Fans 'Born Into' (EP REVIEW)

Yorkshire based three-piece FANS have been generating a lot of hype over the last year. The last couple of months have seen them release singles as a teaser to Born Into their debut EP. I first heard of them six months ago when one of their dad's handed me a demo, "this is my son's band they are really good" is a sentence which you never really expect to be true, as it turns out I was thoroughly impressed.

Autobahn, Brudenell Social Club - Leeds, August 22nd 2015 (LIVE REVIEW)

Photos - Robin Chamberlain

A positively autumnal night and the Brudenell was the setting for Autobahn's northern leg of their debut album release celebrations, having launched in London the previous evening.

Getting away from it in North Yorkshire (TRAVEL & BEER REVIEW)

North Yorkshire – the largest county in this wonderful country of ours and one I have been lucky enough to have been raised in and visit its vast and varied delights on a regular basis. Not only is it home to the unspoiled natural beauty of 'The Yorkshire Dales', heading East we have the spectacular North Yorkshire Moors stretching across to the coast, covering over 500 square miles.

Widowspeak 'All Yours' (ALBUM REVIEW)

These Big Apple indie rockers specialise in the slow-burning end of bar room downer-addled country pop and, four albums into their career, seem to have really found their mojo song-writing wise on ‘All Yours’, released on the Captured Tracks label.

Autobahn 'Dissemble' (ALBUM REVIEW)

Dissemble, the first full length release from local Leeds post punkers Autobahn sees them finally start to flesh out those inevitable Joy Division comparisons into something a little more of their own. Opening with Missing In Action, a throbbing drumbeat grabs attention from the off, building to a frenetic cacophony that explodes with vocal intensity. 

Pissed Jeans, Belgrave Music Hall - Leeds, Sunday August 16th (LIVE REVIEW)

Like lambs to the slaughter, Leeds' noise lovers have assembled in The Belgrave for a rare and only UK date outside of London by Pennsylvania's finest - Pissed Jeans. Two years ago, our fair city hosted the quartet's mighty racket in The Brudenell, prior to that, well lets just say it had been a while since we'd seen the band on these shores.

ALMA - Self titled mini-album (Review)

The haunting sound of London duo Alma is nothing short of hair-raising. Tranquil by nature but utterly magnetic, the eponymous debut mini album is set for release by the band on 14th August via Fierce Panda. Branded “complex and meditative” by Clash magazine, the EP features a series of seven spell-binding tracks which span an entire cosmos of emotion. ‘The Lighthouse’ is the striking preamble to the upcoming release, and hints at the gentle yet powerfully evocative nature of the album. Featuring gentle guitar twangs and almost whispering vocals, the track is a true masterpiece.

John J Presley 'White Ink' (EP REVIEW)

How do you get to play the blues? Some are born with it running through their veins and others discover it in a Louisiana swamp, but it sounds like John J.Presley found it in a dusty box in his garage, and then made an album right there on the spot, while the discovery was raw, fresh and vital and the garage was still echoing from the shambling rock wannabes of years gone by.

The Maccabees 'Marks To Prove It' (ALBUM REVIEW)

South London quintet The Maccabees are back with their fourth studio album, Marks To Prove It. Following a Mercury Prize nomination for their 2012 release Given To The Wild, the new offering follows daunting footprints. There is no doubt that the indie outfit has come up trumps again, yet this time with a slightly unanticipated twist. Picture the authentic Maccabees guitar-filled style, but now with a dream-like makeover.

Ultimate Painting 'Green Lanes' (ALBUM REVIEW)

As side projects go, Ultimate Painting might be one of the better ones. Consisting of Londoners Jack Cooper (Mazes) and James Hoare (Veronica Falls), between them they might just have produced something of a stoner/slacker classic. I bet right this minute, the vinyl version of ‘Green Lanes’ is being used by some clued up hipster to perform an act of medicinal origami, perhaps an ideal accompaniment to this heady mix of deadbeat swamp rock, lo-fi indie and pure pop. Imagine Keith Richards marooned in late 1960s Coney Island and you’re there or there abouts sound wise but that doesn’t really do these expertly crafted little nuggets justice, there is definitely more to ‘Green Lanes’ here than meets the ear.

Birrificio Gjulia - An Italian Craft Beer Brewery

If someone mentioned the words 'Italian beer' to you, what would immediately spring to mind? An ice cold Birra Moretti in the sun? Or maybe a chilled Peroni to accompany your Napolitana? Well start thinking again beer lovers, because craft beer isn't exclusive to the USA and UK as we all know, and more European countries are fast becoming major players in the hops, hops and more hops world of lovely crafted ales. With that in mind, let me bring to your attention to craft beer from Italy by Gjulia, brewed high up in the hills of Friuli, North East Italy. Brothers Marco and Massimo Zorzettig are also proud producers of fine wines from their Alturis vinyards, handed down from three generations of their family. 

The Chemical Brothers 'Born In The Echoes' (ALBUM REVIEW)

This summer marks the 20^th anniversary of ‘Exit Planet Dust’ one of the finest moments from the 1990s rock-dance crossover period, yielding a clutch of club smashes. Having been lucky enough to witness one of their blistering early live shows, one knew immediately that these guys might be around for a while and that has proved to be the case as Tom Rowlands and Ed Simonds, after providing this year’s Glastonbury with an unforgettable send off, have then followed that up with a stonking eighth album ‘Born in the Echoes’.