ALBUM REVIEW – FIONN REGAN: O AVALANCHE

Although ‘O Avalanche’ consists of eleven separate songs, it overwhelmingly feels like a forty-minute mood piece, almost like a short arthouse film. The words are poetic and return to themes like landscape and environment as it evokes the place in which it was written, Mallorca. Sun-dappled energy shines through. It is very much a solo […]
The answer to the album’s title is ‘yes’. It has been six years since their previous album, ‘Bringing The Backline’. In the intervening period, Trust Fund has shrunk from being a group into primarily Ellis Jones’ project. From a full band indie rock sound, they have made a welcome diversion into classical guitar and string […]

ALBUM REVIEW – TRUST FUND: HAS IT BEEN A WHILE?

ALBUM REVIEW – THE PAINTED CEILINGS: MAYBE THERE’S A DIFFERENCE

Collecting the last kisses of the sun, Maybe There’s A Difference transports us back to a warmer season. With an ear pressed to nature’s headphone, the spiralled form of a conch concocts wave-like vibrations of a nautical buzz. With the first pinches of strings, the sound of The Painted Ceilings coats you with the salt […]
With several of our writers having been part of our city’s previous music industry festival, In The City, which ran from 1992 – 2010, we were overjoyed when Beyond The Music picked up the baton and created what the music industry, and Manchester’s music scene has been missing – a festival devoted to honest discussions, […]

LIVE REVIEW: BEYOND THE MUSIC FESTIVAL: VARIOUS VENUES ACROSS MANCHESTER – 9-12 OCTOBER 2024

LIVE REVIEW: BEYOND THE MUSIC: OFF THE SQUARE: HOLLOWBODY, MSIX, NESSA MAY, CHEIDU ORA, THE KAIROS – 10/10/24

Running through the streets of Manchester isn’t an ideal way to get to a gig but nothing about today has been normal compared to my day-to-day life, starting my day sat listening to panels and like-minded people talk about issues the music industry faces. As I reach Off the Square I’m early, really early. Standing […]
Another busy week with plenty of releases that are worthy of more than a cursory listen. Here is the Silent Radio guide. Snowgoose                    Descendant   The album features a collaboration of some of Scotland’s most esteemed musicians, including Raymond McGinley (Teenage Fanclub), Chris Geddes (Belle and Sebastian), Stevie Jones (Arab Strap), Tim Davidson (Tracyanne & […]

ALBUM ROUNDUP WEEK ENDING 18 OCTOBER 2024

ALBUM REVIEW – TESS PARKS: POMEGRANATE

What is immediately apparent listening to ‘Pomegranate’ is that while it oozes optimistic sentiments, the album comes from a place of fragility and trauma. It sees Tess Parks working with long-term band member and close collaborator, Ruari Meehan, on a record with a substantially expanded musical palette in comparison to her previous album, ‘And Those […]
What you are about to hear, should you feel inclined to put Guy Blakeslee’s album ‘Extravision’ on after reading this review, is a cohesive and comforting project: every composition contained within is captivating, each evoking a different feeling through the myriad instruments and sounds the musician uses besides the acoustic guitar, which he used to […]

ALBUM REVIEW – GUY BLAKESLEE: EXTRAVISION

LIVE REVIEW: WUNDERHORSE – LIVERPOOL ACADEMY 14/10/2024

When I first saw the tour poster for Wunderhorse all over the UK some part of me melted a little inside, in my time going to music gigs, I haven’t seen a band burst out of nowhere and leave such an impression on people as them. Ever since their debut album Cub in 2022, there […]
Amyl and the Sniffers first came to my attention through seeing the single ‘Chewing Gum’ as a ten second clip and being entranced by the loud guitars, consistent beat and vocals coming from this woman who looked like butter wouldn’t melt.  But, after watching the full video I knew butter definitely would melt and she’d […]

ALBUM REVIEW – AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS: CARTOON DARKNESS