One of our favourite new bands at Reading Festival last year, Skaters’ brand of post-punk brought back memories of the refreshing wave of US bands that came about in the early 2000s while also offering a nod to the UK and the likes of The Jam, The Clash and the Buzzcocks. They also confused the…
In our second batch of ‘Top 5s of 2013’, we take a look at the long players that have soundtracked the past twelve months. Again, they’re featured in no particular order. Dutch Uncles – Out of Touch in the Wild It was third album lucky for Dutch Uncles as this release finally got them the…
Yes, we’re joining in with the fun and games of the best of 2013 –and we’re starting with some of the EPs that have soundtracked our year, in no particular order… Superman Revenge Squad Band – There’s Nothing More Frightening Than the Passing of Time Heartfelt lyrics with self-depreciating humour made this mini-album one to…
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…
We were always big fans of Jumping Ships here at Spectral Nights, so after that band called it a day, it was with some excitement when it was announced three of the band were to carry on making music in the new four-piece Quiet Lions. Playing only their second ever show in the venue where…
Having first come across Rachel Sermanni on the BBC Introducing Stage at Reading Festival over a year ago, we were blown away by her stunning voice, tender melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Even playing to a baked festival crowd and contending with so much background noise, as well as the overflow from the surrounding stages, it…
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…
A four-piece instrumental band from Liverpool, Kusanagi have shared the stage with an impressive roster including Maybeshewill, Tera Melos and Gallops and released their self-titled debut EP back in April. The four tracks featured on the record hint at a band with huge-sounding ideas, and they’re never afraid to experiment or try out new things…
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…
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…
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