The artwork on the cover of Bear’s Den’s latest record, Red Earth and Pouring Rain, gives you the wrong idea about the band. The hyper-realism style, almost oil painting-esque image of a girl driving a car through the night creates an impression, to me, of a squeaky synth pop band trying to be edgier than […]
helen payne
What to listen to when… It’s Valentine’s Day
It’s the week of Valentine’s Day, and whether you’re content with a significant other, glad to be single or on the lookout for love, you’ll need a soundtrack to accompany the romantic holiday. If you’re staying in with your friends ordering Dominos as an anti-valentine (fun fact: Valentine’s Day is their busiest night of the […]
Album Review – Matt Kivel – Janus
Matt Kivel Janus 5th February 2016; Driftless On first listen to the title track on Matt Kivel’s new album Janus, I am immediately calm. An acoustic guitar is lovingly plucked in a melody that sounds familiar, then joined by Kivel’s delicate voice that’s barely more than a whisper. Some equally soft harmonies are sung, […]
What to listen to when… Struggling up Forum Hill
It’s nearly 8.30AM. You’re standing at the bottom of Forum Hill in a swarm of doubt, wondering if you’ll ever make it all the way to Peter Chalk. You can’t even see the top of the hill from here. Who thought it would be a good idea to build a university campus on a massive […]
Gengahr and Friends present… a Collection of Artworks
As we walk through the depths of the dodgier end of Hackney, beats, chatter and laughter are the sounds of a one-off art exhibition hosted by newbies to the indie music scene, Gengahr, with some friends at Bombay Bicycle Club, Alt-J and Slaves. About a hundred people mill around outside in a chilled vibe of […]
Album Review: Son Lux – Bones
Helen Payne reviews the latest “post-rock/ trip-hop” record from New York singer/ producer Ryan Lott alias. Son Lux (pictured middle) on Glassnote Records, tentatively titled Bones. “like an electropop haunted house” Son Lux Bones Glassnote, 22 June 2015 [dropcap size=small]A[/dropcap]fter a succession of albums, EPs and singles in various band member formations, Bones is the […]