Reviews
Album: V.V. Brown, Travelling Like the Light (Island) (Rated 3/ 5 )
A refreshing alternative to run of production-line soul divas
Inside Reviews
Album: Busdriver, Jhelli Beam (Anti) (Rated 2/ 5 )
Friday, 10 July 2009
"Be real," says Busdriver at the start of 'Jhelli Beam', "conscious rap failed us."
Album: Dan Black, 'Un' (A&M) (Rated 4/ 5 )
Friday, 10 July 2009
Widely hailed as one of pop's brighter young things, Dan Black is best known so far for the single "Symphonies", which brings to mind the young Beck.
Album: Jim Byrnes, My Walking Stick (Black Hen Music) (Rated 4/ 5 )
Friday, 10 July 2009
Canadian bluesman Jim Byrnes cites the approach of the pre-blues "songster" tradition – in which the blues would be but one part of a repertoire that also encompassed gospel spirituals, country, folk and popular songs – as indicative of his intentions on his own albums.
Album: Stackridge, A Victory for Common Sense (Helium) (Rated 3/ 5 )
Friday, 10 July 2009
Stackridge's brand of folk-prog-rock proved a little too parochial and well-mannered to follow in the footsteps of Jethro Tull and Yes back in the 1970s, though they can claim the distinction of being the very first band to play Glastonbury.
Album: Acoustic Ladyland, Living with a Tiger (Strong and Wrong) (Rated 3/ 5 )
Friday, 10 July 2009
Since 2006's 'Skinny Grin', nu-jazz combo Acoustic Ladyland have lost a couple of members, the remaining duo of saxist Peter Wareham and drummer Seb Rochford being joined by new bassist Ruth Goller and guitarist Chris Sharkey.
The Killers, Royal Albert Hall, London (Rated 4/ 5 )
Thursday, 9 July 2009
You're not ashamed to be seen with us, are you?" asks Brandon Flowers, a touch coyly, five songs in to a hit-heavy, 20-song set.
Mr Hudson, The Roundhouse, London (Rated 3/ 5 )
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Usurped by a late registration
First Night: Elbow and the Halle Orchestra, Manchester Festival (Rated 5/ 5 )
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Local legends combine to create hypnotic masterpiece
Wireless Festival, Hyde Park, London (Rated 3/ 5 )
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
A dance music festival in a royal park sponsored by Barclaycard shows how deep into the mainstream the once outlaw scene is now. Headlining on Saturday night, Basement Jaxx bring out the omnisexual disco roots of rave's "'avin' it" hedonist culture, and add tropical rhythmic heat. The madcap 1940s nightclub they conjure for "Do Your Thing" show how they view dance in its broadest, most encompassing sense. Digital dub vocals, squealing rock guitar and the slow flamenco strum of "Romeo" are followed by trumpet-led electronic jazz that late-period Miles wouldn't have found strange. They could have morphed genres and moved feet all night.
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The Friday Playlist
Listen to this week's Independent mix
Most popular in Arts & Entertainment
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1 Lost in music: The peculiar life of Brian Wilson
2 Meet the squeaky clean movie teens
4 The ten best rock'n'roll frontmen
5 The ten worst rock'n'roll comebacks
6 The ten best rock'n'roll comebacks
7 TV producer attacks BBC 'junk food' drama
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Emailed
1 Lost in music: The peculiar life of Brian Wilson
3 TV producer attacks BBC 'junk food' drama
4 First Night: Prima Donna, Palace Theatre, Manchester
5 Carol Ann Duffy : 'I was told to get a proper job'
8 Julius Caesar, Courtyard, Stratford-upon-Avon
9 Carpentaria, by Alexis Wright
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