Ghostpoet: Dark Days + Canapés review – languid and assured

It’s a depressing time to be alive, according to Ghostpoet. After years of heavy-hearted introspection, the twice Mercury-nominated Obaro Ejimiwe turns his gaze outwards on his fourth album, offering a sombre outlook on society with tracks such as the apocalyptic … Continue reading →

Iron & Wine: Beast Epic review – songs of clarity and 12-tog comfort

Despite having a title that suggests a new thrash metal direction, Sam Beam’s sixth album as Iron & Wine essays yet more romantic, Americana-tinged songwriting, and it’s cosier than ever. As Beam sings poetically in his goose-down voice, cadences resolve … Continue reading →

Rat Boy: Scum review – more Westfield than Westway

There’s an attractive confidence to this skank-pop-punk debut from the NME’s best new artist of 2016. Solid, road-tested hits Move and Sign On jostle for attention with twitchily aggressive new tracks such as I’ll Be Waiting and Boiling Point. Over … Continue reading →

Girl Ray: Earl Grey review – teen indie trio to watch

Indie has remained pretty staid over the last decade – one noticeable change, however, has been an influx of girl or girl-fronted groups. Yet like their pop counterparts, these women have generally struggled to penetrate the mainstream. Could Girl Ray … Continue reading →

Juanita Stein: America review – ambling solo debut

As frontwoman of Howling Bells, a deliciously dark Australian rock band with country twangs to lose your heart in, Juanita Stein’s solo debut should be a thrill. These roads, though, are just too well worn, ambling through Nancy’n’Leeville on Florence … Continue reading →