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Helen Tipping - Reviews


All The Bees


All The Bees
Environmentally-conscious indie folk on debut album from promising duo All The Bees


Kristin Hersh


Clear Pond Road
Immaculate-sounding yet melancholic latest solo album from Throwing Muses’ frontwoman Kristin Hersh


Freschard and Stanley Brinks


Iron Eye
Reflective and gentle Euro indie pop on vinyl only joint third album between French-born duo Freschard and Stanley Brinks


Thomas Truax with Budgie and Mother Superior


Dream Catching Songs
Eccentric but brilliant tenth album from American experimental musician and inventor Thomas Truax, which finds him working with both ex-Siouxsie and the Banshees drummer Budgie as well as Mother Superior, his home made drum machine


Mathias Kom & Toby Goodshank


Miller Time
Remarkable covers collection from Mathias Korn and Toby Goodshank of songs by American country artist Roger Miller


Burning Hell


Garbage Island
Apocalyptic and nihilistic ninth album from Canadian post-punk/electronic band The Burning Hell


Josephine Foster


Godmother
Understated but melancholic and wintry nineteenth album from singer-songwriter Josephine Foster


Lisa Gerrard and Jules Maxwell


Burn
Ethereal and mystical Nordic-influenced new album from Dead Can Dance's Lisa Gerrard and Jules Maxwell


Low Island


If You Could Have It All Again
Reflective electronic-infused indie pop on debut album from Oxford-based band Low Island


Annie Dressner


Coffee at the Corner Bar
Melancholic but also surprisingly upbeat third album from New York-born but now UK-based singer-songwriter Annie Dressner


Karen Jonas


The Southwest Sky and Other Dreams
Over country and western-influenced fifth album from Virginia-based Americana singer-songwriter Karen Jonas


Jim Bob


Pop Up Jim Bob
Politically and socially-edged new solo album from former Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine frontman Jim Bob


Holy


Mono Freedom
Anthemic but thought-provoking and science fiction-influenced concept album from Finnish indie band The Holy


Ariel Sharratt and Mathias Kom


Never Work
Thoughtful and lyrically inventive folk/Americana on anti-capitalist second album from Canadian duo, Ariel Sharratt and Mathias Korn


Sergeant Buzfuz


Fox Pop
Slightly disappointing latest album from Sheffield/London hybrid Sergeant Buzfuz, who have lost some of their experimental edge


Slow Readers Club


Joy of the Return
Anthemic fourth album from critically-acclaimed Manchester-based post-punk group the Slow Readers Club


Sam Baker


Horses and Stars
Poetic and emotional live album from Texan singer-songwriter Sam Baker, who will be touring the UK next year.


Eliza Carthy


Restitute
Understatedand home recorded but heartfelt albumm from acclaimed folk musician Eliza Carthy


Holy Moly and the Crackers


Take a Bite
Fantastic folk rock on latest album from rising Newcastle-based group Holy Moly and the Crackers


McDermott’s 2 Hours Vs Levellers Vs Oysterband


Besieged
Political and fiery album from Irish punks McDermott's 2 Hours, which features contributions from the Levellers and Oysterband


David Cronenberg’s Wife


The Octoberman Sequence
Literate and narrative 12 inch vinyl EP from London-based anti-folk act David Cronenberg’s Wife


Smittens


City Rock Dove
Excellent vinyl only album from Burlington, Vermont-based twee pop band the Smittens, which takes as one of its main themes gender fluidity


Anne Marie Almedal


Lightshadow
Multi-layered debut album from Norwegian singer-songqwriter and composer Anne Marie Almedal


Stanley Brinks


Peanuts
Slow-burning but charming and ultimately convincing latest solo album from folk singer and one-time Herman Dune member Stanley Brinks


Matt Dolphin


Eighth House
Melancholic, but promising debut solo album from Kent-based singer-songwriter, Matt Dolphin


She Makes War


Little Battles
Melancholic and brooding, but ultimately uplifting second album from She Makes War, the project of former Miss Black America member Laura Kidd


She's Hit


Pleasure
Appealing abrasive garage rock on debut album from Glasgow-based group, She's Hit


I Like Trains


Sirens
Atmospheric and thought-provoking latest single from Leeds-based post rockers I Like Trains, which appears in both a vinyl and a digital version


Mark Chadwick


All the Pieces
Largely impressive autobiographical debut solo album from Levellers frontman, Mark Chadwick


Dandelion Snow


The Grand Scheme of Things
Finely performed, but lacklustre debut album from Dandelion Snow, the project of Pennsylvanian-based singer-songwriter, Roger Harvey


Frank Turner


Poetry of the Deed
Lively third album of punk folk anthems from former Million Dead front man, Frank Turner


