Author: Editor

Live – VLURE | MEMES at The Green Door Store Brighton

Posted in Live Music, Review

VLURE & MEMES at The Green Door Store, Brighton, 27th November 2021

Back in the days before a certain pandemic took over our lives, VLURE shared the visual for their track Desire, an insight into what was to come from the Glasgow five piece. I watched it repeatedly, weirdly fascinated by its almost tribal ferocity. Fast forward to Saturday night at Brighton’s Green Door Store and it’s time to find out whether the same urgency is still brimming over.

First up though, the powerhouse that is MEMES warm things up on the coldest night of the year. There may be only two of them (three if you count the drumming laptop) but what they lack in numbers they make up in volume and spiky socially observant lyrics. Talking Heads meets early Young Knives turned up to eleven if you will, in a good way for avoidance of doubt. Well worth a watch if they’re passing your way. 

And so after much anticipation, VLURE hit the stage and any idea that they wouldn’t live up to expectations is instantly quashed. With a breathtakingly solid collection of songs now under their belt, there are no dips in the set. The pulsating wall of 80s electronica fronted with a visceral vocal that makes up Shattered Faith is a standout that has the venue shaking, the actual storm outside overshadowed by the manufactured one inside. 

Intense, immense, and the most welcome of antidotes to the past eighteen months, VLURE are everything you’d want them to be and more. Just a glance at everyone’s faces in the crowd shows the pure joy in the room. There were stacks of gigs on in Brighton to choose from on Saturday, I can only thank the powers that be that we had the foresight to be at this one.

VLURE | MEMES

Words and photos by Siobhan

29th November 2021

Photography – Women of Protest

Posted in Photography, Protest

Women of Protest
By Tom Davies

Protesting is political and social; it is an outlet for those who have their voices unheard and provides a safe platform for education. For most people though, protesting is speaking out against injustice and taking a stand with minority communities. Despite continued fights for equality some women still do not feel truly equal or have a safe platform to discuss and solve issues that are affecting them. For the Women of Protest in Cardiff, this is a way they can get their voices heard and push for change.

These recent protests have not just been about BLM (Black Lives Matter), many different groups have taken to the streets of Cardiff in the last 18 months. Groups such as Extinction Rebellion, Justice for Palestine and Kill the Bill are just a few of the organisations that have marched through the city.

”Protesting means being loud and proud, it means being unapologetically black, it means putting pressure on systems and the media for change and educating everyone.” – Bianca Ali, 30

Protesting has noticeably increased over the last few years, with more than 20 protests taking place over the last 18 months. The death of George Floyd in America at the hand of the police sparked much of the social unrest across the world. Though not long after this, incidents similar to this started being brought to the public’s attention in South Wales.

For example, there have been multiple deaths linked to the alleged actions of South Wales police in the last two years. In 2019 Christopher Kapessa, a 13-year-old black boy from Cardiff, was allegedly pushed by a group of white boys into a river where he drowned. South wales police initially ruled it as an accident, no charges were pressed against those who allegedly pushed him, and it was hardly covered by the media at the time. In 2021 Mohamud Hassan, a 24-year-old black man, was arrested by South Wales police on suspicion of breach of the peace, he was released the next day without charge but died within a few hours of arriving home. Both cases have elements to them that should warrant further investigation, however the police only started investigating both issues after community pressure through protesting and accusations of institutional racism.

When protesting became more apparent in Wales Hannah Newbury, 23, explains how she felt about her role in the protests. “When it finally came to Cardiff it really hit home because I always knew there were issues in Wales. When the protest came here, it was almost like they were knocking on my door and giving me a reason to come out and join in.”

Initially, there was a high media coverage of the protests happening within Cardiff, such as the first BLM protests focused media attentions on the growing community of protesters within the city. However, even though events surrounding a stand against injustice continued, media coverage did not follow suit, even though women protesting in Cardiff was still apparent.

The Protests were not just BLM though as soon many other groups that call for social justice started organising protests. Extinction Rebellion organised a massive group march that included multiple different groups. This willingness to protest was also shown by the middle eastern community of Cardiff. Protests were organised for Afghanistan and Palestine just hours after news broke of the siege of Gaza and the Taliban take-over of Afghanistan.

Nelly Adams, 36, believes that the protests have not been publicised in the media as much as they deserved, “If these protests had been sufficiently covered in the media, then I would not still be subject to racist attacks. The large media companies will only publish what they deem it as profitable. If real change is to happen then there needs to be a lot more media coverage and continued coverage of ongoing events.”

