Month: April 2016

By Rob Jones Proceedings kick off with Raw Power and that is exactly what you get on Iggy Pop with David Bowie Mantra Studios Broadcast 1977. This 14 track set also includes the bonus of a couple of tunes from a US TV production of the same era, but the rest of the package emanates from a live radio session in Chicago. This CD does not make for an over produced glossy finish and the live feel comes across in abundance. However, it is a treat to hear Iggy reviving classic heavy hitters such as the opening track, Gimme...

by Rob Jones Spear of Destiny have a repertoire that stretches back to 1983. Kirk Brandon still leads the band along with other projects that have persisted over the years-e.g. solo work, Theatre of Hate or Dead Men Walking. The current five piece arrived at Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff sparking a great deal of enthusiasm amongst a gathered throng. On the back of Theatre of Hate playing a sparkling gig at this venue last December Kirk brought the sonic senators of S.O.D. for what was to prove to be an evening of pristine post punk. The booming voice of Brandon does not...

by Rob Jones UK future-soul singer Basheba has a new EP, Axiom Part 1. A quartet of tasty tunes mark the start of her Axiom trilogy as she heads towards her debut album. “Basheba combines dark, blues influenced vocals with hard- edged Drum ‘N’ Bass beats, so it’s no wonder the likes of Rudimental have asked to work with her” quotes Fred Perry Subculture Sonically the EP combines all the elements of Basheba’s smooth sound with R’N’B/Soul flavoured vocals wed to club influenced drum ‘n’ bass, breakbeat rhythms and futuristic input. To any Basheba newcomers there is definitely a feel of market leader Jessie Ware without any signs of plagiarism. Thgis has 60’s origins with the essence of the now and...

THOMAS TRUAX AND HIS ROCK INVENTIONS TOUR HITS THE UK     AMERICAN INVENTOR THOMAS TRUAX BRINGS SELF-MADE INSTRUMENTS TO ‘ROCKIN’ INVENTIONS’ UK TOUR 2016 American Thomas Truax is one of the most imaginative characters on the pop music fringe. Since the early 2000’s, he’s been releasing records and traveling the world performing with his evolving “band” of surreal self-made Harry Partch-esque instruments including a motorized drum machine made of bike wheels called ‘Mother Superior’ and a souped-up Dr. Seuss-ian Gramophone called ‘The Hornicator’, as well as his venerable resonator guitar (named simply Hank). The Oxford Times calls Thomas “One...