The Online Music Club! Free Signup

Primal Scream - More Light: Album Review

It's no secret that Primal Scream haven't had the best of luck with any of their album since XTRMNTR. They lacked...well, they lacked various things. Perhaps substance, perhaps even effort. Nonetheless it feels as if they had simply been stuck in a creative rut. They seemed drained, simply playing tracks from Screamadelica over and over again in live performances.

Lo and behold, here comes More Light! Primal Screams comeback that actually sounds good because, well, it feels as if effort was put into this album.

Click the title to read more!

8/10

- Kaity Shirley

Wild Nothing – Empty Estate: Album Review

Wild Nothing's latest release, Empty Estate is probably the bands most electronic album to date.

It's bold, loud and pack with potential for the live setting.

Departing from the family influences and sounds of shoegaze and confessed heroes, My Bloody Valentine, Empty Estate has moments of pure indie-electronica. Bloops and bleeps, instead of the usual scuzzy guitar

Click the title to read more!

6/10

- Kaity Shirley

The National Trouble - Will Find Me: Album Review

Trouble Will Find Me and indeed it did with The Nationals new album. Hotly tipped as the mass collaboration album of the year, Trouble Will Find Me is ticking off big names such as St. Vincent, Sharon Van Etten, Sufjan Stevens, and Richard Reed Parry (of Arcade Fire fame). Plenty of synthetic layers and a self-confessed introduction of ''pop sensibility'' by the band itself, Trouble Will Find Me is an album that is still something that is as spectacular as anything they have done in the past.

The National haven't essentially changed their style as a band, per say.

Click the title to read more!

8/10

- Kaity Shirley

Mud: Film Review

Such are the powers of the Mississippi river, winding through timeless states encompassed by great film and literature alike that when it is used to worldly affect today it still flourishes; as its folk alongside it seem to mirror. If this formula is nurtured it is powerful.

Mud is no exception to the rule: a coming of age film entwined with companionship, cynicism and disorder. Two wilful young boys forge a friendship with an outlaw no less, who in turn offers guidance and fatherly promise.

Jeff Nichols is known for his soul and for his menace, eminent in his last film, Take Shelter, and with Mud he continues that streak of realism and vitality. Rarely do films play out so organically today; so often are American life studies enveloped in hollow meaning.

Thankfully, we have been gifted a wonderful story here, with all the best – and indeed worst – bits of American society without the unnecessary gloss or fake smiles so many are caked in.

Set in Nichols’ home state of Arkansas, two teenage boys take a trip down the Mississippi in search of adventure. They come across an abandoned boat, and lay claim to it.

However, so too does Mud (Matthew McConaughey), a fugitive on the run from a homicide. He claims the deed was justified, and the teenager boys, Ellis and Neckbone, form an unlikely friendship with the likeable but perhaps hidden character.

Mud hopes to become reunited with his love, Juniper (Reese Witherspoon), but of course the nearby town creates problems and twists.

It is there that much of the film’s underlying darkness lies; contrasting to the river’s meandering promise of betterment and future. Ellis seeks security and a brighter path, Neckbone appears more settled but is bitter in his own ways; he suffers as everyone does.

And Mud is the domineering, sparking addition. Put into the mix with two personable boys and mixes up feelings of trust, loyalty, growing up and love.

Nichols has made a truly memorable piece of drama here, steeped in actuality and moving cinema.

Director: Jeff Nichols
Produced by: Lisa Maria Falcone; Sarah Green; Aaron Ryder
Matthew McConaughey, Tye Sheridan, Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepard, Jacob Lofland
Release: 2013
Running time: 131 minutes

- Joshua Barrie

WATCH: Valentina 'Ladders' Video

Dim lights Embed Embed this video on your site

Valentina released her 'Wolves' EP via Greco-Roman a coupe of weeks back with tracks Wolves and Ladders flickering in the twilight of longing and heartbreak. The EP closes with 'Gabriel', a track popularised by Joe Goddard featuring Valentina on vocals and released in 2011, although originally written by Valentina.