Left: Nelly Adams, Right: Jessica Dunrod 

Jessica Dunrod, 32, believes that “Protests haven’t really been covered at all. We didn’t see the same numbers for Mohamud as we saw for George Floyd, and this is a boy in our community. So, I don’t think we’ve had anywhere near the right amount of coverage for what has happened. Christopher Kapessa’s mum still doesn’t have justice, so I don’t think we’re getting the media coverage.”

The protests have also been able to achieve a lot of positive change, since they started taking to the streets there have been two notable changes in Wales for minority communities. While investigations are still ongoing the protesters can be proud of the fact that the deaths are now being investigated and details are being released to the public.

The introduction of Black History to the school curriculum and the second being the new statue of Headmistress Betty Campbell, the first black head teacher in Wales. Many protesters do not believe either of these things would have been possible without the protests as it has raised awareness for a cause that a lot of people where not knowledgeable of.

Left: Yasmine Belhadj, Middle: Tara Turner, Right: Seun Seriki

The positive impacts of the protests extend to more than just government and police accountability, protesting is also about education and community, Hannah Newbury says, “I think we’ve managed to encourage a lot of different people that may not have protested before to join in. A lot of my white friends who haven’t been involved in protesting have come out in support for no other reason than to show that they care.”

The Cardiff Women of Protest are extremely proud of what they have accomplished so far and are determined to continue their efforts in standing in solidarity, continuing to fight for positive change, supporting those in society who need it, and stand up against injustice.

These strong women have spoken out about issues in our society and have created a safe platform for the oppressed to be heard. As Bianca Ali says she sees a bright future for women in Wales, “It makes me feel incredibly proud not only being Welsh but being a black Welsh woman, we had a march for black women last year and I led that march. It really empowered me to lead all these women from different backgrounds in protesting, and it made me feel incredibly proud as I have four younger sisters to look up to me. I hope I can continue inspiring them.”

Words and photos © Tom Davies, Photojournalist – Website | Instagram 

16th November 2021

New Music- Sapphire Blues

Posted in New Music, Review

Sapphire Blues – Church of England 

Sapphire Blues’ new track Church of England is an atmospheric track that captures a weaving history of indie rock within a succinct, energetic three minutes.

One of the tune’s most prominent features comes thanks to a pumping bassline that fuels the first atmospheric tones, helped by crunchy chords. What really stokes the track’s flame, however, is its ability to be so many atmospheres at once – moving from gloomy greyish cityscapes for the ears within verses, to a catchy, upbeat chorus, full of jangly guitars and hope.

Even when searing to the finish line with a blend of pop and rock (and a slice of punk), Sapphire Blues’ track remains a sense of optimism towards the future of indie rock, thanks to this Bristolian 3 piece and their inventive (but reflective) anthems.

Sapphire Blues – Church of England is out now on Blitzcat Records


Words by Jacob Rose
Photo by Josh Cooper / Artwork by Sam Lance Jones

15th November 2021

Interview – Su, I Think

Posted in Interview, New Music

With some exciting collaborative projects already under their wing and a new single out today, we caught up with Su, I Think to find out how their art and music comes together…

Hey, how are you and what can you see from where you are right now?

Hi, how are you? I can currently see my bedroom at 6am, as I got such an early night last night haha. Feel very girl boss right now.

Introduce us to Su, I Think and your music

I’m a musician and artist based in London, I try and make work that blends dark electronica with experimental pop. When people listen to my stuff I want them to be able to relate to my music and visuals; whichever way they can. I just hope people like it – that’s that really. Also I’m just trying to pay my rent I think haha.

Your vocal has the ability to make us stop what we’re doing and really listen, are their singers that have had that effect on you over the years?

Ah that is so so nice of you to say, thank you so much – oh my days!!! So many singers make me stop in my tracks for different reasons vocally. Right now I’m obsessed with Charlotte Day Wilson, Clairo, SerpentWithFeet, Joy Crookes, Perfume Genius, Seinabo Sey, Robyn – just so many!! People who can hold their own and have their own style about them are artists I usually am attracted to!!

Tell us about your new single Pipe Dream

I wrote Pipe Dream this spring when I looked around at my life and was unhappy with how I was treating myself. Going to work and coming home and repeating this for weeks on end is not good for anybody’s mental health. I was angry with myself and thus Pipe Dream came out. I don’t think I realised how internally angry I was until I went into the studio with James Casper and we recorded it. I then brought the video concept over to Italia Minchella to just try and show how distorted I felt visually and she was able to convey how we both felt about the track. It’s such a blessing to work with people who understand and respect what you have to say and do. I’m super blessed.

It feels like the visual representation of your music is really important to you, how do you approach the process of adding videos to your songs?

