Samoans – ‘Rescue’ review


We first saw Cardiff band Samoans on the BBC Introducing Stage at Reading festival back in 2012, and although it’s taken the four-piece a while, they’ve finally released their debut album ‘Rescue’. Written while frontman Daniel Barnett recovered from a broken back, the long-awaited record promises to be a turbulent and rather emotional whirlwind, but…

My Fictions – Stranger Songs


Formed in Massachusetts’ Merrimack Calley in 2010, hardcore heroes My Fictions have released a number of highly acclaimed recordings through the brilliant Topshelf Records and ‘Stranger Songs’ – their first full-length album – is set to unleash their sound to an even wider spectrum of unexpected music fans. One of the heaviest bands on the…

Braid – No Coast


Returning after 16 years and fully immersed in the so-called ‘emo revival’, Braid have released new album ‘No Coast’ via the ever-reliable Topshelf Records. Hailing from Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, the quartet’s last album was the seminal ‘Frame & Canvas’ in 1998, but after so long away, will the band be able to deliver new material that…

Waking Aida – Eschaton


Southampton’s Waking Aida are already lined up to make an appearance at ArcTanGent, have played Leicester’s Handmade Festival and their debut album ‘Eschaton’ is being released on esteemed label Robot Needs Home. To complete their rapport with math-rock royalty, the album was recorded by Maybeshewill’s Jamie Ward. With this impressive list of associates, the four-piece…

Manchester Orchestra – Cope


Four albums in and Manchester Orchestra’s ‘Cope’ continues their rise to the top of the alternative rock scene. Hitting number 13 on its week of release in the US Billboard 200, ‘Cope’ has also been a huge success across Europe, with sell-out shows at London’s Scala and an autumn tour culminating in a show at…

Benjamin Shaw – Goodbye, Cagoule World


London’s Benjamin Shaw has released EPs called ‘I Got the Pox, the Pox is What I Got’ and ‘Rumfucker’ in the past, and now he’s following 2011’s debut long-player ‘There’s Always Hope, There’s Always Cabernet’ with the pun-worthy ‘Goodbye, Cagoule World’, a mini album that clocks in at just under half an hour. Bringing up…

Fatherson – I am an Island


A long-time favourite of Spectral Nights, Fatherson’s emotion-packed Scottish indie will leave an impression on even the most unlikely of music fans. Already BBC Introducing regulars and well loved north of the border, they hit the ground running when they supported on Lonely the Brave’s nationwide tour at the turn of the year. In what,…

Dad Rocks! – Year of the Flesh


When Snævar Njáll Albertsson launched his Dad Rocks! project in 2010, it didn’t take long until he was established as one of the indie-scene’s favourites. Many were already fans due to his incredible exploits with Mimas and the long-sold-out ‘Digital Age’ EP, with its subtle observations on human behaviour and modern technology, only hinted at…