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…

Owls – Two


It’s always a risk when bands return after a lengthy hiatus. Will they have the same verve and energy as when they first emerged on the scene? Will their fans remember them? Will they still be pushing boundaries and looking into the future, or will they be happy to trade on past glories and just…

Spring Offensive – Young Animal Hearts


From their debut mini album through to a 14-minute song that covered the different stages of the grieving process and a live show that was never less than stirring, Oxfordonians Spring Offensive have always been an exceptional band. Now, after raising the funds through a very successful Pledge campaign, we get to hear their first…