this week's post ...

Frank Turner
Love Ire & Song new album 31 March
You got to have money in the bank Frank... he will have soon. This is a bewitching mix of irony and observation from a folk hero man with a way with words and 'many girls in his bed' if this ain't a poetic licence. Great to hear the collaboration with The Holloways on the single 'Photosynthesis' ... I really like this album, I find I can't wait to hear the next line, that's a sign of quality in Mr Turner's writing evidenced in the crossover approval of Zane Lowe, Mike Davies, Biffy Clyro and Hadouken. Title track 'Love Ire & Song' is one helluva tune.. Frank captures the embarrassment of having supported a bunch of so called leaders/traitors in a biting angry irresistable pondering - one of the rare examples of the 'F*ck' word being used in an understated and devastatingly powerful way to emphasize anger. At 2'40" uptempo nasty guitar/solid drum/angry as ever 'Imperfect tense' would make a fine single, then we're into the autobiographical tale 'To Take You Home', I get the impression Frank would have been equally at home in the middle ages songstressing in a traditional Steeleye Span type manner... "Agincourt the Tricolour" - fantastic. The frantic strumming & vox on 'Long Live The Queen'. This is a truly great set, well worth a purchase

Eastern Conference Champions
Ameritown new album 5 May
This band are something special, 'Ameritown' is a superb set from start to finish. Kicking off with the beguiling single 'The Box', into storming rocker 'Noah', the mock demo quality melancholy 'Some Sorta Light', piano intro'd 'Stutter', the flirting cheek of 'Single Sedative'... Produced by the master Owen paul who's work with Oasis, the Verve and The View speaks for itself. Pennsylvanian trio Eastern Conference Champions sound like a much bigger outfit on this, with a superb variety of arrangements and brilliant production. Great titles too.. 'Yippy Hipster', 'Pitch A Fit', 'Rabbit Hole', 'Nice Clean Shirt' and title track 'Ameritown'.

Big Linda
I Loved You new album 14 April
Big Linda played at our Mad4it night last year, an excellent onstage presence using light and shade in their arrangement from mellow to heavy grunged up in no time. The powerful 'Golden Girl', the solid ' 'Another Way', brilliant single 'IDELU' ('I Don't Even Like You'), the wobbly watery vox into the solid beat of 'Windpower', 'Jenny Don't' and the excellent rock funk of 'Get It While You Can'. Then there's 'Gone', the superb mellow shades of '15 Seconds', the cutting 'Forgiven' and fitting finale 'Just Passing'. Big Linda are quite a band, there's intriguing diversity and quality in abundance here.

Ida Maria
Queen Of The World new single 12 May
A fine old fashioned knees-up "I'm Queen Of The World, I'm open to fate" ... yeah a jolly ole refrain very much in a happy Bjork stylee. Now living in Stockholm, Sweden, Ida (pronounced Eee-da) Maria grew up in Nesna, a tiny university town in the north of Norway with a population of 1,776, one gas station, one pub, one closed-down shoe factory and lots of mountains. It's near the Arctic Circle, which means that it's in perpetual darkness for half of the year. Well Big B's back and Ida could make some inroads here...

Jack Johnson
Hope (Nightmares On Wax remix) new single 14 April
It's no mean feat to have a number one album and Jack J is fully deserving with his laid back style. 'Sleep Through The Static' is very very very laid back so it is quite an achievement for Nightmares On Wax to raise the atmos a little with their remix ... It's kind of Bobby McFerrin 'Don't Worry Be Happy' - hit single maybe