Reviews

Far from being the self-indulgent clutter of oddsamples from ancient vinyl, bizarre conversations, and the occasional cool beat, this 1997 album is a break from the more serious side of Paul Huston (if you could consider Te Gravediggaz, or, really, anything else he’s done to be overtly somber). I think “Psychoanalysis“ was intended more as a release-valve of sorts for him, a way to entertain some of his funkier fantasies. There’s a very light-hearted feel throughout the seventeen tracks here, Continue Reading

Features

Hem Interview — Rabbit Songs

Violins, mandolins and deep flowing intakes of clear fresh air. Hem return to their roots and add something new to an ongoing American narrative. Forget the new Lambchop album. The future’s where you left it. The song, ’Lazy Eye’ draws attention to the hem of the dress of an old, possibly lost love: “There’s a lazy eye that looks at you and sees you the same as before“ As a defining image of the album’s intent both musically and intellectually Continue Reading

Live

The Libertines Live at The Social, Nottingham, UK 22/05/02

Without bending to the far right, Crud indulges in a little patriotic fever of its’ own unremarkable making. Will Jenkins marched down to the Social in Nottingham for four men in search of a revival: The Libertines – British and reet proud of it.11/06/2002 Nationalism is never a kind thing, being patriotic will always lead you astray and make you so proud of your own country and identity that you will ignore almost anything else. With the current fascination for Continue Reading

Live

The Soundtrack of Our Lives @ The Soundhaus, Northampton, May 2002

With the face of an evangelical preacher on over-drive, is Ebbot Lundberg just another prog-head revisited? New gal on the block, Natasha House reports on another Swedish export.17/05/2002 The Soundtrack of Our Lives (SOOL) are in full, blistering, dramatic, iconic swing. Norse god cum-hippy rock Bungle look-a-like Ebbot Lundberg is singing like a man posessed by the spirit of every music legend to have graced planet Earth. Faces upturned to this musical revelation, the Northampton Soundhaus punters have their hopes Continue Reading

Live

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ Kentish Town Forum, London, 11.05.02

Who cares whether or not they sound like Dr and The Medics? Certainly not James Berry. He’s not having any of it. Like a ‘glam’ to the slaughter, Crud attends the Rebel’s recent gig in ye olde Kentish Town in London.13/05/2002 Two static white lights shine eloquently across the Forum’s theatrical cavern, catching a glitter-ball, crossing, throwing a soft protective sheath across the stage and casting tiny glowing sprites across the vast ceiling. Behind the luminous curtain, in the relative Continue Reading

Features

Spirits in the Sky – Elf Power

Elf Power’s lyrics paint vivid mental pictures through oblique references to made-up mythological creatures, magic powers and the visions of seers. So no drugs here then. Andrew Rieger talks about psychedelia, spirituality and the new album ‘Creatures’29/04/2002 ATHENS, GEORGIA—land of pecans and blooming dogwoods. A land the local chamber of commerce calls the “closest place to Heaven on Earth.” Fifty miles northeast of Atlanta and 600 feet above sea level, the little college town that spawned such legendary acts as Continue Reading

Reviews

Synth-core, electro tech movement, futurism – call it what you will, the near-do-well acid brothers, Dan and Jon Kahuna’s debut album, ‘Machine Says Yes’ provides a stirring, startling likeness for magazines like The Face and Sleazenation. Imagine such things as a stomping, organic presence with real-time attitude and outrageous volume – and you pretty much have some kind of vision you can call Kahuna. With vocal contributions from the likes of alt-country singer Eileen Rose and Gus Gus member Hafdis Continue Reading

Features

Imgoen Heap Interview

Imogen Heap and and Guy Sigsworth (Frou Frou) are about to dish up a tasty nutritious blend of sultry yet spunky trip-hop in the form of the forthcoming single ‘Breathe In’. Backed in the UK by LHB and Jo Wiley – this is about as cred’ and as delightful as it gets for pop. And so spot on.30/04/2002 Fresh from her emphatic guest slot on LHB’s equally emphatic pop spectacle, ‘Tell ’em Who We Are’ comes Imogen Heap: sultry and Continue Reading

Features

ANDREW W.K. ‘Regurgitation and Spiritual Debt’ interview

Sonic gladiator, glam philosopher and general wildman of rock, Andrew W.K suggests there’s another side to his big pulsating blend of stadium-sized alterna. Something to do with regurgitation and spiritual debt? Allan Kemler talks to Mr W.K. Andrew W.K. has done the rock ‘n’ roll math and it all adds up. Despite the hype in the UK, where he’s been described by the fawning British music press as an amalgam of Diamond Dave Roth, Eddie Van Halen, Slade and GBV, Continue Reading

Reviews

O ~ Damien Rice

It’s hard to expect all that much from a genre steeped so richly in tradition and built firmly on the foundations of convention and institution. Yeah, it can cast its shards of influence far and wide, but when stripped back to its bare bones Irish folk music seems convinced that it’ll have to apply a sticky plaster if lead too far off course. Now it’s not that Damien Rice has snapped his wooden stool over his knee or anything, it’s Continue Reading