band the sound is familiar. Tinariwen’s Emmaar sounds as gutsy and confrontational as ever. It is both symbolic of the band’s culture and its in your face, whilst also being soulful, gentle and offering a sense…