Melbourne four-piece City Calm Down are preparing to release their 2018 sophomore record, two years since their debut album launched them into the musical spotlight. Fronting a group whose sonic is refreshing in the current alternative scene yet has hints of Joy Division, The National and New Order, Jack Bourke took a break from the […]
Exeposé Turns 30: The Best Albums of 1987
Thirty years ago, in 1987, actor-turned-politician Ronald Reagan was President of the United States, Margaret Thatcher occupied 10 Downing Street having secured a third consecutive victory for her government and the first issue of Exeposé was hot off the student press. Cinema-goers flocked to see Dirty Dancing, and Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo and Raphael, perhaps better […]
Album Review: Sam Smith – The Thrill Of It All
Four Grammys, three years and two BRIT awards after his debut, In the Lonely Hour, Sam Smith has triumphantly returned with his highly anticipated sophomore record, The Thrill of It All, which has topped the UK and US charts just a week after its release. As disclosed in his New York Times interview, Smith is […]
Goulash, Throat Singers & Canadian Contemporaries: An Interview with Weaves’ Jasmyn Burke
The latest gem in the treasure chest of Canadian indie bands, Weaves, have just released their highly anticipated second album Wide Open, just a year after their eponymous debut was described by MTV as ‘one of the most unpredictable sounds of 2016’. I spoke to frontwoman Jasmyn Burke before the group’s UK tour begins to […]
Album Review: Gregory Porter – Nat King Cole & Me
Grammy-winning jazz maestro Gregory Porter recently released his tribute album Nat King Cole & Me in honour of the late singer, who Porter has described as being at “the root of my inspiration”. Growing up without a father in his life, Porter has explained that Nat King Cole’s music “filled a void in me…and Nat’s […]
The 2017 German Election Results – The Majority for Merkel?
Whilst Brexit negotiations, snap General Elections and Trump’s latest blunder have been dominating British headlines in recent months, Germany’s media focus has been on its September federal election. With each lamppost, billboard and potential poster spot across German cities and rural villages alike pasted with multiple party adverts each attempting to sway the electorate, Germany […]
Album Review: Wolf Alice – Visions of a Life
North London quartet Wolf Alice’s second LP Visions of a Life is released today, and is one of the year’s most anticipated alternative/indie releases after the huge success of debut My Love is Cool. With the new record’s predecessor making the ‘Best Albums of the Year’ lists in The Guardian, NME, Q and Rough Trade, […]
There’s A Honey: An Interview with Pale Waves’ Heather Baron-Gracie
Hailed as ‘your newest indie-pop sensation’ by The Fader, Manchester’s latest indie offering Pale Waves were one of this year’s highly acclaimed performers on the Reading and Leeds BBC Introducing Stage. Following their appearance earlier this year as special guest on The 1975’s sold out USA and Europe tours, and their music video for second […]
Album Review: The National – Sleep Well Beast
‘America’s Radiohead’ The National have brought forth their latest album Sleep Well Beast, meaning like many other delightful things such as Wonders of the World and the Harry Potter novels, their album discography now totals a glorious collection of seven. Frontman Matt Berninger, whose deep, baritone vocals at times parallel Ian Curtis and Ricky Wilson, […]
Album Review: Alvvays – Antisocialites
Described by Mojo as not sounding far off The Velvet Underground, Canadian indie pop favourites Alvvays brought smiles to fans around the globe with the release of their second LP Antisocialites last week; a release which sounds comfortably familiar yet also shows a mature progress as an experienced band. Similarly to their eponymous debut, the […]