Secondstar (MySpace), namely Liam Carey, has made a record in Teeth that enables you to peer through a window into the past – not to reminisce but to remind. It is haunting folksy blues that engulfs the senses as you gaze into the fire for solace. The epic dirge of “Tied to the Mast” may leave you trembling, but “Great Machine” trips its way through introversion into a celebration of life, or gleeful insanity, or both. Opening track Ravens is probably my favourite, however, as Carey’s chant is joined by …

We try to give everything that is sent to Walrus Towers a proper listen in the spirit of John Peel, but every now and again a band or artist comes across our desks that you know you’ve fallen in love to within the first twenty seconds. Rosie and Me (twitter) did just that. Hailing from Curitiba, Brazil they may describe themselves as simple and unpretentious, but they certainly know how to craft beautifully delicate and innocent folk pop.
“Come Back” is one of the sweetest songs I’ve heard for months with …

When We Were Promised Jetpacks blew their way into my heart, it was with that youthful angst of pounding heavy rhythms and vocals that showed signs of a softer heart. With the release of this EP “The Last Place You’ll Look” they have opened their eyes an become all the more introverted from the experience.
Whilst “This is my house, this is my home” in its original form built and built on despair until a crescendo denoting the rebellion of youth, it has now been turned into the hauntingly beautiful last …

The Baby Monster boys are back with a storming second single in “She Comes Alive”. This is a lighter, happier feel compared to Ultra Violence and Beethoven, but doesn’t disappoint by getting stuck in your head with a chorus that transcends the snappy electro-pop verse into a glorious and uplifting shower of aural colour.
Also exciting is that this is being released as the first single from BIGSTEREO – another blog that is turning its musical hand into a label. Congrats where its due (even if I’m a little jealous right …

After a year in which folk and electropop ruled the roost it is about time that growling, thrashy rock and roll stuck its head above the parapet again – and The Federals are here to do just that.
Swaggering their way from York, and naming their influences as The Stooges, the White Stripes and BRMC – this four piece provide the snarling vocals, destroyed guitars, and moshable rhythms that should make you stand up and take notice. Violent, unruly and just what the music world needs at the moment – a …

Thanks to my lovely friend Tory I managed to get a last minute ticket to see The Rumble Strips (MySpace) and The Maccabees (MySpace) at the distinguished Hospital Club in Covent Garden last night. It was great to see these two back on the same bill again and this was part of the Barclaycard Mercury Prize Sessions which have hosted Noah and the Whale, Florence and the Machine and the Golden Silvers over the past few months.
I hadn’t been to the Hospital Club before, but I have to say its …