-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Contrasting players set to soar above the instrumental masses Instrumental rock is constantly building in popularity, but without lyrics, one of the key differentiators between good and bad instrumentals is whether it tells a story. Songs need a narrative, a sense of direction, purpose and structure. Fortunately, Northern Irish post-rockers Psychojet have one hell of … Continue reading
Do-it-all guitarist working beyond the Graveyard Thanks to advances in music technology, more and more guitarists are going it alone: writing, producing, programming and playing all instruments themselves. But few do it better – or do more – than Andy Fosberry, otherwise known as Sunset Graves. His material spans everything from acoustic ballads through electronica … Continue reading
Meticulous metal axeman gives gear demos a be-spoke twist Over the past few years, YouTube gear demos have become a bit of a big deal, regularly attracting thousands of views. But, while they’re a fantastic resource, these demos have a tendency to showcase the stifled creativity of the demonstrators – there are only so many … Continue reading
A post-punk guitar-bass relationship from the humblest of beginnings Sometimes, the integration between guitar and bass is so essential that to look at one apart from the whole would only be telling half the story. Such is the case with Cardiff alt-rockers Kutosis and their guitarist/singer Ian Jones and bassist (and occasional axeman) Jim Deacon, … Continue reading
The unthinkable has happened: four years on from initial rumblings, My Bloody Valentine have finally announced reissues of Isn’t Anything and Loveless, as well as a compilation of early EPs. The Irish noisemakers’ brief career gave the world a masterclass in carefully-produced dream pop and spawned a legion of imitators in their wake. A large … Continue reading
Post-rock is becoming a bit of a dirty word these days; bands left, right and centre are claiming to be the next Mogwai or Explosions in the Sky. However, if there’s one group set to buck the trend, it’s Leeds-based instrumentalists Richard Parker. Their melodies are poignant without delving into cliché and the whole package … Continue reading
If nothing else, Canadian duo Quaternin deserve an award for best genre classification: guitarist Will Ballantyne describes their sound as “new instrumental music”. Personally, I’d place their musical traits somewhere in the realms of the avant-garde or jazz but to pigeonhole it would be to do the duo a disservice. You can certainly hear elements … Continue reading
How’s this for timeliness: Mogwai have two songs which feature references to the holiday season, namely Christmas Song and Christmas/Xmas Steps (yes, I know the latter is named after a street in Bristol but shush). These compositions run the gamut of the Mogwai canon, aptly demonstrating the subtlety and noise which they contrast so well … Continue reading
For some, this post probably doesn’t qualify for the famous guitar gear category. To them, I say listen to Oceansize. If there was ever a band who deserved more recognition, here it was, but sadly the Manchester five-piece went their separate ways in February of 2011. However, Oceansize still hold an enviable position in my heart, … Continue reading
An interview with Cardiff’s math rock titans at Clwb Ifor Bach… plus video Truckers of Husk are one of the brightest stars in the Cardiff music scene’s glimmering constellation of acts. Although only a part-time band, their nuanced math rock stylings have attracted considerable attention, particularly on debut album Accelerated Learning, released last month on … Continue reading
everyday guitar gear 