Visuals are just as important to me as music is. I remember sitting in front of the TV with my siblings when we were younger and just studying old school music videos. I think to be able to push your narrative with music is amazing but to reinforce it with a visual is so much more necessary. Also I love creating visuals as you can be as abstract as you wish and people still understand? If that makes any sense. I don’t want to release a song without a visualiser at least!!

So who else has been involved in the making of Pipe Dream and its accompanying video?

It’s been a pretty intimate team working on Pipe Dream and for that I am so grateful for the product that has been created. I worked on the song with long time collaborator James Casper, who is just a complete genius. Then I worked with Italia Minchella on the video and she is the most stylish person I think I have ever met. They are both so on the ball and to be able to get my vision across whilst combining with their vision is so lovely.

If you could play at any venue where would you choose and who else would be on the line up?

God, this is a tough one. I would love to play Glastonbury – maybe me and Robyn, Lorde and Charli XCX headlining? Could that happen? I don’t know?

First and last gig you went to?

My first ever gig was Paramore with support by Charli XCX and to tell you it was unreal would be an understatement. Best night ever!

My most recent gig was my friend Sfven and he has the most unreal voice, it was so lovely to be able to be in a room filled with people just enjoying music.

If you were asked to take the role of any artist or historical figure in a biopic of their life, whose character would you love to play?

I don’t know, can I say Jennifer Coolidge?

And what’s on the horizon for you, what are your hopes for 2022?

More music, I’m just gonna release until I am exhausted. I hope to play more shows and I just hope people enjoy my work and stay listening. Just hoping for the best haha.

You can see more from Su, I Think here; Pipe Dream is out now

Interview by Siobhan
 Photos © Italia Minchella

11th November 2021

Mutations Festival 2021 (Brighton)

Posted in Festival, Live Music, Review

Mutations Festival, Brighton, 4th – 7th November 2021

The past eighteen months have been tough on the music industry and, along with the hit to musicians in not being able to play live, many independent venues have struggled to stay afloat. Bringing an abundance of current and breakthrough talent to Brighton, Mutations Festival offered up the chance to take in four days of live music and support a whole heap of local grassroots venues at the same time.

With some tough clashes to choose between, we started Thursday in style with Holiday Ghosts, opening proceedings in the shadow of the pier amusements at Patterns. Singing songs about the city you’re in was as good a way to kick things off as any, and the standard was set for what was to come.

Moving across to the largest venue on the agenda, Chalk played host to the ethereal songs  and bitter-sweet musings of Bill Ryder-Jones. A world away from the TV advert-friendly indie pop of his days with The Coral (though still repping them on his guitar strap), Ryder-Jones has proved to be an accomplished writer, singer and producer. His set could have been twice as long and still not long enough. Closing the first day, This is the Kit filled the room with the sounds of enough instruments to start their own music shop and an ambience that would send everyone home happy and ready to return for more.

Left: This is the Kit, Top Right: Holiday Ghosts, Bottom Right: Bill Ryder-Jones

Friday night and the lights were low, and in a nice touch that ensured Hove wasn’t left out of the picture, the evening’s activities moved across to The Brunswick and The Old Market. Highlights at The Brunswick included Hull’s Low Hummer, wearing their indie hearts firmly on their sleeves, they have a new album release if you’re inclined to hear more. Glasgow two-piece Memes engaged the crowd with their charm, energy and Hazmat suits, ending with a singalong to a German techno track, as you do. Folly Group had to take a short intermission for a guitar string break but picked things up and made a strong impression.

Along the road at The Old Market, the ‘main house’ drew in a big crowd as soon as doors opened. Hotel Lux took starting position, their brand of nonchalant Dr Feelgood-esque contemplations well received by likely a different audience to usual. Next up, Billy Nomates seemingly actually has lots of mates who knew her songs word for word and bounced off her vigourous performance. The biggest pull of the night came in the form of Mr Maserati, king of the migraines himself, the inexplicably charming Baxter Dury. For no discernible reason abandoning his trademark suit for a full camo and goggles ensemble, Dury entertained as only he can, a set showcasing most recent album The Night Chancers while incorporating a string of old favourites and new songs alike. The suit returned with his encore, the crowd had a party, Friday night ended well.

Top: Billy Nomates, Left: Hotel Lux, Right x 2: Baxter Dury

A full day on Saturday began by confirming Keg’s status as ones to watch, except ironically not every could get in to watch them as their reputation meant there were queues up the stairs to The Folklore Rooms to see them. It’s testament to the quality of a band when they sound as good from outside as they do inside the room; their charisma, humour and stacks of energy warrant the hype. And for those who missed out, there would have been photos but it was so packed and hot it fogged up all three available camera lenses.

