At the beginning of 2025, funk and pop duo DIZZY! released the ‘Hot Mess’ EP, sharing four tracks of well produced, soulful material that really captured a mood that seemed set to soundtrack the summer. The music, drawing influence from various corners of 70s and 80s soul and pop, was pin-sharp, but the material really came into its own when shining a light on DIZZY!’s vocal blend. David and Izzy Gruner’s vocals were obviously a natural fit with each other, with Izzy’s brighter tones sharing an especially pleasing tone. Despite featuring just four tracks, the EP was genuinely varied: the DNA from Lenny Kravitz’s ‘It Ain’t Over ’It’s Over’ could be found on the stand out cut ‘Bitter’; a great blend of pop and soul showed off the duo’s more buoyant side on the brilliant ‘Mess’ and ‘Crybaby’, while ‘Too Late’ even teased with lounge jazz.
Category Archives: Album & EP Reviews
THE MORNING LINE – 90s Pickup / This Lens
Across two enjoyable releases, ‘North’ (2019) and ‘Scene’ (2022), San Francisco’s The Morning Line celebrated a very 90s brand of pop rock, with an array of songs driven by jangling guitars and harmonious vocals. Often sounding like a cross between peak Connells and the lighter elements of Soul Asylum circa ‘Candy From A Stranger’, their best songs had the power to uplift, and in the case of ‘Looking Right At You’ and ‘Make Believe’ (very much highlights from ‘Scene’) even shared a nostalgic quality, despite being newly written.
LORD ELEPHANT – Ultra Soul
Occasionally, a band name is all you need to gauge what something probably sounds like. Truckfighters and Acid Mammoth are two great examples. Here’s another: Lord Elephant create an absolutely huge sound throughout their second album ‘Ultra Soul’. The record’s seven instrumental numbers often find the Italian band in a weighty frame of mind, bringing a world of riffs that blend doom, stoner metal and deep psych in a way that invites favourable comparisons with Earthless and Karma To Burn, as well as drawing influence from the instrumental elements of Down and Eyehategod – only making those influences feel more intense.
CAMEL – Earthrise: Live At The Marquee 1974
In 2023, Universal Music released the ultimate in Camel box sets. ‘Air Born: The Decca Recordings 1973-1984’ brought together all of the band’s official releases from their most commercially successful period, and combined them with a wealth of rare and unreleased material. For the fan who must have everything, it appeared to be a beautiful item – especially with new blu ray audio content and surround mixes bringing a new dimension to some much loved tunes.
As is often the case with such a set, a huge price tag would prove a sticking point for those fans without deep pockets. Consolation would soon come from Cherry Red Records, however, who reissued ‘Camel’, ‘Mirage’ and ‘Music Inspired By The Snow Goose’ as deluxe editions (complete with the blu ray content) a relatively short time later.
SHADOWBORN – Through The Hourglass EP
An ominous drone, a piercing sound from a synth and a feeling of rising tension create the ideal way to introduce Shadowborn’s debut EP. In just a few seconds, this gives ‘Through The Hourglass’ a feeling of unease, and the quiet but dark sounds also have the effect of making the subsequent riffs come through with a much bigger punch.