Having been around in various forms since 1998, Toronto’s Picastro have developed a unique sound that will wow fans of the likes of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, A Silver Mt Zion and Xiu Xiu. Their fifth album proper, ‘You’, is their first record to be released on Function Records – a label that has always…
We’re so late to the party with this one, but it’s such a spectacular album we couldn’t resist sharing our views on it. Originally released in June last year via TopShelf Records, ‘Whenever, If Ever’ is the debut record from Connecticut natives The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to…
Today I’ve been listening to ‘Hospice’ by The Antlers and also watched the mid-season finale of the fourth season of The Walking Dead. What better way to keep up this run of miserabilia than by listening to an album by a band who insisted the audience ‘join them in Hell’ at this year’s 2000 Trees…
When the opening line of an album is ‘Misery soaked you’, you know you’re in for a heartfelt, passionate and sombre listen and so it goes on the debut album ‘Comfort Songs’ from New York-via-Boston-via-LA resident Cloud (known to his parents as Tyler Taormina). Gravelly vocals and sparse instrumentation feature on the first track ‘Cars…
Having scattered themselves around the country following the release of their debut album, the five-piece (originally from Leeds) Killing Fields of Ontario have made a welcome return with sophomore effort ‘How the World Ends’. Having played with acclaimed folk-pop bands like Sparrow and the Workshop and Broken Records, the record promises a more sprawling sound…
Following on from a phenomenal amount of hype and an appearance in the BBC’s Sound of 2011 poll, Anna Calvi’s self-titled debut album did not disappoint. With its dark atmospherics, her alluring voice and well-received singles in ‘Desire’, ‘Suzanne and I’ and the astounding ‘Blackout’, she ‘became a favourite with the whole ‘alternative’ music spectrum…
Ben Parker, formerly of cult favourites Nosferatu D2, went on to perform as Superman Revenge Squad, an acoustic act with a wry sense of humour, heartfelt lyrics and a great line in self-depreciation. Now, he’s expanded this project into The Superman Revenge Squad Band, which finds his gentle tones and minimal strums backed up by…
Recorded with much-admired producer Ethan Johns, Laura Marling releases her fourth album in six years ‘Once I Was an Eagle’ on 27 May via Virgin Records. Always extremely productive, this album sees Laura provide 16 new songs for her loyal following and also features prominent use of cello, played by her lifelong friend Ruth du…
Now established as a live force to be reckoned with, alt-folk sextet Woodenbox aim to translate this energy to record with the release of their sophomore album ‘End Game’. Released via Olive Grove Records, the album promises to retain the quirky promise shown on their debut ‘Home and the Wildhunt’ but also add a more…
Two years after first appearing on the radar with their mini albums ‘Sound of the Storm’ and ‘The Maybe Forest’, Scottish four-piece Three Blind Wolves release their debut full length ‘Sing Hallelujah for the Old Machine’. It’s been quite a journey for the band over the last two years as they’ve played showcases at the…
Spectral Nights - alternative music, indie music, music reviews, new music, music blog 