A trio of recommended acts followed at The Albert, a tight squeeze for the frenetic pace of TV Priest, a very welcome return for the slick post-punk of Social Haul, and a thankfully rescheduled set from Famous who are clearly not as famous as they should be. In the midst of this veritable hat trick of musical delight, back at the Folklore Rooms, Legss were possibly one of the only bands that were ready to start early and had to wait, winning over the room once things got going with their raucous South London vitality. After a quick break, it was back to Patterns to catch some wit and riffs from Mush, followed by current 6 Music darlings Yard Act at Chalk.

TV Priest

Left: Mush, Top Right: Famous, Bottom Right: Yard Act

Social Haul

And so we made it to day four. An early start paid off as we were treated to a spiky yet enchanting performance from deep tan at The Albert, a welcome calm before the beautiful chaos to follow as Lynks took centre-stage at Chalk. Never one to forget their mask, Lynks put on a show that was far from your regular Sunday afternoon entertainment, complete with adroit choreography and guest vocals from Barbara the table. Imagine if you’d come to Mutations and missed Lynks, that would have been a great shame indeed.

deep tan

Left & Top Right: Lynks, Bottom Right: deep tan

The rest of the day kept the stakes raised high, continuing with an immersive set from Nuha Ruby Ra at Komedia Studio. A late start but definitely worth the wait for PVA – having seen them before in multiple venues, Chalk seemed like the perfect fit and they once again balanced keeping existing fans happy whilst doubtless picking up new ones along the way.

There were all kinds of good things happening at The Umlauts’ slot at Patterns, an art school project with the potential to become a masterpiece, check them out if you get the chance. And later on the same stage, way more established but still sounding fresh, Big Joanie supplied a lovely atmosphere, some great tunes and a message of inclusivity to lift the spirits of anyone who may have been flagging.

Left: Nuha Ruby Ra, Top Right: The Umlauts, Bottom Right: Big Joanie

Finishing up at Chalk, Scalping managed to speak volumes whilst only playing instrumentals, silhouetted on stage and painting pictures not just with projections but also the intricacies of their music. This was followed by BEAK> playing their blend of reverb heavy, synth driven tracks to a full house, and we ended the weekend with lots to reflect on.

BEAK>

It’s heart-warming to feel like live music is a normal part of life again, there are stacks of good bands and artists to see, and we can only be grateful that all the venues involved survived the non-year that was 2020. All in all, Mutations was a treat for many reasons, and we’re already looking forward to seeing what they do next year.

Mutations Festival

Words / photos by Callum / Siobhan

10th November 2021

Live – Walt Disco at The Hope & Ruin Brighton

Posted in Live Music, Review

Walt Disco at The Hope & Ruin, Brighton, 1st November 2021

Scotland has produced some brilliant artists over the years. From the antagonistic wall of sound instigated by the Mary Chain and refined by Glasvegas, to the pure joy of jangle pop from Orange Juice via the perfect vocal courtesy of The Associates, it’s been a journey with multiple highs and doesn’t look to be stopping any time soon.

Though there are plenty more Scottish bands of note who have emerged in the past few years, Walt Disco are surely sitting at the top of tree, raining down hailstone sized drops of glam and euphoria whilst they’re there.

Their live performance has gone from strength to strength and, as their tour came to a close at Brighton’s Hope & Ruin on Monday night, there was a sense that things can only keep spiraling upwards. Their setlist doesn’t hit a bad note, their music plucks the best of the past and rolls it into their own unique sound, and with no offence (or maybe a little) to all the cooler than school bands who wouldn’t dare crack a smile, it’s refreshing to see the sheer enjoyment of what’s happening from both the band and the crowd.

A night to remember – Walt Disco are not to be missed, bring your dancing shoes and get involved.

Catch up with Walt Disco here

Words and photos by Siobhan

3rd November 2021

 

 

Breaking Glass Magazine – November 2021

Posted in Cover

So much street art in Brighton but I love how this piece just fits into its surroundings. Also can’t help but feel a little jealous that I don’t have illustrated Bowie hanging around outside my front door – maybe one day.

In the meantime, it’s time to start sorting through your favourite photos from this year; we’ll be taking submissions for our two end of year annual galleries from 19th November until 10th December. The first gallery, as always, will be Best Music Shots of 2021 and thankfully this year there’s been plenty to choose from – all genres welcome. The second gallery, 2021 Through the Lens, can include any images that aren’t of live music, any subject, any style. Limit will be one or two photos for each gallery, more details of how to submit and what to include here. Look forward to seeing your reflections of the past twelve months and how things have changed in that time.