Zoombies: Animales de la Muerte - Game Review

Zombies are everywhere at the moment; in books, at the cinema and particularly in the gaming community. So it’s refreshing to see title that manages to extract some originality to the genre. Impressive combat mechanics, great animations and a wealth of customisable options all make for a great way to kill a few hours.

You’re one of either two kids, Maria or Marco and it’s up to you to make those zombie-fied animals don’t escape from your Little Mexico zoo. What’s impressive is that the experience never feels terribly dark or macabre even though you’re essentially shredding animals to pieces. All the animals you eliminate have their own specialities. For example the rhino utilises its horn and is tough whilst a baby kangaroo will charge after you following the defeat of its mother.

Click the title to read more!

Available now on iOS for £1.99

- Adam Omar

BANKS Announces New Single 'Warm Water'

‘Warm Water’ is the new single from emerging LA-based electronic singer-songwriter BANKS, released May 27 on London label Good Years. It quickly follows her first release featuring the tracks ‘Before I Ever Met You’ and ‘Fall Over’ which introduced her seductively nocturnal electronic pop, existing somewhere between the tempestuous space of the club and the intimacy and lovelorn emotional haven of a candlelit piano room. The tracks quickly attracted heavy airplay online and across BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra.  

‘Warm Water’ is a more subtle and spacious affair. Produced by UK electronic pop prodigy Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs who made a name with acclaimed debut album ‘Trouble’ as well as releases on Greco Roman, it flickers of with the emotional directness and fragility of classic soul and jazz vocalists as projected  through a modern day prism of warm synth pads and gently gurgling electronic percussion, leaving a spellbinding melody to shine through.

Three mesmerizing tracks in and it’s clear that BANKS is well on her way to cementing her position as a promising new artist in the landscape of forward-thinking pop.

Listen to 'Warm Water' HERE; https://soundcloud.com/banksbanksbanks/banks-warm-water-prod-by

Katy B - 'What Love Is Made Of' Single Announced

London’s young queen of rave, Katy B returns with a colossal endorphin rush of a tune that’s guaranteed to be a fixture on the radio and dance floor all summer long, the first single to kick off the soon to be announced second album, due for release on Rinse/Columbia in Autumn 2013.  

Listen to 'What Love Is Made Of' HERE; https://soundcloud.com/katyb/what-love-is-made-of-radio

TEXAS ANNOUNCE NOVEMBER UK TOUR DATES

BRAND NEW ALBUM RELEASED MAY 20TH 2013

Watch the video for The Conversation: http://youtu.be/wDPyMD_CLgc

In their 25th anniversary year TEXAS release their brand new studio album ‘The Conversation’ through [PIAS] Recordings on May 20th 2013. Following the album release, Texas will return in November with a full UK tour including a headline London show at Hammersmith Apollo and a string of dates around the country.

Click the title to read more!

Presale tickets are available from Wednesday 15th May at 9am until Friday 17th May at 9am. Tickets purchased during this period are available with an exclusive bundle option which includes a signed copy of the album. General tickets are on sale from Friday 17th May at 9am, from this period forward the bundle option remains but with the standard album.

Ticket information is available at http://www.texas.uk.com

Gun Commando - Game Review

Worth a shot

If you remember the original Duke Nukem or Duke Nukem 3D, Gun Commando will hit an instant nostalgia note with you. It looks remarkably similar and even employs the silliness that came with it. From the pixelated flat graphics, the over the top music and massive selection of weapons it all looks pretty similar; you’re even battling against alien forces that are bound on capturing Earth. There is one big difference though as there’s a price to pay for every shot you miss which makes you think twice before getting too trigger happy.

The way you’ll level up is through your kills and as you do so your weapon changes in colour and becomes more powerful. But, and this is a big but, you’re progress will track backward with every shot that misses a target. What this does is add another dimension to a simple shooter that forces you to evaluate everything before you shoot. Before long you’ll be asking yourself how many baddies are there, where’s the turret and how many bullets do I need to take out that turret?

Click the title to read more!

Available on App Store now for 69p

- Adam Omar