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Fat Freddy’s Drop at the Brixton Academy
This was my 5th FFD gig, but they are still able to surprise and delight. If you haven’t heard of these guys yet, I strongly recommend exploring their discography. I know of few other artists whose...
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Folkways in Lisbon
As I am habitually resigned to the sweating, black-painted walls of most London venues, instead sitting with a mammoth G&T in-hand, as the sun set over the wide-mouthed river Tagus, perhaps...
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Renting . . . in London
Ever wonder why trying to find somewhere to rent in London is so challenging? Now I know. It’s this: Trying to engage my ‘reviewer’ brain, I ask: – is it because he’s wearing a 3-piece suit? – is it...
View ArticlePete & Bas – FOR REAL!
“Big bricks and a hammer in the satchel!” So, want some novelty? Ever been to Lupus Street, Pimlico, London, UK? – No, I didn’t think so. This is what you’re missing I am struggling to add anything...
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Music Planet: Maya Andrade
Lovely opening to the recent episode of Music Planet on BBC Radio 3, with the featured artist Maya Andrade. Interesting to compare the live version on the show (above), with the “official” release...
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Music Planet the 1st by Blacey
Have you ever heard it? Kyungso Park in session with Lopa Kothari This is better, and improving. Lopa Kothari has long been spreading the good word about world music. But now free of the obligation to...
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Radiooooo dot com by Blacey
What a remarkable website! This is the first in what will inevitably be an intermittent series of reports from around the globe through all decades in the 20th century, where you will discover weird...
View ArticleEspírito Nativo at Chapitô in Lisbon by Blacey
Delighted to be bringing you another live performance from Lisbon – an intimate, largely acoustic affair that was well-worth writing home about: Espírito Nativo. This sort of gig just doesn’t really...
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Blues at Mercearia do Campo by Blacey
An eye-popping display of instrumental virtuosity at a charming venue in Lisbon. I can’t give you a band name, because they were not a band. In fact, it was the first time they had all played...
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Chalo Correia at Chapitô in Lisbon by Blacey
Another mesmerising night of live music at the circus school, Chapitô, nestled under the ancient fort in the heart of Lisbon. And another chance to let the music do the talking on my behalf, about...
View ArticleGreen Man 2013 (Festival Review: Day 1)
The adventure began with a coach journey, or rather, the lack of one. I had just written the following missive to the editor: Already this is a different kind of festival. I’m used to turning up to...
View ArticleGreen Man 2013 (Festival Review Day 2)
On Saturday morning it was a three-tea-walk to find the press tent, but I did therefore manage to see almost every other corner of the festival and orient myself, the better to explore the music on...
View ArticleGreen Man Festival Review (Day 3)
Day 3 began with a very specific plan: ‘be inspired in Einstein’s Garden’. And I was. With so much on offer in such a small space it was no surprise. Take this sign for instance: I never got around...
View ArticleSecret Garden Party 2015
“SGP was fucking muddy and hard work, and has left me sad and angry about everything. But it was also amazing and totally worth it for the spiritual insight and friendship. So, y’know, just another...
View ArticleFunk & Soul Weekender 2017
Most festivals involve tents. Many festivals in England involve mud. This weekend had neither, for which we are grateful. The Funk and Soul Weekender had a great looking lineup...
View ArticleNova Batida Festival Preview
What’s not to like? You’ll be in one of the sunniest, most up-and-coming cities in Europe, within 30 minutes of top-drawer beaches. And, oh, did we mention that there’s a smashing line-up of juicy...
View ArticleLet’s Eat Grandma: Snippets of NOS Primavera Sound
I’m sorry to tell you, I don’t do indie rock. I’m not a guitar guy (not since Sublime shifted me from rock to reggae). But I find people fascinating, and I like to think I can recognise creative and...
View ArticleReduced to Tears by Kate Tempest: Snippets of NOS Primavera Sound
The concise and simple message I want to transmit here is: “You need to hear this artist.” But of course, I ought to attempt, at least, to pay tribute to and transmit the power of her performance and...
View ArticlePasteur Lappe
This is a monstrously funky number that I discovered on a Youtube kerb-crawling session after a few jars. I couldn’t put it better than one of the comments on the page: “This is insanely good....
View ArticleCalypso Rose – Calypso Blues
Another one of the post-multi-jar entries that tells me other people should hear it. No commentary needed.
View ArticleTechno Marching Band & African Boogie = Happy Friday-into-Saturday!
After some digital digging I did on Friday night, I've come up with a few little boogie tracks I want to share with you...
View ArticleLarmer Tree Festival Review. 2019. part 1
An initial summary of the fun and games had in the English West Country in July.
View ArticleLarmer Tree Festival Review. 2019. part 2.Circus Brothers, Cymande & Gypsy...
Reviews of the Circus Brothers, Cymande & Gypsy Jukebox at Larmer Tree Festival 2019
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Nova Batida pt.1 by Bruno Lacey
Can you superimpose a British (potentially wider than that) version of clubbing & festivals onto a city that really doesn’t party in the same way? Rather, ‘how successfully can you…” Well if your...
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Nova Batida pt.2 (the multi-media one) by Bruno Lacey
Of course, a smartphone never does justice to the sound or colour of life in flesh, but hopefully you can get a sense – however diminished – of Nova Batida from this collection. Floating Points just...
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Nova Batida pt.3 (the podcast one) by Bruno Lacey
This one is going to be a little bit different, as we have finally managed to cobble together a podcast-format review of a festival. One of the things you’ll hear in the interviews with...
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Big Wild teams up with Director, Andi Lipo to create new video for their...
Last February, Big Wild released their 12-track album entitled Superdream. Since its release, Superdream has been spun off into a remix album and an unplugged analog session. That’s a lot of work for...
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Lo-fi house beats inspired by the charmed forests of western Russian by Bruno...
Scasca is the Russian word for “fairy tale.” The Saint-Petersburg-based artist by the same name captures that spirit with lo-fi beats combined with the atmosphere of the charmed forests near the Gulf...
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Mdou Moctar: The New Desert Rock Sound, as heard by the seaside in Portugal...
We’ve got a little vignette from a festival that is consistently lauded as one of Portugal’s best, and certainly stands out as unique from any that this correspondent has enjoyed in Europe. The main...
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