Cover shot taken in Brighton by Siobhan at 16 Beasley St Photography

1st November 2021

Interview – Good Health Good Wealth

Posted in Interview, New Music

Slide onto the dancefloor with Good Health Good Wealth as they mix slick tunes with wry lyrical observations on life. We chatted to vocalist Bruce Breakey about music, memories and Mutant Ninja Turtles of the Teenage variety…

Hey, how are you and where are you right now?

Great cheers, currently in sunny North London, Holloway.

Who’s involved in Good Health Good Wealth and who else around you deserves a shout out?

Myself, Bruce Breakey on the vocals and Simon Kuzmickas on the guitar. Shout out to George Apsion who helped us with the production on this one.

Tell us about your latest single Hong Kong Head

It’s all a bit of a blur but basically it came out of a bad trip to Hong Kong a few years ago. I wrote it as catharsis when I got home feeling sorry for myself.

Your videos are sharp – who puts them together?

We’ve worked with a few different directors now but this one was directed by the boys at G22 Studios, Sulymaan Hameed, Stephen Noorshagh and Jack Ruthenberg.

What are some of your earliest music related memories, where did you start listening to stuff that got into your head?

Jingles for adverts always really stuck in my head as a young kid, or theme tunes for TV shows. The old cartoons like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Hong Kong Phooey, those were genius because they made you a fan of the show before you even got to see it!

What’s that one song that totally takes you back to a different time and place?

Jamiroquai Deeper Underground takes me back to being a kid watching that first Hollywood Godzilla movie, the one with Matthew Broderick in it. I remember in the music videos he’s jumping on the tops of cars or something and I would pretend to do it in my front room on top of the sofa

One film and one book – what do you choose?

The Departed & The Choirboys, anything with gangsters or crooked cops and I’m in.

Who’s on your playlist at the moment that we should be listening to?

I’ve been listening to a lot of other duos recently like Majid Jordan, Paris Texas and Emotional Oranges, call it research. I’ve been going back in time a bit with The Style Council and The Blow Monkeys.

The last 18 months have been harsh in many ways, what’s been good for you despite or because of the pandemic?

We’ve written so much new music because there was nothing else we could do! We’re happy to be getting out into the real world now though.

You’re playing at the Sebright Arms in November, any likelihood of you gigging further afield in the coming months?

We’ll be playing a few dates with The Twang on their tour over December which is gonna be quality! Stoke, Derby, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Cardiff, Newcastle and Birmingham, proper road trip.

What’s next for Good Health Good Wealth, what are your plans for the rest of the year and 2022?

To cement ourselves as London’s premiere funky disco boys.

Good Health Good Wealth release two new tracks Buy Me and Love Ya this Friday 5th November – guaranteed to bring a spark to your bonfire, keep tabs on their bid for elite funky disco status here. 

Interview by Siobhan

1st November 2021

New Music – M(h)aol

Posted in New Music, Review

M(h)aol – Gender Studies EP

M(h)aol’s debut EP strikes harsh tones into the world of post-punk, being not only impressive through the band’s power to combine unrelenting distorted surges of punk with tonally and semantically entrancing lyrics, but also in its production, with the record being compiled in a succinct three days due to their different bases spanning Dublin, Bristol and London.

The eponymous track, Gender Studies, delivers a strong image of the band’s capability. Vocalist Róisín Nic Ghearailt delivers a conversation of anger in fatigue, a worn out mocking of classic ‘criticisms’ (if they can be called as such) of feminism. Searing guitar chords and pulsating bass strongly aid the emotional resonance of the track,  along with its enchanting music video – a merging of archive depictions of women with harsh imagery overlaid – sound familiar? 

This track sets a strong precedent for M(h)aol’s musical presence within the EP. The first half of the record delivers some strong features of the band, especially within their straying of structural musical conventions, in the absence of traditional choruses – replaced instead with much more significantly repeated lines (e.g. “I can’t hear with your voice in my head”) – as well as their brazen attitudes to song length, seen most prominently in the short, sweet Kinder Bueno.

In a personal favourite Laundries, as well as the stunning closing folk cover Óró Sé do Bheatha Bhaile, M(h)aol’s murky, shadowlike tones are given a stronger spotlight, signalling their ability to shift listeners through various atmospheres whilst firmly maintaining strong messages of identity. In this mixture of both variation and consistency, Gender Studies acts as a seminal, virile debut EP that is more than worth a listen – released digitally today.

More from M(h)aol here

Words by Jacob Rose
Photo © Susan Appleby

29th October 2021

Live – Skindred | Trash Boat at Corporation Sheffield

Posted in Live Music, Review

Skindred & Trash Boat at Corporation, Sheffield, 22nd October 2021

Sheffield Corporation was heaving on Friday, full of anticipation for a brilliant night of music, which didn’t disappoint!

