That Simple Minds trade in instantly familiar methodology has, at times, left them sounding predictable. Though 2014’s Big Music – with its great, big, you-can’t- miss-it signpost of a title…
The Fall: Singles 1978-2016 review
The Fall are one of the few bands to have emerged during punk and still be a fully-functioning, regularly recording and touring unit. Maybe because they never fit in or…
Franz Ferdinand – Always Ascending review
Franz Ferdinand seem terrified of repeating themselves. “There’s more to life than disco-beat guitar music”, said bassist Bob Hardy before their second album, while singer Alex Kapranos predicted their third…
The The – Trilogy…The Inertia Variations review
Described in the recent documentary The Inertia Variations as the “biggest skiver on the planet”, Matt Johnson may have kept a low profile since 2000’s Naked Self, but he hasn’t…
Squeeze – The Knowledge review
Fired up by Squeeze’s first album of new songs in almost 20 years – 2015’s Cradle To The Grave, their highest charting record ever – Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook…
P!nk – Beautiful Trauma review
You can’t please all the people all the time, but P!nk’s seventh gives it her best shot. This, naturally, includes roping in Eminem – again – for a strangely jovial,…
Liima – 1982 review
Having established themselves as Efterklang, one of Denmark’s more fetching exports, Casper Clausen, Rasmus Stolberg and Mads Brauer formed Liima in 2015 with Finnish percussionist Tatu Rönkkö to explore their…
Michael Jackson – Scream review
It is a somewhat tenuous exercise, 14 tracks of Halloween-themed songs which barely adhere to the concept beyond their titles – Blood On the Dancefloor, Torture, Dangerous, Scream – and…
INXS – Kick reissue review
40 years since they formed, 20 years since Michael Hutchence’s death, comes this 30th anniversary, three-disc deluxe version of INXS’s best album. Kick was INXS’ sixth album, and the one…
St Vincent – Masseduction review
Anyone who saw Annie Clark in 2005 performing with The Polyphonic Spree knew she had a bright future. Despite their uniform white choir robes, her charisma ensured she stood out,…