It’s always good to see how John Carpenter plays his scores. He demonstrates so easily how to create a sinister sound and get a vibe. ‘Skeleton’ is certainly no different to his previous work but with a hint of something else. He has a formula to set the heart race pounding. In some ways this piece of music is simple but so effective. It’s lively and full of zest. It has a jumpy feel…

  Hot on the heels of their second release, A Blue Girl, The Joy Thieves have graced us with the Genocide Love Song EP. The blistering title track features long-standing Joy Thief, industrial music legend, and master of prose…the ever versatile Chris Connelly on vocals. In a dynamic adrenaline rush of a promo video, he stands in a room and unabashedly screams the refrain “Mandated fucklord” into the camera right into our faces, making pretty…

  The X-Men and Twin Peaks actor Caleb Landry Jones has just released a truly fascinating debut album The Mother Stone. The opening track ‘Flag Day / The Mother stone’ introduces the listener to the experimentation and rebelliousness which underpins the album. The equally artistic music video for this track welcomes us with a fusion of the creepy and the creative, visually reinforcing the album’s cover and encouraging the listener to soak in this mixture…

  It’s always good to know that there are other artists out there that appreciate the music of Tangerine Dream and Rodney Orpheus is one of these. He formed the electronic rock group The Cassandra Complex in 1980. After a period of time releasing remastered albums from The Cassandra Complex, Rodney has released a new solo ambient album, Places Beginning with N. He expresses with his own words that with this album he wishes to…

  London based electro pop group Empathy Test are known for their experimentation with electronic repertoires and emotional representation. Since forming in 2013 the group have been turning heads and ears with their bold, somnolent sound, and Monsters doesn’t disappoint. Their third album brings a darker edge to their music, a sound which shies away from the major and relaxed feel of their previous releases ‘Losing Touch’ and ‘Safe From Harm’.  Oliver Marson’s nostalgic choice…

  There’s a lot to say about Gathering Swans, but there’s even more to feel and experience while listening to the Choir Boy’s second album. I was impressed from the start. The opener “It’s Over” suggests everything but the end of the album. It’s a great introduction which reveals the mood and the direction of the rest of the album. It is undeniably melancholic and nostalgic, yet it’s soothing and comforting at the same time….

  The Birthday Massacre have been around for some time now, putting out music for nearly 20 years. They’ve done well, and amassed a huge following in the process. I was curious to see how this new album had evolved their sound.  This is essentially a very dramatic pop album. It’s an incredibly well crafted and produced album, the sound is massive, but it is still pop music. The slightly heavier instrumentation and synth choices…

  What can I say about hearing this album? I am so enthused to report to you that the start to 2020 has many surprises for us. This album is sublime. It’s full of energy; it’s original and contains so much power. It starts with ‘Dakar’ and its construction is one of my favourite styles. It starts with a lower volume and speckled with female vocals within its intricate intro. Then it booms into life…

  Some talented “six-string for hire” musicians stand shoulder to shoulder with their trusty bandmates, taking the odd job to pay the bills. Some strive to leap onto the shoulders of giants, often ending up standing on those akin to a munchkin. And other guitarists, with serendipitous timing, can become a dynamic creative influence on the already established outfit, frequently refreshing the band/artist’s repertoire, breathing new energy into what was at risk of becoming a…

  The latest album from the Pet Shop Boys is exciting and vibrant. It should be an instant success and please new and existing fans. There’s a great mixture of dark and light here and a great sense of maturity. ‘Will-O-The-Wisp’ is possibly one of the darker tracks and it sets a nice intro to the whole album. Neil Tennant does have different strengths within his vocals and the interesting lyrics and the way they…