(Horrendous Friday night traffic on the motorway meant a late arrival, so apologies to openers, Sheffield’s Cellar Door Moon Crow).

Hertfordshire’s Alt/Rock band Trash Boat brought the house down, interacting with the crowd and delivering a loud, impassioned performance.

It was clear that the audience was teaming with Skindred fans who knew every word and nuance of every song, jumping and singing along as once voice during Benji Webb’s call and response moments. This was an overwhelming gig, not least because of the volume of people all in one place! Numbers aside, Skindred are back and bringing their fans out to play!

Skindred | Trash Boat | Cellar Door Moon Crow

Words and photos by Tina Sherwood

28th October 2021

New Music – deep tan

Posted in New Music, Review

deep tan – tamu’s yiffing refuge

tamu’s yiffing refuge, deep tan’s self proclaimed story of ‘furry lust’, is a tune that can feel difficult to comprehend, whilst still being a joy to play, over and over again, in trying to understand.

The pulsating bass and eclectic percussion, alongside the taunting chirps of guitars throughout the song, very suitably back the blend of deep, wavelike vocals  (“room 44, room 44”) with occasional playful calls (“Hey Steve!”). Lyrics bounce from fragment to fragment, forming a story full of humour and horror – potentially a domestic Lovecraftian tale, replacing Cthulhu with…Tamu.

If you don’t know what the word ‘yiff’ means, I would warn you from finding out. However, if you must experience this word, as well as the irrational effects that this knowledge will have on you, this is certainly the perfect musical – and visual, through a jarring accompanying video – definition.

deep tan | tamu’s yiffing refuge is out now via Speedy Wunderground

Words by Jacob Rose
Photo via Practise Music

28th October 2021

New Music – Good Posture

Posted in New Music, Review

Good Posture – Changin’ (EP)

New EP from Good Posture (aka Joel Randles) lands today, a quartet of songs filled with hazy guitars and synth-pop punches. Latest single Last Time sets the pace, sitting somewhere between Gengahr and Klaxons on the indie classics playlist, before taking things down a pace on title track Changin’, a ballad for modern times. Remaining tracks I Feel Fine and Italy demonstrate Joel’s versatility and production skills with twists and turns throughout.

The EP reflects on the impact of moving from place to place, not forgetting the added changes brought about by lockdown. Joel says, “It’s essentially an internal conversation about constantly moving around and trying to convince myself that leaving a place is not always the answer, that I should be more content with what I have. But then equally driving myself crazy at the same time wondering if my decision was the right thing to do in the moment.”

If the music is a by-product of those changes, then you would have to conclude that some good decisions have been made; the songs follow the journey and definitely lift the mood for the better.

Changin’ is released today via Feeltrip / Tip Top Recordings and is available to buy on vinyl here

Good Posture

Words by Siobhan

22nd October 2021

Live – The Hot Damn! | The Addiction | Ghosts of Men at The Old Salutation Inn Nottingham

Posted in Live Music, Review

The Hot Damn, Addiction & Ghosts of Men at The Old Salutation Inn, Nottingham, 15th October 2021

The Hot Damn! Gals at The Sal

Resident ghosts at The Old Salutation Inn, Nottingham must have been rocking last Friday (15th October) as The Hot Damn! gave a show of dynamic proportions relative to the size of the venue, much to the delight of everyone in attendance!

The whole evening, promoted by local guys, The Public House Brand, had a great vibe, with top music from 3 great bands.

There may be only 2 band members, but Essex openers, Ghosts Of Men, made a massive impression on an unsuspecting audience, bringing the house down with their own distinctive Heavy Alt/Rock sound, gaining a host of new fans in the process.

Local band, The Addiction, have introduced a new singer and drummer since they last played the venue. Effie Wilson promises raw power vocals, alongside intense percussive energy from drummer, Dean Cruxon , giving the band a commanding Punk/Alt/Rock sound, warming the crowd up nicely before the headline act.

The Hot Damn! are a 4 piece with an impeccable Rock pedigree, harnessing experience from their times variously with The Amorettes, Tequila Mockingbyrd, Aaron Buchanan and the Cult Classics and New Device. They know just how it’s done and should be cited as inspiration for any young women with their hearts on rock stardom.

It was also heartening to note a diversity of ages and gender in the crowd, an accolade to the band for the appeal that their music conveys.

With a large inflatable banana doing the rounds of the audience as the band began to play, The Hot Damn! showed just why they are worthy of their name. These girls rock! A full 45-minute set of high-octane Rock and Roll left the audience calling for ‘more!’

