Music News

Album Reviews

Rhoda Dakar Sings The Bodysnatchers (Cherry Red)

I remember the 2 Tone explosion well and The Bodysnatchers’ Let’s Do Rocksteady is very much a part of that memory. Rhoda Dakar joined The Bodysnatchers in 1979 after Shane McGowan introduced her to bassist Nicky Summers and after their second gig the band signed to UK record label 2 Tone. Gigs alongside Madness, The […]

Album Reviews

The Bird and The Bee – Recreational Love (Rostrum Records)

I first became aware of The Bird and The Bee through their 2009 album Rayguns Are Not Just The Future, an enjoyable collection of dance pop songs. Much as I liked the album, I eventually forgot all about the band until I discovered their new album Recreational Love.  In my defence, the band haven’t exactly […]

Album Reviews

Various – Dust On the Nettles (GrapeFruit)

Dust On The Nettles is a glorious trundle through the British underground folk scene between 1967 and 1972 and as a record of the “scene” it is difficult to think of a collection better suited to chronicle this interesting (and very British) musical movement.

Live Music Music News

Dean Friedman – Sweet, Edinburgh

Hifi Pig readers of a certain age will know Dean Friedman from at least two songs – Lucky Star and Ariel.  Readers of a younger vintage may know him from Half Man Half Biscuit’s song The Bastard Son Of Dean Friedman.

Classic Albums Music News

Love – Forever Changes

John Scott dusts off his copy of Love’s Forever Changes album. “Forever Changes was reputedly named from a story that Lee had heard about a friend of a friend who had broken up with his girlfriend. “

Album Reviews

Neil Young – The Monsanto Years ( Reprise)

OK, hands up, cards on the table….I’m a huge Neil Young fan and genuinely can’t think of a record he’s made that I don’t love, even the much maligned Trans really does it for me and I reckon Daft Punk et al may well have been taking a listen to that particular record…then again perhaps […]

Album Reviews

Kevin Borich – Totem (Self Released)

Hands up, this is the first time I’ve come across this sixty six year old “stalwart” of the rock-blues industry, but apparently he’s responsible for founding New Zealand’s La De Das and Australia’s The Party Boys. Missing Borich out of my music may well have been a bit of a mistake!!

Album Reviews

John McCullagh & The Escorts – New Born City (359 Music)

New Born City is the follow up to McCullagh’s 2013 North South Divide record and has been out in the UK since early May. The record is produced by John Power (Cast) and includes the singles Towerland Lullaby, Box Of Tricks and She’s Calling. McCullagh says he influences include Donovan, Bolan, Weller and Johnny Cash […]

Album Reviews

James Taylor – Before This World (Concord)

Released in June “Before This World” is Taylor’s seventeenth studio album and represents the artist’s first album of original material since “October Road” of 2002 – for that reason alone it represents something quite interesting and I imagine partly why it was a Billboard number one album in the States. Broadly speaking the tracks herein […]

Album Reviews Music News

Daniel Cacija – Lifeline (Mons Records)

Croatian Cacija fled that war torn land in the early 90s to seek safety with his family in Frankfurt, Germany where aged just six he began professional music lessons and received a degree in classical piano from the city’s conservatoire. Cajica gained both a Bachelors and a Masters Degree at the Kunstuniversitat in Graz, Austria […]

Album Reviews

Leon Bridges – Coming Home (Columbia)

It seems that nearly all the new music I’ve been listening to lately has had a distinctly retro feel.  None more so than Coming Home by Leon Bridges. Twenty six year old Bridges from Fort Worth, Texas had been working as a dishwasher but due to chance meeting with Austin Jenkins from psych-rock band White […]

Live Music Music News

Tubular Bells For Two – Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh

“Iconic” is a much overused word but when it comes to Tubular Bells, its use is entirely justified.  From its cover art to its multi tracked instrumentation, the album embodies the early seventies just as Sergeant Pepper did for the late sixties  a few years earlier and Never Mind The Bollocks would do for the […]