Martin Carr


Ye Gods (and Little Fishes)
Undemanding and relaxing first album under his own name for former Boo Radleys front man Martin Carr


Lydia Lunch


Big Sexy Noise
Violent-in-sound, but integral and brutally honest latest mini-album from the abrasive Lydia Lunch, which finds her on this record collaborating with Gallon Drunk


Ettes


Danger Is
Fast-sounding post punk on new EP from New York-formed, but now LA-based three-piece, the Ettes


Kong


Snake Magnet
Dark-sounding debut album from aggressive Manchester-based progressive rock trio, Kong


Men They Couldn't Hang


Devil on the Wind
Formulaic first album in six years from the increasingly Country and Western-influenced Men They Couldn't Hang, which, while starting promisingly, quickly slips into predictability


David Cronenberg's Wife


The Fight Song
Bittersweet surf rock on latest single from darkly humorous and surreal London-based act, David Cronenberg's Wife


Mission


Live and Last
Allegedly final live offering on double CD from Gothic group the Mission, which was recorded at one of the bands' final shows in London in 2008


Staff Benda Bilili


Tres Tres Fort
Surprisingly uplifting and funky debut album from Staff Benda Bilili, who are a group of Congo-based paraplegic street musicians


Various


A Psychedelic Guide to Monsterism Island
Eclectic and eccentric entirely instrumental album, which featuring tracks by musicians such as Jerry Dammers, Gruff Rhys and the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, takes its inspiration from the cartoons of Welsh illustrator and cartoonist, Pete Fowler


Storsveit Nix Noltes


Royal Family-Divorce
Rewarding second album from energetic eleven member Icelandic instrumental group Storsveit Nix Noltes, who have taken a collection of traditional Bulgarian and Balkan folk songs and given them a modern arrangement


Great Crusades


Keep Them Entertained
Hit and miss sixth album from manic Chicago-based band the Great Crusades, who when theyt stick to their rockabilly and blues roots continue to excel


Howling Bells


Radio Wars
Mainstream. long overdue second album from Australian band Howling Bells, which moves away from the some of the darkness that msde them so original and compelling


Sergeant Buzfuz


High Slang
Difficult-to-pigeonhole fourth album from versatile London band Sergeant Buzfuz, which originally began as a solo project for originally Sheffield-based singer-songwriter Joe Murphy but has now extended into a five peice band


Screaming Mimi


Electric Thighs
Satirical country/surf punk on strong second single from Sheffield-based guitar act, Screaming Mimi


Gallon Drunk


Live at Klub 007
Fresh-sounding live album recorded at a gig in the Czech Republic from Gallon Drunk, who while being influenced by the Birthday Party and the Doors, continue to sound original and exciting


Department S


My Coo Ca Choo
Somewhat needless and unnecessary remixes of cover of the old Alvin Stardust song from early 80's band Department S, who have reformed after over 25 years apart


Frank Turner


Long Live the Queen
Infectious new charity single from Frank Turner, which about the death of a close friend from breast cancer is both upbeat and life-affirming


Society of Imaginary Friends


The Moors
Atmospheric and hypnotic soundscapes on new EP from the cinematic and folk-tinged Society of Imaginary Friends


Underground Railroad


Sticks and Stones
Often enthralling 80's influenced post punk on second album from France-formed, but now London-based group, Underground Railraod


Wintermute


Fun with Wizard Stencils
Somewhat clinical-sounding debut EP from self-proclaimed math pop act Wintermute, who shine better as a live act


TV Smith


In the Arms of My Enemy
Fantastic and thoughtful latest solo album from TV Smith, the former front man with the Adverts, who nearly thirty years on since their break-up continues to maintain punk sensibility


Kick in the Eye


Sea of Bitterness
Appealing latest album from Vancouver-based husband-and-wife duo Kick in the Eye who have abandoned the lo-fi rock and roll sound of their past recordings to come back with a bubblegum pop sound


Scaramanga Six


Walking Through Houses
Catchy and dramatic latest single from Yorkshire-based five-piece group, the Scaramanga Six


Sons And Daughters


This Gift
Dark and surf-rockabilly influenced latest single from Sons and Daughters, taken from their bestselling album of the same name


Ray


Death in Fiction
Psychedelic and literary-influenced melancholic fourth album from excellent London band, Ray


Nozzle


Empires
Accessible and thoroughly enjoyable second album from Nozzle, the project of former New Model Army guitarist Dave Blomberg


3 Daft Monkeys


Social Vertigo
Eastern European influenced folk psychedelia on excellent fourth album from 3 Daft Monkeys


Horrorpops


Kiss Kiss Kill Kill
Fine cinema-influenced third album from psychobilly/Gothic Danish band, Horrorpops


Great Crusades


Keep Them Entertained
Angry and energetic sixth album from Chicago-based band, the Great Crusades







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