Personal highlights were the incredible dual guitar riffs of Gill Montgomery and Laurie Buchanan, (taking me right back to the early years of Thin Lizzie’s Phil Lynott and Scott Goreham) and an exciting rendition of the band’s debut single, Dance Around.

The Attic at The Old Salutation Inn is an intimate venue, probably much smaller than the headliners are used to, but lucky for us, they gave an outstanding show, allowing us the chance to feel that this was just a little bit more special than usual.

All in all, an excellent night! Well done, The Public House Brand for a great show!

The Hot Damn! | The Addiction | Ghosts of Men

Words and Photos by Tina Sherwood

19th October 2021

New Music – Odd Morris

Posted in New Music, Review

Odd Morris – Silhouette 

Despite its relatively short length of just over 2 minutes, Odd Morris’ newest single Silhouette manages to take you by the hand, exploring the intimacy of feelings of familial pressure and the issue of men’s mental health across generations, whilst unravelling both in terms of Daragh Griffin’s poetic lyricism – seen in the opening line “The face of a man steps out from his silhouette” – as well as in the gradual shift from a soft, bareback beginning to a complex weaving of mellow guitar riffs with heavy hitting percussion.

With its partnering video capturing essences of the same calm imagery, there’s nothing but anticipation towards the release of their EP, Cityscape the Ballet, on the 27th of October.

Words by Jacob Rose

18th October 2021

Classic Albums – The Verve: Urban Hymns

Posted in Albums

Looking back at the albums that hold a special place in our memories, Derek Rickman reflects on a favourite from Wigan’s big hitters The Verve…

The Verve / Urban Hymns  1997

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The one album I keep returning to through all the diverging genres and phases of music. My battered copy (with the original booklet beautifully photographed by Michael Spencer Jones) still sounds contemporary thanks to Chris Potter’s gleaming production values and the band’s stellar musicianship throughout.

Listen to Richard Ashcroft’s Jay-Z like ruminations on Neon Wilderness, one of the last tracks recorded at the sessions, and Nick McCabe’s wonderful guitar embellishments on the extended jam Catching the Butterfly. Indeed it’s the band songs rather than the folk tinged numbers such as Ashcroft’s maudlin Drugs where their talent shines through. Check out the blistering live version of The Rolling People at their triumphant Glastonbury appearance in 2008 and the rousing call to arms of monumental closer Come On.

For years I had Bitter Sweet Symphony as my ringtone/alarm, to the annoyance of my brothers one morning on a weekend camp where, after a night of over zealous drinking, they couldn’t locate my repeating cellphone buried at the bottom of my sleeping bag.

Richard Ashcroft will release Acoustic Hymns Vol. 1 on October 29th, an album featuring new stripped-back versions of some of his classic songs.

By Derek Rickman 

16th October 2021

Live – The Ninth Wave | Youth Sector | Priestgate at The Hope & Ruin Brighton

Posted in Live Music, Review

The Ninth Wave, Youth Sector & Priestgate at The Hope & Ruin Brighton, 9th October 2021

Another tour that’s been on the receiving end of postponements and rescheduling finally made its way to Brighton on Saturday; The Ninth Wave ensuring that everyone was left feeling the wait was more than worthwhile.

Supporting the supports is always important. It’s where all your favourite artists started out, it’s a chance for newer acts to play in front of different crowds and get their name out there. But if you needed any further reason to get down early, this line up offered it up in bucketloads.

First up, an absolute killer set from Priestgate. Making a quantum leap into seemingly everyone’s ‘best new bands’ lists (and rightly so), it feels like lockdown has given them an opportunity to tighten up everything to bursting point, the inevitable implosion of which results in some off the scale tunes and a performance to match. Love that feeling of finding something special and wanting to see and hear more – don’t miss them if they’re playing anywhere near you.

A change of pace and tailoring as Youth Sector picked up the middle slot. With their riffs as slick as their suits, they didn’t put a foot wrong as they treated the crowd to their zippy brand of art rock. It was certainly shaping up to be quite a night.

Finally, the return of The Ninth Wave, the packed crowd delighted to see them back on stage. From the almost tribal  Happy Days to the beauty and melancholy of Piece and Pound Coins, it’s clear that it’s not just the old songs but the new songs too that are firm favourites with the crowd. While there’s always a theatricality about their shows, the band also look like they’re enjoying what they do and it’s fair to say that everyone else in the room is of the same frame of mind. The Ninth Wave keep going from strength to strength, it will be intriguing to see what comes next.

