all music reviews

  • boris – w

    boris – w

    This is heavy metal where ‘heavy’ refers principally to matters of the mind. ‘W’ is an extraordinary ode to the most reflective of emotions, suspended by Boris’ atmosphere of rumination. It is simultaneously delicate, pounding, and dark, but even in ‘W’’s sombre corners, the instrumental tones are looking towards some far off light in wistful… Read more

  • eiko ishibashi – for mccoy

    eiko ishibashi – for mccoy

    Throughout her discography, Eiko Ishibashi has exhibited a range of sonic climates. It is as her orchestral tones lightly interact when ‘For McCoy’ feels at it’s mesmeric best. The problems, however, are underlined when the moods shift too quickly into cacophony and the wonder of Ishibashi’s gentle horizon momentarily cracks. Even so, these hurried sections… Read more

  • jake xerxes fussell – good and green again

    jake xerxes fussell – good and green again

    To construct ‘Good and Green Again,’ this superb North Carolina folklorist trawled through stories and songs of old, sewing the findings together with his laid-back voice at the seam. Fussell’s vocals pivot lightly off the story as well as the crisp acoustic arrangements behind him; he is an effective, cool narrator over a French horn… Read more

  • dean blunt – black metal (2014)

    dean blunt – black metal (2014)

    This is a beloved album. Partly due to the release of its younger brother in June 2021, ‘Black Metal’ has enjoyed a thorough artistic renaissance, rousing a renewed appreciation for Dean Blunt’s idiosyncratic method. This record manages to be pathologically honest in its message, but layered and innumerable with its atmospheric devices; the strings throughout… Read more

  • felt – forever breathes the lonely word (1986)

    felt – forever breathes the lonely word (1986)

    Felt’s career was guided by lead singer Lawrence’s grand ideas of artistic endeavour. He wanted the band to produce 10 albums and 10 singles in 10 years and then dissolve. They did. On their sixth LP, Felt carried sensitivity through bold melodies to assemble a masterpiece of organ-pop. FBTLW is a deeply intricate attempt to… Read more