The Ninth Wave | Youth Sector | Priestgate

Words and photos by Siobhan

12th October 2021

Live – The Subways | Lauran Hibberd at The Wedgewood Rooms Portsmouth

Posted in Live Music

The Subways & Lauran Hibberd, The Wedgewood Rooms Portsmouth, 2nd October 2021

Another great night at The Wedgewood Rooms as The Subways brought their 16th anniversary Young for Eternity tour to Portsmouth. They played 2 nights in a row at the Wedge as the original show had been booked at The Pyramids, which sadly no longer exists as a venue. Support came from south coast favourite Lauran Hibberd.

Check out our gallery below…

Lauran Hibberd

The Subways

Photos by Hannah Mesquitta

11th October 2021

Live – Nick Cave & Warren Ellis at Royal Albert Hall London

Posted in Live Music, Review

Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, Royal Albert Hall London, 6th October 2021

From the mayhem of The Birthday Party to the wonder of The Bad Seeds, through collaborations with PJ Harvey and Kylie amongst numerous others, Nick Cave has emerged as one of the most outstanding performers you will have the privilege of seeing live. Captivating, intense and funny by parts, it’s hard to think who could accompany him and still manage at times to steal the show, until of course you consider Warren Ellis. Accomplished in playing an assemblage of instruments, and with a wonderful sense of both humour and theatricality, Ellis is the perfect partner in crime and the pair delighted fans by recording and releasing Carnage during lockdown, their music the perfect escape from the harsh reality of the pandemic.

Taking the album on tour, with an eclectic mix of songs from different eras added for good measure, their production is simple but slick and holds the attention of the audience from start to double encored finish. The setting of Royal Albert Hall provides a suitably dramatic and elegant backdrop for the music and, despite its size, Cave executes that magic trick of his that makes it feel like the smallest, most intimate of settings for everyone.

Music to heal the soul, a fantastic venue, a night to be remembered.

Nick Cave & Warren Ellis – Carnage

Words and photos by Siobhan

8th October 2021

 

Breaking Glass Magazine – October 2021: music, photography & more…

Posted in Cover

As the return to live music continues, it’s great to see the sheer happiness it brings to artists, audiences and all involved in the industry. During the shutdown of the majority of venues, there was lots of support via fundraisers and promotional campaigns to try to keep things going until they could open up again. Now that we’re that step further along, please keep in mind that many performers, venues, promoters and crew have suffered a massive loss of earnings and income over a sustained period of time, and that support is very much still needed. Buying a ticket, some merch, chucking in a small donation on Spotify, paying more than the minimum on Bandcamp – everything helps and works towards ensuring that the live music environment is healthy, accessible and inclusive for everyone. It’s good to be back, it will be better if we can all stay.

Any music photographers out there, it’s getting near to that time when we ask you to pick out your favourite live shots of the year. And in the meantime, we’re currently accepting submissions for images of your favourite album covers, more details here.

Music writers – drop us an email to chat about what you’d like to cover.

Keep testing before you go to gigs and look after yourselves and each other. Happy October!

Cover shot Nuha Ruby Ra performing at Psyched Fest by Siobhan at 16 Beasley St Photography

1st October 2021

Tour News – White Lies

Posted in Live Music, Tour

There’s been a buzz of expectation emanating from the White Lies’ camp lately, as the band have posted teasers for new music and live dates. Yesterday saw confirmation of a new album As I Try Not To Fall Apart, due for release in February 2022, plus a string of UK & Ireland tour dates in March before heading across Europe.

The band have also shared the title track from the album, saying, “We wrote this song quickly, late one night, and often the songs which come quickest are written from the gut and the heart, not with the head. We wanted the melody to feel like a hymn, to give the confessional lyrics weight despite being wrapped up as a pop song. It’s about accepting vulnerability as a man, and knowing it’s ok to be broken. There’s never been a more pressing time to spread the message that it’s ok to not be ok”.

UK/Ireland tour dates are as follows:

10.03.22 – NOTTINGHAM – Rock City
11.03.22 – MANCHESTER – Academy
12.03.22 – NEWCASTLE – Boiler Shop
13.03.22 – BIRMINGHAM – Institute
15.03.22 – GLASGOW – SWG3 TV Studio
16.03.22 – LEEDS – Stylus
18.03.22 – BRIGHTON – Chalk
19.03.22 – BRISTOL – Academy
21.03.22 – DUBLIN – Vicar Street
22.03.22 – LIVERPOOL – Grand Central Hall
24.03.22 – NORWICH – UEA
25.03.22 – OXFORD – Academy
26.03.22 – LONDON – Hammersmith Apollo

Tickets for all shows go on sale at 10am Thursday 30th September
Pre-sale tickets are exclusively available from 10am today via www.whitelies.com/live

The album can be pre-ordered here

28th September 2021